Alaina+Kreft

Above is my cartoon about education and standardized testing, made with ToonDoo.

Below is my final reflection for the ISTC 301 course. This response is in regards to my plans to use technology in the classroom.

Alaina Kreft Having up to date technology in the classroom is very important to me as a teacher because it helps me format my lessons to interest and accommodate all students. Since people learn in different ways (kinesthetically, visually, and auditory) it is crucial that a teacher is aware of this and finds way to covey the lesson to fit this. Assistive technology is typically seen as useful in special education or to those with learning disabilities. However, I believe AT is useful to all students because it is an interactive way for students to learn. For example, they can draw on the Smartboard or write responses on here instead of only on their papers. As a Spanish teacher, I could incorporate the latest technology in my lessons by teaching them new vocabulary words and grammar in multiple ways so they can learn by seeing, hearing, or other hands on activities. For example, the program Voki could be used to have the students develop characters and they can add voices to their individual persona. This will help students with pronunciation in a foreign language and it will be a fun and creative way for them to demonstrate their understanding.
 * Earlier in the semester, I thought technology could be used with lessons but I mainly thought of PowerPoint’s and Presi being used to present information to students. This course has showed me that there are many methods to present information and teach to students. In addition, I will know how to use interactive websites such as CAST to aid my lessons. I now know how to appeal to all types of learners and adjust the lessons and curriculum to fit students’ needs. **

This is a movie I made to tell the story of "One fish two fish red fish blue fish" by Dr.Seuss [|my video]

media type="file" key="istc movie_0001.wmv" width="300" height="300"



Virtual Field Trips:

Taking virtual field trip was a unique experience that I will definitely use when I start teaching. It gave me the ability to experience so many things that I would not otherwise be able to. For example, I have always found the ancient Egyptians to be very interesting. Showing the process of mummification and the pyramids looked realistic and was interesting. This learning activity is a perfect example of how technology can help us discover things and see them first hand when we never could before.

media type="custom" key="14050342" Above is a picture I edited with Fotobabble

This is a Glogster about Lev Vygotsky: media type="custom" key="13893016"

These are my responses to the assistive technology questions:
 * 1) 1. From visiting the websites and viewing the videos in Part I of the assignment, what information did you learn about assistive technology for disabled individuals?

From these websites, learned that there are so many more types of assistive technologies than I thought existed. For example, I previously believed that computer programs were the majority of accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Now I know that there are more unique solutions such as hand weights to encourage students to write. I also learned that equipment such as power chairs and communication aids can often be misunderstood and hinder communication.
 * 1) 2. Were there any sites, products, or resources that particularly impressed you and that you want to remember as you prepare to become a classroom teacher?

In particular, I want to remember the site with the different case studies (AT decision making profile). This was especially memorable because it shows 4 students with rather common disabilities and struggles with learning and comprehension and gives practical solutions that would be beneficial to these students and helpful for the teachers as well. The video on “Assistive Technology Enabling Dreams” was also impressive because it showed how accommodations can be made for students in special subject areas such as music. It is very important for all students to have the option of partaking in music, art or any other creative endeavor .
 * 1) 3. What promises/potentials does technology provide for students with diverse learning needs?

Technology promises that students with diverse learning needs can have proper accommodations so they are on the same level as their peers. It could also potentially have even more benefits than it currently does, since research is growing and funding could increase. Additionally, technology gives current solutions as for students to read, write, speak and move more easily. Virtually any need can be met by some form of assistive technology.


 * 1) 4. Have you ever had a personal experience with a student or other person who has used some form of assistive technology to help them function in learning or everyday life? If so, describe what you observed from that experience in terms of meeting the special needs of those individuals.

In my personal experience, I have seen plenty of students use forms of assistive technology. The most popular that I have seen are speech boards which help the student verbally communicate ideas by typing into the computer and it projects the sounds. Also, I have frequently seen motorized wheelchairs used by various students and other people such as the elderly. Both of these accommodations ease daily life for individuals. The speech boards also aid learning because they are the communication tool. I observed that these individuals use their assistive technology to the maximum extent possible to engage in daily activities and lead a more stress free lifestyle where they do not have to be inhibited by their disability.


 * 1) 5. From this assignment, what will you carry with you as you prepare to become a teacher – one that will, most likely, face the challenge of meeting the needs of special education students along with non-disabled learners?

As I become a teacher, I will carry with me the message that all learners are different and there is an abundance of technological resources at my disposal to create a more universal approach in my lessons. Assistive technology is so important because it helps those with unique disabilities meet their needs in a learning environment as well as everyday life. I will most likely teach students who use various forms of modifications and it will be very useful if I am familiar with how they work.

This is my webpage I created with html for ISTC 301

media type="custom" key="13260184" I created this Voki to explain the importance of technology standards in education

UDL Reflection:

1. In completing the learning styles survey, did you learn anything new about your personal learning style, or did the information confirm what you have already determined about how you learn best? Were there any suggestions offered for improving your study skills that you had not considered before?

Before I took the learning styles survey, I knew that I learn best verbally. However, the skills and suggestions were very helpful. For example, it said that making flashcards would help me remember the information I am studying because I am writing the information again which is best for a visual/verbal learner. I will definitely utilize this tip as a study skill because I didn’t realize how effective it could be. Occasionally I would make flashcards to study but they would usually be strictly for vocabulary words. I will now incorporate this skill to learn and memorize concepts as well. 2. What was your overall impression of the CAST website?

Overall, I feel that the CAST website is rich with various types of information. It is useful because it displays the information in a variety of methods just like UDL. The concept maps at the beginning of the chapters are very useful, especially for visual learners and are helpful because they give a quick overview of what it is about. In addition, the CAST website lists additional links for each topic discussed, which are good ways to find extra information. 3. Did you find any interesting information in the electronic version of **//Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age//**? Describe how you might incorporate that information in your teaching.

I found a great deal of interesting and useful information in the electronic version of this book. Some of the content I already knew from my education classes and prior knowledge. However, each chapter contained new information as well. Many of the teaching techniques given were innovative and creative ways to present information and utilize technology to the maximum extent possible. In my teaching, I hope to incorporate most of the methods discussed. It is important for teachers to recognize that students learn in different ways so there should be variety in lesson plans. Specifically, I hope to use technology available to me so I can vary my methods of teaching to suit visual, auditory, and tactile learners.

4. What was your reaction to the 2 activities in which you participated? Did you gain any new insight into your strengths and talents through these exercises?

I gained a lot of insight to my learning styles through these two activities. For example, I discovered I learn best from verbal and visual sources. After I found this out from the learning styles survey, it makes sense because I understand the most in classes where teachers give a lecture guide and follow along with it during the lecture. The CAST activity also helped me see my potential strengths as a foreign language teacher because it sparked my creativity for future lesson plans in Spanish. I want to make sure I incorporate all strategies and build on these strengths for myself and future students.

5. Many of my students have responded quite positively to the materials at CAST. How do you feel about this approach to developing differentiated instruction?

Differentiated instruction is important for all teachers, especially in our society today. After much research, we now know that each student is unique and retains different information based on their learning styles. Teachers should recognize that lessons should be taught to accommodate all students and the CAST materials make this much easier. The different ideas and techniques discussed were innovative and current in today’s educational system and seem to be very useful.

6. What would you like to know/explore more at CAST?

I would like to know more about how to plan lessons to ensure differentiated instruction. Additionally, I think the site should include testimonials from teachers who use these methods to prove to students that this style of teaching is feasible and practical. The information seems great, just time consuming to plan.