EDLD 5364 Week 5 UDL and
eBook Reflection
Self-Assessment
The knowledge I have gained
from this course is a considerable amount. I have been introduced into new
technologies and designs for learning. I have found that a lot of the time you
know the resources are out there, it’s just a matter of knowing where to go to
get them, develop the technology in your lesson plan and then implementing it
successfully in a learning environment. In this course we really focused a lot
on teaching with technology using it with everyday curriculum and then
motivating the students in the classroom. I’ve found for sure that one way
motivate students is to use technology. “Using technology for
technology’s sake isn’t a good application of instructional time or funding,
and it is unlikely to improve student achievement. It is essential that
teachers design a quality lesson plan first and then select the most
appropriate technologies to support that lesson (p. 217).”
The
new information I gained and old information I knew coincided well. I already
know the importance of teaching with technology and to watch the many videos
and readings, you see that it really is a reality, it is taking place. It may
not be all over and in every school, but soon it will be because people are
catching on!
The relationship between the
old and new information I learned just grew together. I know the technology is
out there to teach in the classrooms, it’s just a matter of really finding a
way to bring it on board and support it continually. I like the fact that in
many places this is a reality and the more it is made known and the progress is
shown by student’s participation and motivation the more educators will try to
push for it.
Learn as a Learner
The approach and strategies I used to complete my
assignments always stayed within the rubric and guidelines of my instructions.
I made sure I thoroughly understood the assignment and always collaborated with
my classmates. I also participated in web conferences with our teacher to make
sure there were no discrepancies in what we were supposed to be doing.
I try my best to make sure I can soak up as much information
as I possibly can going into an assignment. The videos and readings are a big
help also classmate collaboration! The more we know and learn the more we can
help each other. I assess my own performance by the rubric, but I ask myself
questions to see if every aspect of the assignment is being completed. I try to
stay ahead with my assignments so I go over them multiple times before I turn
them in. Also according to the grade I receive, I use that as a measure of how
I should continue or improve my assignments.
The results of my performance were affected greatly by my
learning and interaction with colleagues. We exchange each other’s blog
addresses and google site address. We are constantly on our class’ Facebook
page and we discuss our assignments daily. Interacting with my colleagues is a
big part of the learning process. We gain information from each other by
sharing what we discuss, research, and have experienced in our classes and
while doing our assignments.
Lifelong Learning
Skills
Collaboration
is a big part of lifelong learning skills. You have to know how to network, how
to get yourself in a position where you make connections with those that are
like-minded. As we learn, it is important to reflect on what is important. We
should always be able to walk away with something that stands out from each
lesson. When we learn we should pass on information to others to not only help
others but to help ourselves retain what we have learn. When we practice what
we have learned and speak of it, it becomes a part of who we are, we utilize it
in classrooms, with colleagues and sometimes family and friends. The whole
process of learning is to gain useful information and pass it on so that not
only myself but that others too can benefit from it. Like this class, I never
knew about the UDL or creating an eBook.
Universal Design for Learning
or UDL is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all
individuals equal opportunities to learn. UDL provides a blueprint for creating
instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone—not
a single, one-size-fits-all solution but rather flexible approaches that can be
customized and adjusted for individual needs. "Research has shown
that teaching in multiple modalities (a technique sometimes called transmediation) not only increases
access for students with difficulties but also improves learning generally
among all students (Siegil, 1995)." Not all students learn the same and
absorb the lessons the same. To modify the lessons to the students learning
abilities is what it's all about. I know sometimes you have teachers that think
however they "want" to teach is what will always work for each
student, but plainly not so.
Now
the UDL Book Builder I think would be a great learning tool to use in the class
and I think students would embrace it well. We just have to find one that’s not
so obsolete. The book builder we used, is definitely not something I would
introduce to kids in the class……and then maybe again I would, depending on the
age. Younger kids may be excited about making the little people talk and adding
images, all with supervision of course, but if you go anywhere past little
kids, I think this would be an insult. This site is under developed and limits
you to what you could really share in an e-book. I was able to get through the
long, and tedious process, but it was difficult! I do like the idea though, of
what an e-book can do and present. Like Hannah and Nikki, in my group, I do
like the notion of kids being motivated through the readings, images, and audio
that an e-book can provide. To me its lessons like these, where we gain insight
on certain technologies and pass the information on.
Past interactions and collaborations with colleagues will
influence my future learning experiences greatly. I will never forget the importance
of collaboration. It is so important to network and draw from each other’s
expertise and knowledge. In the future, I will become more open about things I
learn; I will share and extend the invitation for other co-works and colleagues
to do the same. In working with my classmates from all over, you never know how
any person will perceive you. We do not see each other in a lecture class, or
on campus in passing, but we do collaborate through chat often and have web
conferences and all this matters! The more positive and professional the
attitude the more networking you can do; which in return gives you future
resources and references.
As a lifelong learner I want to make sure, I am able to get
through to people. I guess for me the questions or issues that will challenge
me the most and that are worthy of future research or investigation, would be
techniques to get the class attention. It is one thing to teach but to actually
have the class pay attention and learn and retain, is another thing. I do not want
to be a boring teacher, just reading from text. I want to know the lesson,
study it so that it will be presented with full meaning and sustenance. Being
able to really teach and the students actually participate and learn will be
the challenge.
Describe how you
would implement the use of web sites into a PK-12 classroom
As a part of a lesson plan, I think it would be great to
start as young as possible to have students create blogs and websites.
Student’s homework could be uploaded and saved to their site and reflections of
the assignment posted to their blog. There are so many different free types of
educational tools that can be used for assignments. Students can learn how to create
eBooks to express what they’ve learned from a lesson taught. Students will soon
learn that all of their information can be posted to their sites and blog and
can always refer back to them for references. The Center for Implementing
Technology in Education states, “Integration of multimedia into instruction can
help to reduce curriculum barriers and improve learning for all students”. If
technology can be implemented in the youngest students this will prepare them
for the future; college, internships, employment, etc.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007).
Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA:
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 41-58, 217-225.
Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for
learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development. Available online at the Center for Applied Special Technology Web
site. Chapter 6. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/chapter6_4.cfm
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