Nicole+K.

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Norman A. Bleshman Regional Day School Preschool Disabled

= = **Presentation of Chapter 1:** Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning  by David H. Rose & Anne Meyer

= = 5,4,3,2,1 Daily Reflection = = ~ 5 new technologies to try voki  delicious  wordle  wikispace wallwisher

~ 4 ideas to share with others ~ 3 principles of Universal Design for Learning Representation Action/Expression Engage

<span style="color: #45e5ef; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">~ 2 changes in your teaching to reach all learners in the Digital Age~ 1 BIG idea to implement "in the fall" **<span style="color: #45e5ef; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">What is UDL? **

<span style="color: #45e5ef; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: justify;">Elevator Speech: Universal design for learning (UDL) is a framework in which teachers develop instructional goals, methods, materials and assessments that consider ALL students’ needs. It is the complete opposite of an individual educational plan (IEP). In particular, itpromotes more technology in the classroom to meet the diverse needs of very diverse students. Using technology, in a variety of representations, allows every student access to the content, regardless of learning style and/or weaknesses. By “doing” as opposed to passively listening, students are more engaged and connected to content. As a result, lessons are delivered in a more effective and appealing manner.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Analyzing the curriculum for strengths and weaknesses, rather than the student allows one to focus on a broader audience. When the curriculum is further investigated, one can begin to fine tune not only WHAT is taught, but HOW it is taught. In doing this, more students will be reached. This lends itself having positive outcomes for all students. The challenges to this approach is that it is much more time consuming to focus on the curriculum, which in turn focuses on the class as a whole as opposed to individualizing students’ needs. It is much easier identify “special needs students” individually, rather than constructing instructional goals that take into consideration every students learning ability. I think one of the most important factors to consider when building one’s lessons is that differences/weaknesses should not be frowned upon and looked at as a stress, rather celebrated as an opportunity to for student to learn differently.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Reflection #1. **<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: justify;">While working on my wiki page, I was able to embed a voki. The voki website was of particular interest, as most of my students enjoy watching cartoons via youTube.com. I will be able to integrate a voki into my classroom in the fall. My curriculum is called “Curiosity Corner.” This is based around a gray cat, name Alley. I can make a cat voki that I will use to introduce the theme of the week during circle each morning. This voki can be used as a tool for attending skills.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Reflection #2. **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Traditional assessments are only beneficial for traditional learners. Mostly, these assessments are very objective and do not allow for creative thought and analysis. This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart due to the sheer nature of the students in my program. I do not believe any student will ever be exempt from testing, regardless of cognitive ability. There will always be some sort of accountability on my part. My only concern is that taking time away from the life skills curriculum I have developed to “test” my students on inappropriate content will be detrimental to them in terms of developing what skills they are capable of learning over time. Although my school does not stress student learning in the traditional sense, we still do monitor student’s progress with anecdotal records and teacher observations. It is more appropriate for me to work toward fostering independence and providing opportunities for guided practice in life skills. With regards to regular education, if varied options for assessment are available, there are two apparent issues to consider: difficulty level and planning time. Every assessment option needs to have a comparable level of difficulty. This leads to the next issue: planning time. One rubric can be created for the class as a whole, with specific consideration to every available assessment, however this is initially very time consuming for the teacher.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Reflection #4. **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In my opinion, technology should be an integral part of curriculum today – regardless of subject, age, cognitive ability, etc. If teachers do not update themselves on the new technologies that are available, they are doing their students a disservice as they prepare them for their futures. Students that do not use technology to aid in their educational gains will not be able to compete with their peers who have been fortunate enough to have learned and gained access to the curriculum demands using more modern means of delivery. Additionally, if students graduate from high school without having endured lessons/activities through means of modern technology, they will constantly trying to catch up to the students around them in terms of technology. This will take away from learning content as students will be spending time learning methods of delivery and this will take time away from learning actual content. With regard to my current placement, I am able to use technologies and incorporate them into my lessons/activities. Although I am slightly limited in this because of the sheer level of my students, I am still able to use various websites, programs, etc. The only difference is that the students are unable to use the technologies independently to make child produced work samples.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Reflection #5. **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Culminating Activity 3: Digital Natives** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Digital natives are individuals that are completely competent in technology. They are individuals that have the ability to incorporate technology into every aspect of their lives. They aren’t afraid of change with regards to technology and are ready and willing to participate in this change. I would like to share this information with my mom, principal, current curriculum specialist, neighboring teacher and student speech therapist.

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