Alexander+Corona

media type="custom" key="12715514"This is my Voki I created in my ISTC 301 class in the Spring of 2012 at Towson University.

This is my wepage I created in my ISTC 301 class in the Spring of 2012 at Towson University.

=__The CAST and the Universal Design for Learning__=

In aiding my learning, visual aids such as charts can make a huge difference. Having been in many history classes, I have become accustomed to the typical lecture which required taking many notes. I am already aware that maps help me learn. I can look at a particular country on a map, and automatically recall its history and make connections through different points in its history with its neighboring states. For example, when I look at a map of the United States, I recall that at one time, the French occupied territories in what is now Canada until the Seven Year’s War, while parts of Texas were considered Mexican territory. As I look at Mexico on the map, I also recall the Mexican-American war, which happened at an earlier point in history, but still take into consideration that the French had occupied Canada for many years prior to the Seven Years War. My overall impression of the CAST website is that it is a useful website for teachers who have concerns for their students’ ability to succeed. The site offers some great tips on helping teachers succeed in their classrooms. I like for example how the site suggests, and offers examples of certain formats of sentences, so that teachers do not encourage their students to be distracted, or overwhelmed by difficult passages. I like how the website has visual and media aids to help students like myself, learn about the Universal Design for Learning system. They walk the walk, and do not just preach about how to teach. The website has a concern for “universal” needs of students, which I find important. I learn more and more, that teaching has to be done in a way that includes every student’s needs. In helping the needs for students, technology can tremendously help with learning universally. Most importantly, the system is designed to help motivate students in wanting to learn. I found the Brain Network activity to be useful for myself. It reminded me of myself that when taking notice of something, it is important to think outside of the box. If I do not think outside of the box, than I will see only what I want to see and not take into consideration what else is happening. I was mostly focused on the woman standing up to greet what looked to be her husband. I did not think to look at the man’s face to see what type of expression he had. Doing so could have better explained what the situation in the painting was. What I find to be most interesting about the electronic version of //Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age//, is that CAST has developed its Universal Design for Learning, by drawing from neuroscience and studies of media. I believe that teachers should teach students about the neuroscience discoveries of the brain. Perhaps by telling students how the brain works, teachers can help students deal with, or help students identify any learning disabilities on their own. With this, I am learning more and more that technology is playing a big part in students’ success. In my teaching, I will strive to adopt technology into the classroom setting as a way to engage students. I am a bit traditional when it comes to learning, but I do understand that technology plays a big role in education. Technology is the future. I find the information at CAST to be very useful. I really liked the tips that the Book Builder section had to offer. The lesson plans that are offered also seem to be useful. Most universities teach students to adopt a single lesson plan format. It is good to know that there are other effective models that are out there available to teachers. As much as I find this site useful for differentiated learning, there seems to be something missing. I believe that one of the most important things to a student’s success is motivation. The question then becomes, what motivates a student? The answer for a college student is simple. Money, a secure future, happiness and living the American dream. That question is simple for college students because for most, they have a good idea of who they want to become and where they want to be in the future. They have a goal. Asking a student in middle, or high school what he or she wants to be for the rest of his or her life, is a pretty simple task. While some may never become the President of the United States or a NASA astronaut, it does not hurt to encourage such dreams. What the CAST system and the many other existing tools that offer student success lack, is the key ingredient for a student’s success. Teachers, parents and adult figures, need to encourage students they can still be somebody. If we can encourage students that they can than they will. If we succeed in letting students know that they can be someone in life, then their motivation will take care of the rest and lead them in life.

=__ Assistive Technology Assignment __=

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? **

By visiting these websites, I learned that disabled students are reliant on technology every day to make their lives easier. It was amazing to see how Ellen was able to communicate with the assistive technology that she uses. I also learned that there are many simple innovations that have made a big impact on the lives of disabled students. Some of these innovations are simple tools that are not very costly.

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? **

I never thought that a “Pik Stik Reacher” could be of any use in a classroom. A simple tool such as this could make a day at school for a disabled student a lot easier. The book stands were also a great idea for disabled students who have muscular disorders. The mechanical pump that allowed the disabled student in the video to play the instrument was also really nice.

3. ** What promises/potentials does technology provide for students with diverse learning needs? **

Technology promises that these disabled kids can live normally and will allow them to receive enjoyment out of life. A hundred years ago, people who suffered from cerebral palsy and other disabilities, were confined to living a life in the house, or in a hospital. Now, mechanical chairs allow these students to get around from place to place. This enables them to go to school, and to go to places that they desire. Other technology helps those to communicate who otherwise cannot on their own.

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. **

I recently had an experience with a disabled student. During one of my observations at Benjamin Franklin High School, a student in a mechanical wheel chair noticed me walking down the hallway. He could tell I was a little lost and he approached me. He was very polite and asked me if I needed help. He then introduced himself and shook my hand. He appeared to have a paralysis condition that could have been caused by an illness, injury or birth defect. I was surprised to see how happy and helpful he was. Considering that this young man needed care, it was good to see that he had a legitimate concern for other people surrounding him in his school.

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? **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">From this assignment, I know that I have to better prepare myself for the many types of students that will be accompanying me in the classroom. I forgot about this part of teaching. I took a special education course, but it was a few years ago, and I have since forgotten about the importance of preparing for learning disabled students. This assignment is a way to remind me of the importance of being prepared for whatever challenge may arise. One of the most important things a teacher can do for a disabled student is to encourage them. By encouragement, a teacher will help a learning disabled student to achieve.

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=__Virtual Field Trips__= The virtual field trip was a pretty cool experience. The layout of the trip was a bit confusing and unorganized, but with time, anyone can get use to it. I found it very suitable for a history or social studies class. Some times field trips are not possible due to location and funding. The internet however makes these kind of field trips almost a reality. It was interesting to see how the virtual Smithsonian museum was demonstrated in the exact way as it is seen in Washington D.C.

I will certainly take into consideration the utilization of these virtual tours in my classroom. I think the impact can be great on the students' motivation and will to learn. Subjects like history and social studies need versatility in the classroom. Students often find themselves bored and so far removed from the experiences that are being portrayed in traditional textbooks.

=__Here is a picture of a Bowline I made.__=



=Here is a Podcast I created. It is the Gettysburg address that President Abraham Lincoln delivered on Thursday November 19, 1863 in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. The music is featured in both "We Were Soldiers" (2002), composed by Nick Glennie-Smith, and "Glory" (1989), composed by James Horner.=

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This is the link to my digital story.

Music Credits:
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">1. Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">2. CCR - Fortunate Son <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">3. Wilson Pickett - Land Of 1000 Dances <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">4. The Mamas And The Papas - California Dreamin <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">5. CCR - Have You Ever Seen The Raion <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">6. CCR - Bad Moon Rising <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">7. CCR - Down On The Corner <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">8. The Byrds - Turn Turn Turn <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">9. The Youngbloods - Lets Get Together <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">10. Eric Clapton - Change The World <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">11. Jackie DeShannon - What The World Needs Now <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">12. Amy Lee - My Immortal <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">13. Hans Zimmer And Lisa Gerrard - The Wheat //Gladiator Soundtrack// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">14. Hans Zimmer And Lisa Gerrard - Honor Him //Gladiator Soundtrack// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">15. Taps

=__Final Reflection__=

Towson University has found it to be critical for the use of technology in the classroom. I went through a meaningful course that not only taught me the importance of using technology in the classroom, but how to utilize this technology. I learned that students are more so drawn in to an instructor when technology is being used throughout a lesson. I would like to find a system for my classroom where all students are included in learning. There are a variety of learning strategies that can be used for a variety of different learners. Following the UDL solutions will help teachers figure out just what type of technology to use. There are many websites that can be used in the classroom. Videos posted on YouTube can also be used to capture the students’ attention. I truly believe that technology can make a history classroom more interesting, engaging and motivating for students to learn. Technology can make a difference.

I trust that my professor and that my school has set me up for success with the technology course I completed. Assistive technology is also another important method to consider. We learned how computers can help students with learning disabilities. I want to be certain that these students are included in my learning. I do not want to leave anyone behind. With technology, these students can succeed. We observed videos in the class that showed us how many different type of learners responded to a lesson with technology. It was amazing to see the difference from the traditional way of teaching. Prior to taking the course, I did not see technology as an important factor in teaching. At the end of the course I realized that if I wanted to be an affective teacher, I would have to incorporate technology into my classroom.

Most importantl, we must consider that technology is the future. By utilizing technology in the classroom, we are giving students more exposure to it, which will help them build their technical skills. With your permission, I would intend to fully utilize the white boards and computers in the classroom. If given the opportunity, I would also like to demonstrate the use of these forms of technology to other teachers. It would just be a way to give them some suggestions. Some of the teachers may like it and some of them may not. That is perfectly okay. We could all exchange ideas of what works in the classroom and what does not. I would love to hear any suggestions that other teachers may have for me as well. I am new to teaching, and I just want to figure out how to setup students for success.

// My overall attitude of utilizing technology in the classroom prior to taking this course was not very positive. I knew that on some level, technology had to be used for e-mails, lecture and other tasks unrelated to learning. I did not realize that other methods of technology existed for learning such as a whiteboard and I certainly did not realize that there were varieties of assistive technology. I think I may have had this attitude due to my experience of taking history courses at the college level. Typically, history professors just stand in a fixed position and lecture. There is not anything necessarily wrong with this, but for teaching middle and high school students, this method can be detrimental to their learning experience. Lecturing middle and high school students is a part of the learning experience. In order for history to be fully learned and understood, students need an instructor that has good investigative skills with the ability to relay their learned knowledge verbally. However, there has to be something else mixed in. Something else has to reach out to students. It has to capture their attention and motivate them to learn. It has to help __all students__ learn and __include__ all students. We live in a great time. Technology has become an extremely important part of everyday life. Let us use the advantages that technology has given us. It has so far made an immeasurable impact and I believe it will continue to do just that in the future. //