I believe the most important change that can be made in the classroom is adding variety and diversity to the ways students can complete and turn in assignments. I think that taking Multiple Intelligences into consideration, along with new forms of technology, offer students who learn differently a chance to express their skills. All students learn differently and this is especially true for special education students. Using Talking Text for students with specific learning disabilities, ADHD/ADD could make a huge difference in comprehension and application. Students who dislike writing because they don't want like their handwriting or if their hand gets tired, can utilize word processors and use a plethora of tools to assist them in the writing process.
Barriers that could halt the success of flexible technology range from lack of training to lack of funds. There are many teachers who don't have the skills to utilize the technology that is available to them. And without money, that technology might not even be available to students or teachers. Lack of time could also hinder the use of technology. Computer labs in schools are often booked and teachers often have the mind-set that technology doesn't fit into the curriculum and computers are to be used after classwork is completed.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Accessible Textbooks
An accessible textbook can be in Braille form, large print, various digital forms, etext that can be instantly increased in size, preferential color schemes can be applied, and letters, words, phrases, sentence, paragraphs and sections can be sequentially highlighted as the text is read aloud and textbooks in audio form.
The use of accessible textbooks enables students with many different impairments and disabilities to actively participate in classroom activities and discussions with their peers. Students with visual impairments are able to access their textbooks through digital files provided by the textbook publishers. In some states, "Braille Laws" require the files to be formatted to ASCII, ICADD-22, SGML, .brf, WORD, and RTF. Most of the states offer this free of charge. Students with physical disabilities benefit from having textbooks in digital forms b/c the information can be altered and modified to work around their disability by using voice controls, eye gaze, switch access, etc. Students with SLD can have the text read to them b/c of the digital formatting and can use word processors to summarize the main ideas. Students with cognitive disabilities and those who have TBI have the ability to focus on curriculum b/c accessible textbooks are flexible and focus on meaning, main topics and offer graphics to appeal to students.
The use of accessible textbooks enables students with many different impairments and disabilities to actively participate in classroom activities and discussions with their peers. Students with visual impairments are able to access their textbooks through digital files provided by the textbook publishers. In some states, "Braille Laws" require the files to be formatted to ASCII, ICADD-22, SGML, .brf, WORD, and RTF. Most of the states offer this free of charge. Students with physical disabilities benefit from having textbooks in digital forms b/c the information can be altered and modified to work around their disability by using voice controls, eye gaze, switch access, etc. Students with SLD can have the text read to them b/c of the digital formatting and can use word processors to summarize the main ideas. Students with cognitive disabilities and those who have TBI have the ability to focus on curriculum b/c accessible textbooks are flexible and focus on meaning, main topics and offer graphics to appeal to students.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
WebQuests and UDL
The content in the article proves that WebQuests and Universal Design fit hand-in-hand. WebQuests can be easily altered and modified to accommodate the needs and requirements of all students. WebQuests can present real-life issues that require students to work together, or individually, find solutions using ideas from their skill level. WebQuests can provide as much or as little information as you would like. They offer flexibility and opportunity for multiple engagements.
Using Technology in the Classroom
On an e-Journey with Generation Y
This blog is written by an educator in Australia who feels very passionate about bringing technology into schools. Her blog is updated daily and focuses on the perspective of the students and their technological interests. She blogs about using FB in her curriculum and experiences with Webinars. I found this blog through the link Edublog Award Winning on the class page. I really like the ideas presented in this blog; almost everyone uses FB and it could be a really useful academic tool. The blog emphasizes use of the tools we use on a daily basis- cell phones, PDAs, social networking sites- as a way to engage and involve students.
Ed Tech Central
This blog is more relevant to teachers and thoughts, tips, advice, etc. that helps assist productivity. The blog topics are easy to relate to: ie. "To Mac or not to Mac, " productivity tips, etc. I found this blog through the Top 100 technology blogs for teachers on the class site. The productivity tips really caught my attention b/c they are straightforward and easy to remember. I will use the blog for both personal and professional use.
Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs
The creator of this blog is very passionate and dedicated to providing students with special needs with the same technological opportunities that are available to everyone. She has strong beliefs of what her students can achieve and what they deserve- author. Her blogs offer tips, games and the use of iPad/iPod as switches. I found this blog through the Top 100 technology blogs for teachers link on the class site.
This blog is written by an educator in Australia who feels very passionate about bringing technology into schools. Her blog is updated daily and focuses on the perspective of the students and their technological interests. She blogs about using FB in her curriculum and experiences with Webinars. I found this blog through the link Edublog Award Winning on the class page. I really like the ideas presented in this blog; almost everyone uses FB and it could be a really useful academic tool. The blog emphasizes use of the tools we use on a daily basis- cell phones, PDAs, social networking sites- as a way to engage and involve students.
Ed Tech Central
This blog is more relevant to teachers and thoughts, tips, advice, etc. that helps assist productivity. The blog topics are easy to relate to: ie. "To Mac or not to Mac, " productivity tips, etc. I found this blog through the Top 100 technology blogs for teachers on the class site. The productivity tips really caught my attention b/c they are straightforward and easy to remember. I will use the blog for both personal and professional use.
Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs
The creator of this blog is very passionate and dedicated to providing students with special needs with the same technological opportunities that are available to everyone. She has strong beliefs of what her students can achieve and what they deserve- author. Her blogs offer tips, games and the use of iPad/iPod as switches. I found this blog through the Top 100 technology blogs for teachers link on the class site.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Digital Kids. Analog Schools.
We desperately need . . . we may not survive without . . . a generation of young people who are imaginative, inventive, fearless learners, and compassionate leaders. Yet, what can we say, as educators, about the students we are producing? We can prove that they can read, do basic math on paper, and they are able to sit for hours filling in bubble sheets.
No generation in history has ever been so thoroughly prepared for the industrial age.
http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/2006/02/16/happy-birthday-jude/
Time is so limited to teachers because of frequent testing that is required and using the curriculum in order to meet the state standards. More and more students are developing test and performance anxiety. Children are in their classrooms, sitting, the majority of the school day. Recess time is reduced to squeeze in more academic time and subjects that foster creativity are being eliminated because of budget cuts. It is a proven fact that everyone needs 'down time' in order to fully comprehend and understand information. Lack of recess and gym and more sitting definitely increases childhood obesity, fatigue and lack of focusing. Children are not robots; they need time to have fun and play and create connections to new things learned.
One of our problems has been that we have tried to shape the technology around outdated notions of what schooling is about, rather than reshaping our notions to reflect new world conditions. . . . In a rapidly changing world, it becomes much less valuable to be able to memorize the answer, and much more valuable to be able to find and even invent the answers. . . . We can’t keep up with making the technology the curriculum. All we can do is prepare our students to teach themselves. It’s the only way to keep up.
http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/2005/12/16/so-whats-different-some-answers/
Effective learning is all about exploring and coming up with new questions and answers that go beyond set boundaries. Creating connections and relating information is so important in comprehending and remembering information. Teaching children the same information in the same way, year after year is ridiculous. Introducing new technology and ways of conveying curriculum are a few avenues teachers can take to prepare students.
No generation in history has ever been so thoroughly prepared for the industrial age.
http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/2006/02/16/happy-birthday-jude/
Time is so limited to teachers because of frequent testing that is required and using the curriculum in order to meet the state standards. More and more students are developing test and performance anxiety. Children are in their classrooms, sitting, the majority of the school day. Recess time is reduced to squeeze in more academic time and subjects that foster creativity are being eliminated because of budget cuts. It is a proven fact that everyone needs 'down time' in order to fully comprehend and understand information. Lack of recess and gym and more sitting definitely increases childhood obesity, fatigue and lack of focusing. Children are not robots; they need time to have fun and play and create connections to new things learned.
One of our problems has been that we have tried to shape the technology around outdated notions of what schooling is about, rather than reshaping our notions to reflect new world conditions. . . . In a rapidly changing world, it becomes much less valuable to be able to memorize the answer, and much more valuable to be able to find and even invent the answers. . . . We can’t keep up with making the technology the curriculum. All we can do is prepare our students to teach themselves. It’s the only way to keep up.
http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/2005/12/16/so-whats-different-some-answers/
Effective learning is all about exploring and coming up with new questions and answers that go beyond set boundaries. Creating connections and relating information is so important in comprehending and remembering information. Teaching children the same information in the same way, year after year is ridiculous. Introducing new technology and ways of conveying curriculum are a few avenues teachers can take to prepare students.
Monday, June 13, 2011
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