Technology for All

The three principles of UDL state that students should be offered options in acquiring and expressing knowledge as well as tailoring instruction to students interests, readiness level, and learning profile. The resources that have been gathered through the Differentiation Station assignment are on-line and program tools that help to address UDL's three principles. My colleagues and I have researched, tried, and tested numerous sites that can help make content accessible for all students. I plan to use the surveys and learning profile assessments at the beginning of the year as well as many of the graphic organizer and web quest sites to differentiate instruction as the year progresses. There are also many drill and practice as well as independent study web sites that are available to reach all readiness levels.

I have always used technology in my classroom to differentiate instruction; however, I focused it mostly on the advanced learners and those who could use continued practice, leaving out the largest middle group. I plan to offer differentiation to all students and allow choice in learning and production. To do this I will provide access to the content in a multimodal fashion and have links available to handouts and digital media on our class website. I also plan to allow for student choice during assessments when students are asked to demonstrate their understanding. It is important that students are able to show what they understand in a method that both interests them and highlights their strengths. Differentiation Instruction begins with a mind set that I hold dearly and continues through giving students the support they need to be successful in the classroom. I plan to maintain a positive attitude and lead by example. Each student will know that I care and believe in their ability to succeed. I am excited to use the survey I created on survey monkey come September with my incoming fourth graders. From there I will have some insight into their goals as well as learning preferences that can be used to help differentiate instruction as the year progresses.

Ready or Not....Technology Here I Come!

Throughout New and Emerging Technologies I have realized that it is my responsibility as a teacher to keep abreast of new and emerging technologies that can support learning and content in the classroom. I have developed lesson plans that demonstrate my ability to use emerging technologies such as MUVE's, digital storytelling, online collaboration, and digital gaming. I now understand that I need to be the change agent that drives positive growth in my classroom in school. I plan to collaborate across grade levels with colleagues to form a technology team in my school and create a public file on the network where teachers can share technology lessons and sites that have been successful in the classroom. I hope to pull hesitant teachers into trying technology through lunch room and student chatter. This year will be my first year collaborating with a partner fourth grade class through voice threads and podcasting. I am excited for this opportunity and hope that it catches onto other teachers and grade levels. I have registered for course offerings through my district on digital storytelling and teaching the 21st century learner. Rather than shy away from new technologies, I will now give them a try, reflect on the outcome, and make necessary changes. I know to access much of the emerging technologies I need the permission and support of my administrators. To help them see the vital role technology plays in the classroom and the need to dedicate time and money to new and emerging technologies, I will invite them into the classroom to see the level of engagement, differentiated learning, and authentic problem solving that technology provides. This class has taught me that it is not okay to accept status quo, you cannot wait for technology to land in your lap. I owe it to my students and myself to seek out what emerging technologies are available to help each individual reach their potential and be prepared for the uncertain future.

NJ Voki

Global Digitalized Learning

I have been preparing a presentation to give my colleagues on the importance of 21st Century On-line learning. Please feel free to provide feedback as I will be presenting it to my peers in September.

Thank you, Courtney

Here is the link to my slide show.

http://www.slideshare.net/derosac/gdl

Change is Good

I am definitely like most in that I benefit from stating my goal either out loud or in written form. Being able to remind myself of my goals or have conversations with others about my goal helps keep me focused and honest. My original course goal has remained consistent throughout this course; however, as I implement the programs into my classroom next year I may find changes that need to happen to accommodate the learners in my room. My goals for the upcoming year are to identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability and to use technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and the larger community to nurture students learning. Most of my progress has been focused on my second goal of using technology to communicate and collaborate with the global community.

So far I have experimented more with class blogs and have signed up to take courses in powerpoint, moodle, digital storytelling, and other 21st century skills necessary in today’s classroom. My new learning will help me incorporate technology into everyday instruction and help me be more able to facilitate students in their learning. I hope to use technology to access enhanced components or lessons tied to our curriculum that were once not available.

My instructional practice will immediately change in that I will be communicating with students and their families through a class blog. I plan to use digital story telling and to communicate with another fourth grade classroom in the district. This will allow my students to present their work to a larger audience and to authentic feedback. These tools will enhance the content instruction dictated by the curriculum.

Thank you for keeping me focused and on track,
Courtney DeRosa

Playing the GAME

The student and teacher standards for technology both intertwine technology throughout all aspects of learning and everyday experiences. Both standards focus on creating digital citizens and using creativity to foster creativity. The standards require both students and teachers to be flexible and creative in using technology. They require persistence and patience with learning new things. Applying the standards often puts the teacher in the student’s shoes and vice versa.

Many students are familiar with making goals in sports, on New Years, and some even with school. One major benefit of teaching and implementing the G(goal) A (action) M (monitor) and P (plan) plan is to help students realize that it is okay to modify a goal, take small steps, or even change it all together. What is essential is to never lose sight of having a goal.

I plan to use the GAME plan when creating a classroom blog. For most students this will be their first experience with a class blog and also my first using one with students. We will both need to be creative; use critical thinking and problem solving, and we will all be digital citizens. We will use the class blog to collaborate and communication with another 4th grade classroom and each other. It should be a wonderful experience for all of us!

The X’s and O’s of the Game Field

Technology has been implemented into my everyday teaching. I permit students to choose how they wish to present their knowledge or final product and provide as much access to the classroom computers and lab as time allows. This is a change in my instructional practice as I have learned that choice and technology increase both student engagement and motivation.

The new learning goals I have set for myself include designing authentic lessons and that incorporate digital tools and promote self-directed learning. I am planning to set up global learning communities to provide access to a larger audience and the ability to express themselves in the method of student’s choice. With the diverse learning styles and abilities of my classroom I plan to address their needs by using learner-centered strategies and access digital resources.

The learning approaches I plan to try are digital storytelling, voice thread exchanges with another in district classroom, and setting up and maintaining a classroom blog site where students have access to a discussion board, class notes, and a class calendar with updated events. I am excited about the endless possibilities that technology provides and can only imagine its effect on the student’s motivation and engagement.

Courtney