Diane+R

=Hola. My name is Diane R. = media type="custom" key="20271928" align="center"

=**Please check out my GLOGSTER PAGE by clicking on [|this link]**=
 * NOTE - WORLD LANGUAGE WEBSITE SHOULD BE IN THE TARGET LANGUAGE. MY PAGES ARE IN ENGLISH FOR THE SAKE OF DEMONSTRATION.

=I teach Spanish at Ridge High School = =in Bernards Township, New Jersey =

I have been teaching in Bernards Township for 13 years. I taught Spanish in the elementary schools for nine years. September will mark the beginning of my 5th year at Ridge High School. = My classroom website =

Part 1 -Tool Box Time # 1 I enjoyed exploring the different social networking sites. I had already created an EDMODO account at school. For some reason I was unable to get onto it again. I will try at home again. EDMODO worked well at school. I looked at PINTEREST and I think it would have some applications in the study of World Languages. Perhaps when students research places they can find and label photos of different places in Spanish-speaking countries. I will use delicious.com to reorganize my bookmarks. Thank you so much, Jenn for a wonderful 1st day.

I do not want to create a Facebook account. At our school Facebook is frowned upon.

I want to make my Avatar www.voti.com == ==

voki

 * wikispaces
 * glogster
 * jing
 * tagzito
 * Use Ebsco Host
 * Make a podcasts
 * Tweet

==4 ideas to share with others ==
 * UDL
 * Using technology in the World Language classroom
 * Making our practice more effective through the use of technology
 * Wiki pages
 * Lee LeFever's informational videos

==3 principles of Universal Design for Learning ==


 * Represent information in multiple formats and media
 * Provide multiple pathways for students' action and expression
 * Provide multiple ways to engage students' interest and motivation.

==2 changes in your teaching to reach all learners in the Digital Age ==
 * I will ask the students to reflect (do homework) and send it to me digitally through my wikispace.
 * Plan my lessons with the strengths of my Net Gen students in mind

==1 BIG idea to implement when school begins in September == My new wikispace and Glogster

July 10, 2012 **Elevator speech:** What is Universal Design for Learning? Barriers to learning are not just the sum total of the students psychological or physiological disabilities. The student's strengths and weaknesses, the formats and media with which they are presented, the multiple means of expression and methods of engaging and motivating students work in concert. Using the parameters of Universal Design for Learning can benefit all students.
 * Represent information in multiple formats and media
 * Provide multiple pathways for students' action and expression
 * Provide multiple ways to engage students' interest and motivation.

Blog Reflection # 2: If we fail to analyze our curriculum for representational modes, means of expression (assessment) and multiple methods of engagement, we fail to reach students who are not able to learn optimally using the traditional media of instruction. The challenge of this approach is that we cannot accommodate every student, but UDL puts us on the path of thinking about how best to present, assess and motivate our students.

Tool Box # 2 CAST.com When I went into Learning Tools at the CAST site, I was delighted to see how the article on the 3 Brain Networks gave me choice as to how I would learn about the networks of the brain. I was able to read a piece, view a video or do a "fun activity" to practice the theory of Brain networks. I learn by doing, so naturally I went to the site of the "fun activity". This activity highlights how the recognition, strategic, and affective networks of the brain work. This illustrative activity is a great example of how a teacher might represent information in multiple formats and media.

Hooray! With Nicole's help, I was able to create a Voki. It's not the one that I originally designed, but it's still pretty good and it speaks Spanish!! I think it might be fun to ask my students to use the WIKI to respond to my prompts in Spanish spoken by my Voki. Pretty cool, right?


 * July 16, 2012**
 * Reflection # 4 - What barriers are inherent in traditional assessments? What are the challenges in offering varied options for assessment?**

Among my special education students are about a half dozen boys who have trouble with the task of physically writing answers in a traditional assessment.

I have asked the Media Specialist to provide these students with tablets. With the tablets, the students are able to submit answers in a timely fashion.

I also create a large number of oral assessments. After all the test of learning a language is actually speaking it.

Paper and pencil assessments are less a test of students’ proficiency in the language than a test of how well they play the “school game”.



UDL Reflection #5
Given the realities of our modern age and the demands of our children’s future, is it really okay to allow teachers to choose whether or not they incorporate modern technologies into their instruction? When given the option, many people will follow the path of least resistance or pursue the easiest way.

When faced with another new thing to learn, many teachers may balk, complain, and resist. But, the reality is that our Net Gen students learn in very specific ways that we need to address. Learning with technology will make our practice easier, more relevant and less boring to our students. Why not adopt the new technologies? If we don’t won’t we be condemning ourselves to obsolescence?

**Who are the digital natives?**
I will share this with my supervisor, assistant superintendent, WL colleagues, principal and with my best friend and neighbor.

Ok, sit down folks. We are talking about our students in the year 2012. Who are they? They are the 3-18 year-olds in our classes who don’t remember a time without the internet. They are children who spend less time as passive observers or TV watchers than we did as boomers because they are always plugged into their devices searching, communicating, scrutinizing, customizing.

=**UDL Reflection # 6**=

Universal Design for all Learners has been one of those classes that has re-energized me and inspired me to improve my practice. Yes, there were days when my head was swimming with all the new sites and tools for teaching and everyday life. Luckily my head did not explode, but my breadth of knowledge did expand to the point of an explosion. Let’s hope that this was a controlled explosion that will enable me to re-organize, re-tool, re-evaluate and re-plan my lessons and strategies for engaging all learners… our Net Gen students.

This course and our instructor, Jen C. has been one of the best I have ever taken at RTC. I learned so much. I was engaged to the point (almost) of obsession. Yes, I will improve my practice using what I learned in this class, and after all, isn’t that what professional development is all about?