Samantha+Marchan

media type="custom" key="12848076" Hi, this is a voki that I created for my ISTC 301 class.

I did not learn anything new about myself while completing the learning style survey. It just confirmed what I already knew about my learning styles. I score the highest in The Visual/ Verbal Learning Style, The Visual/ Nonverbal Learning Style, The Tactile/ Kinesthetic Learning Style, and The Auditory/ Verbal Learning Style. To be a visual/verbal learner it means that I learn best when information is presented visually and in a written language format. I benefit when my instructors use the blackboard / overhead projector to list the essential points of a lecture, or who provide you with an outline to follow along with during lecture. I had a sociology teacher who would post the outline before the class and I could print it and review it, that way while in class I didn’t have to take notes all I did was look and listen to him and I did great in that class. I also benefit from information obtained from textbooks and class notes and I like to study by myself in a quiet room. I often see information "in my mind's eye" when I am trying to remember something. I am also a visual/ non-verbal learner and that means I learn best when I can have a visual representation for what I am learning like a picture or design format. I benefit from instructors who use visual aids such as film, video, maps and charts. When trying to remember something, I often visualize a picture of it in my mind. I have an artistic side and I enjoy activities dealing with visual art and design. I also do well with tactile/ kinesthetic learning I learn best when I am physically engaged in a "hands on" activity. I benefit from a lab setting where I can manipulate materials to learn new information. I learn best when I can be physically active in the learning environment. I benefit when my instructors encourage in-class demonstrations, "hands on" student learning experiences, and field work outside the classroom. Lastly I am also an auditory/verbal learner. I learn best when information is presented auditory in an oral language format. I benefit from listening to lecture and participating in group discussions. I also benefit from obtaining information from audio tape and when trying to remember something, I can often "hear" the way someone told me the information, or the way I previously said it out loud. I learn best when interacting with others in a listening/speaking exchange. The survey did not suggest any studying techniques that I do not already utilize. I was very impressed by the information I read In the cast. I learned how to evaluate my students and their learning styles to come up with strategies that will help them learn new information and allow them to keep up in class. I learn to become aware their not only their strengths but also their weaknesses. I plan to utilize all the teaching methods mentioned in bullet 5 of chapter 6. I found them very helpful and I think I gained a lot by reading the information presented in the electronic copy of Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age. I really liked the activities I participated in. first I thought it was very time consuming but I saw how beneficial it proved to be as I continued through the activity and I found it insightful. I also think it was good information that will be very helpful in my future. I think this is very beneficial with helping education majors get more ideas to differentiate their teaching. It covers a lot of information that I have never been introduced to before and I am sure a lot of my peers will feel this way also. It felt great to walk away with so much knowledge. I would like to know more about the sections I did not get to read and I hope I will have some free time soon to read and participate in other activities that it may have in the CAST.
 * UDL Assignment Reflection**

This is the link to my webpage that i made with html

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?
 * Assistive Technology Response**

I learn that it is a way to provide students and others with technology to assist in their daily lives. AT promotes greater independence because it enables people to perform tasks that they would not otherwise be able to accomplish, or would have great difficulty accomplishing. Some assistive technologies are text telephones, curb cuts, accessible keyboards, large print, Braille, and speech recognition software. 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 was really impressed by the Ed.gov website. I think that it was the best and easiest website to find information on how to best serve students with disabilities. It covered things like dealing with discipline and how to align IDEA with the no child left behind act. I plan to explore this site a lot more in order to prepare myself for my future as a teacher because with classrooms being more inclusive I think it something I should learn more about so I can provide exemplary service to every student that I teach without having to struggle. Link to Ed.gov website: [] 3. What promises/potentials does technology provide for students with diverse learning needs?

It gives students a chance to participate more independently in their learning. It allows them to keep up in the inclusive classrooms, something they could not otherwise do. It breaks the barriers that disabilities impose on the students and makes inclusion possible without being a burden to the teacher and students. It gives students a better chance at success in and out of the classroom. 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 have not met a student who needed to use assistive technology but there is a man in my neighborhood whom uses it. He is wheel chair bound it seems because of a physiological disability. He rides around the neighborhood every time it is warm enough to do so. Every time he sees someone outside he rides closer to them and just observe what they are doing. I think he wants to interact more but is unable to. He does not speak at all. I do not know much else about him and what exactly caused his disability. 4. 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?

I plan to take away the knowledge of the good it can do for the students, the success and barriers that it will help break through. I can also use my knowledge to educate and help families who may not know about all the technologies that exist out there which can help make their lives much easier. I think that it is important to educate non-disabled students on the problems that disabled students face. I feel that when students are educated about these things it makes the learning environment more comfortable and positive for both the disabled and non-disabled students and they are able to cooperate in the inclusive classroom.

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 * GLOG on Learning Theories (Social Constructivism)**

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 * Butterfly Knot I Tied Using Directions from**



I think that virtual field trips open up a world of possibilities for students and educators and I think it is a great way to differentiate. Instead of relying on materials like textbooks and films teachers can utilize virtual field trips to provide an interactive learning experience for their students without having to leave the comfort and safety of the classroom. I think this is a great tool to have access to because it save less fortunate students from the embarrassment that regular field trips can create for a student who does not have the finances to participate in a regular field trip. It also eliminate difficult situation for students who have some type of disability, for example travel may be difficult for them, or the location may not be accessible to them etc….Having access to a computer means that field trips become accessible meaning, every student can attend, regardless of financial, physical, or parental situations. Students will be free from agony and avoid feeling awkward, ashamed, or left out, since all they have to do is show up for class on the day of the virtual field trip. It is also useful to have virtual fieldtrips because it can be used to explore a destination that the class will actually explore in the next few days or weeks. This way if they have to do a report on a particular thing in the museum they can use the virtual fieldtrip to save time and pick attractions they really want to visit before- hand instead of having to spend hours trying to pick something to focus on. It can also be used to get students excited for an upcoming field trip that the class will take. I think this is a great thing to have and I think that the virtual fieldtrip on skeletons is a great one for a science class ( [] - Allows students to compare animal and human skeletons) because it get students involved and excited about learning about skeletons because they can take their exploration at their own pace.
 * Virtual Field Trip**

I made a story on Trinidad and Tobago. it is an overview story that contains information about T&T and the native people, cuisine, money, government buildings, holidays, flowers, and birds there are also a few different sampling of music. This would be a great extension on a social studies lesson about maybe Islands and some things you may find there. Here is the link to the digital story that is posted to You tube. []
 * Digital Story**

I feel as teachers we should strive for equality in our classroom. It is important that all children get the opportunity to learn about the concepts we teach in the classroom on an equal level as their peers, no matter their physical or mental abilities. I feel that with technology in their classroom it will help shorten the gap between what students with disabilities and their classmates and they will be able to participate and learn more when compared to the opportunities they have without technology with is very limited for some. Technology can also help students who are not disabled as some students have different learning styles and may be able to better comprehend a concept if the information is presented differently. For example, power points, podcasts, digital videos, and many others. It helps give them something concrete. Teachers can use a catchy video accompanied by catchy music to help teach students prepositions. Having this ability can make a huge difference in how much stress the students and teachers’ endures during a difficult subject. Technology is also important and should be integrated in our curriculum because the world has become more technology savvy and it would be very beneficial for us to prepare students for the ever changing world. Teachers are here to make a difference in their students’ lives and help prepare them for the world after they stop being students. It is not fair to them to just be thrown into the world without being prepared. Technology is in everything we do now and therefore I feel like the use of technology through school, using alternatives to read and write, to learn science and social studies through technology especially when you don’t have the option to explore those areas is great. Students can learn all about china and be able to experience things from Chinese cultures through something like a virtual fieldtrip. It is something they would receive more education from instead of just being able to read words and see a picture in a book. I guarantee they will hold on to more information if they were able to explore a virtual fieldtrip and see how the Chinese dress, eat, and live, among other things. **I came into this class knowing about the importance of technology and how beneficial it can be for disabled students. Though I briefly considered how it can impact visual learners I never imagined just how much it can help students without disabilities. I never thought about just how much of an aide it can be to teachers or to poor schools who cannot afford fieldtrips. This class has helped broaden my knowledge of technology and just how much teachers and students can benefit from utilizing it.**
 * Final Reflection**