EDLD+5364+Teaching+with+Technology+Week+3+Reflection

Reflection:

This week focused on tools that could be used to help students with special needs. These could include visually impaired or English language learners. The first tool was the Universal Design for Learning tool. The web site offered information about the tool, examples and a resource library. This tool enables a teacher to create a lesson that would include activities where a teacher has to be specific in helping these students. When most teachers create lesson plans, they create them for the whole class but not take into consideration students who learn a different way or need extra support. It also forces the teacher to consider the learning outcomes and objectives which they sometimes tend to forget. It requires accountablility and flexibility and the use of evidence-based practices. The next tool was the eBook. I enjoyed this tool and would like to make more time to create them for my class. It was easy to do but a little time-consuming. This would be a good way to create books specifically related to your classroom or to a specific student. Older students would be able to create them on their own. A few good options for eBooks include choosing a language such as Spanish and the opportunity for student response. Students would be able to use this tool independently and gain much knowledge from it. There were also numerous examples of other eBooks created by teachers that would be able to be used in the classroom. The one thing that stood out during the videos, readings and assignments was that teachers need to go back to considering learner outcomes and objectives. I know that I am guilty of overlooking those aspects when creating lesson plans and need to think about this when I write them.

Discussion:

"Teachers who have brought technology into their classrooms are aware that it provides an opportunity to differentiate instruction and change their classrooms into dynamic learning environments." (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski 2007).

Every time I can bring technology into my classroom, I can see my students attention increase. This means their learning increases. We have had Promethean ActivBoards for 7 years and they have opened up many ways of offering interactive learning for our students. I have also used digital cameras to help reinforce letter knowledge, ipod touches to help with listening skills and Animoto and Photo Story to create videos about classroom rules and nursery rhymes. Although my students are only in PK, they are learning many skills that will help them in their future learning such as keyboarding, internet use, digital camera use and various types of video programs. These will be the types of technology they will eventually use in learning how to learn and showing what they have learned.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.