"Access Through Technology". I do think that teachers have become more sensitive to the needs of our disabled students. When Goddard stated that we need to also include the interests of our disabled students, it reminded me of a student at our school. She is completely blind and wasn't born that way so she's had to learn a whole new way of taking in communication. She has been with another teacher this whole year and then all of a sudden, this semester, she showed up on my roster. Now, please don't get me wrong, I would have done my best to accommodate her, but her previous teacher and I both agreed that it would be in her best interest to stay with her instead of change to a new classroom environment.
Why would they place her in a new class anyway? Her previous teacher had built a relationship with her, matched the best teaching style to her needs, and had the resources available to give the student the most affective learning environment. I think this is where it gets difficult: not only do teachers need to be aware of what student's with disabilities need to have stability, but guidance councilors, administrators, librarians...etc.
children with disabilities video
Monday, May 31, 2010
Differentiated Instruction and Implications for UDL Implementation
Having experienced teaching differentiated reading, I was very curious to read what this article had to say. In congruence with what I have experienced, everything seemed to be fairly accurate. However I did have an issue with the quote that insinuated that collaborative work was a main component. "Flexible grouping is consistantly used...Learners are expected to interact and work together as they develop knowledge of new content." If this is truly differentiated, then whether they worked in a group or not is up to the individual child and their teacher. I had a few students who, because of their learning styles, worked better independently. Differentiated reading worked in all my classes except one. That class had too many variables that it was too difficult to carry out the lessons.
oops
ok, so I thought I added the link but it simply made it so that the title of my previous post takes you to the link. oh well, live and learn.
"Engage Me or Enrage Me"
My first impression of this article was too conveluted with my own experiences that I couldn't see past this sense of entitlement that students have. "these students demand..." My first thought was, why do they feel that they can demand anything from educators? The students don't really pay to go to the school that I teach at and the school corporation certainly doesn't pay me enough to enable these haughty children to do what they feel is fun.
Ok, so that was my initial thought. However, I am a teacher, like most of you taking this class, that wants to integrate some technology into the classroom. My intentions are to engage all learners, not just the ones who are living the separate life at home, but who take their education seriously throughout their home and school life. "and there it is so boring that the kids used to this other life, just can't stand it." there shouldn't be another life. Their lives should have several layers to it, making them who they are as individuals. School shouldn't be so boring they can't stand it, but let's face it...writing a research paper isn't a party for all of us. Wahoo!
This article basically sums it up in one quote, "yesterdays education for tomorrows kids". There are some fundamental basics that students need to learn and they can't always be taught in such a way that it integrates technology, but there are other parts of the curriculum that can integrate things like Greek and Latin root word games, or creating a newspaper article online instead of a book report.
The link I attached is a link our librarian sent to Kerry and I about technology in our classrooms "curriculum sharing"- Just thought you'd be interested.
Ok, so that was my initial thought. However, I am a teacher, like most of you taking this class, that wants to integrate some technology into the classroom. My intentions are to engage all learners, not just the ones who are living the separate life at home, but who take their education seriously throughout their home and school life. "and there it is so boring that the kids used to this other life, just can't stand it." there shouldn't be another life. Their lives should have several layers to it, making them who they are as individuals. School shouldn't be so boring they can't stand it, but let's face it...writing a research paper isn't a party for all of us. Wahoo!
This article basically sums it up in one quote, "yesterdays education for tomorrows kids". There are some fundamental basics that students need to learn and they can't always be taught in such a way that it integrates technology, but there are other parts of the curriculum that can integrate things like Greek and Latin root word games, or creating a newspaper article online instead of a book report.
The link I attached is a link our librarian sent to Kerry and I about technology in our classrooms "curriculum sharing"- Just thought you'd be interested.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Reflection on articles
When Siemens talks about the progression from formal learning to informal learning in “Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age”, it is contradictory in what is actually happening in the public school setting. Tyler’s linear approach to curriculum clearly shows a subject based way of teaching our students. A majority of our public schools are teaching this type of subject based learning because of our connectivity to state standards. I know that despite the desires to teach in a more critical-exploratory manner, we are trapped in the confines of our school curriculum. I agree with the statement, “The organization and the individual are both learning organisms. Increased attention to knowledge management highlights the need for a theory that attempts to explain the link between individual and organizational learning.” This is the goal that I have as a teacher, but I feel that until we can get some backing with administration we will not be able to move forward as far as we would like. I am not strictly one side or the other with this issue, obviously, because I teach a core subject area, but I do think we need to step outside the box and become more critical about the way we have done things in the past.
On another note, I enjoyed reading the socratic article. "None of us are educational islands unto ourselves." This metaphor really hit home for me, because we should be life time learners and teaching our students that resourcefulness and to be able to not only critically evaluate things in this world is imperative to a successful life, but to be reflective about it as well.
On another note, I enjoyed reading the socratic article. "None of us are educational islands unto ourselves." This metaphor really hit home for me, because we should be life time learners and teaching our students that resourcefulness and to be able to not only critically evaluate things in this world is imperative to a successful life, but to be reflective about it as well.
Monday, May 24, 2010
#r503
The actual technology that they were using in the classroom seemed to be interesting like the Apple Works. The question does arrise about the program needing Apple computers...I assume. I don't even know where to look for Apple computers at our school, but the program seems interesting and helpful. Especially if they are using differentiated instruction in the way that they allow students to use a non-linguistic form of their assignments as well. In fact, I believe with programs like that it would be a lot simpler to differentiate instruction according to learning styles. For instance: my husband is not a "good reader" but seems to read better from text that is on the computer. Also, if a student, like my husband, needs further assistance it would be very easy to copy and paste into a word document in order to highlight areas or space it out the way the student would need it to be for educational success.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Reflection 1 Digital Natives/Imigrants Inquiry Review
Curriculum vs. the child. The Community of inquiry graphic organizer reminded me of his thoughts on curriculum. Pedegogically we tend to say we are teaching to the child, but we usually end up teaching in accordance to time constraints and standards that are formed from people who aren't normally in a classroom setting on day to day basis.
The differences between the natives and the imigrants is indicitive of the public school student vs. the home schooled student. The home schooled has now come to the public school and does not realize there are rules such as: stand in line, raise your hand to talk, and ask to use the restroom. I am alot like the home schooled child who is learning these new ways, although I already know how to raise my hand and speak in turn :) but I do need to learn new uses of technology.
The differences between the natives and the imigrants is indicitive of the public school student vs. the home schooled student. The home schooled has now come to the public school and does not realize there are rules such as: stand in line, raise your hand to talk, and ask to use the restroom. I am alot like the home schooled child who is learning these new ways, although I already know how to raise my hand and speak in turn :) but I do need to learn new uses of technology.
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