Blog Post 16 Final Reflection

If I Knew Then What I Know Now...

After rereading Blog Post #1, I realized that I knew absolutely nothing about the various learning tools that are available for me as an educator. Although, I did not reveal this in my first post, I really thought that power points would be the students’ favorite tool to use. I truly believed that power points were in the same league as podcasts. I was so technologically illiterate. Well, I know that I still have a lot of learning to do in regards to technology, however, I thank  God that I am not as technologically challenged as I used to be. Now that I have been educated, my whole outlook on my methods of teaching has drastically changed.

The methods of teaching that I will emphasize are collaboration and project based learning. Don’t misunderstand me, I highly recommend independent learning but since I will probably teach 2^nd or 3^rd grade, I think that collaborative learning will be more beneficial. I want my students to effectively communicate not only with each other but with students from around the world as well. I don’t want my students to feel inferior to their peers. I absolutely believe that collaboration evens the learning field.

I am a firm believer that people retain information better and longer when they engage in project based learning. That is why my students will create projects on podcasts and ibooks. One of my desires when I become a teacher is to write a book with my class. I have never written a book and I thought that this project could be something that I and my students create together. I thought that this would be a great way to collaborate, work on English language skills, and encourage reading .However, after the fun learning I experienced while creating an IBook with my classmates, I think that I will take that route instead. My students will most likely enjoy the IBook better since they will probably use ereaders and ebooks instead of traditional books anyway.

The tools that I will employ as part of the learning process will be classroom blogs, wiki, Skype, podcasts and of course, the smart board. Ms. Kathy Cassidy, Mrs. Yollis and her students are partly responsible for my employment of classroom blog. As I mentioned several times, about the little boy in Mrs. Yollis’s class who said that his writing has gotten better by blogging, I knew that I would adopt classroom blogs because if a 2^nd grader can make such a bold statement such as that then we need to pay attention to what he says work. Blogging also allows for the families of the students to see what they are learning and doing. I will use Skype when I am teaching subjects such as social studies or science so that we can invite experts into the classroom to enhance our learning. Podcasts will be used for lecture and video. Out of all the tools that I have learned about and used while in EDM 310, the Smart Board is the tool that I am most excited about. I know that it will play a major part in how I address and teach various lessons.

Looking back at what I said at the start of the semester regarding tools that I will use, My method of teaching , my idea classroom, and the activities that I said I will introduce was so far from reality. I can honestly say that I did not have a clue of what I was talking about but with help for Dr. Strange, EDm310, and my PLN, I now know better. The tools that I said I would use stayed the same. The only difference is that now I know how they really work. My method of teaching has drastically changed because I am no longer ignorant of the various learning tools. My idea classroom will still be built on a Ranch but it will be equipped with state-of -the-art technology even if I don’t know how to teach it because per my recollection, I remember being taught to use tech and not teach it. As far as the activities are concerned, my students will utilize sites such as Discovery Ed and Spree Learning. They will have access to audio, visuals, video and learning games that promote engagement and enhance learning.

At the beginning of the semester, we were asked to describe what our future classroom will be like. I described my future of class as one that will operate on very little technology. I said that I will hire a therapist to work with special needs children. I did not know about all the technology that is available to assist students that have various special needs. I will now employ assistive technologies such as ereaders, learning games for autistic children, and the IPad  which is equipped with apps such as voice over, text-to-speech and magnification of various subject areas. I also said that we will have a question and answer segment, but when I said that, I was thinking more on the lines of the students raising their hands to ask a question. Now, I know that the podcasts will engage the students more during that activity. The arts will still play a major role in regards to my method of teaching. However, I will now integrate them with project based learning. I understand that an audience will enhance and encourage learning. I plan to bring people from diverse backgrounds into the classroom to be a part of PBL.

Blog Post # 15

By: Tracy Armstrong

Wikipedia defines Assistive Technology as an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process

used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to, or changing methods of interacting with, the technology needed to accomplish such tasks.

A couple of assistive technology tools that I think will be available when we become teachers are the IPad and the EBook. Both of these tools can be used across all grade levels. Both will enhance learning for both the vision and hearing impaired student by involving them in the classroom assignments and making them feel apart of the classroom community. The IPad is equipped with  apps for communication such as voice over as well as apps for screen reading and navigating.. These features will make learning personal by enabling the students’ independence. The EBook also contains apps that can be utilized for features such as voice-over, text to speech, magnification and large text for all subject areas.

After watching The Mountbatten, we learned that the students who are identified as struggling learners rely on immediate feedback from their teachers as well as their peers.One of the best things about this type of technology is that the teacher does not need to know Braille in order to communicate with the student because the machine converts the braille text into print. The blind student is therefore able to research, explore and create on his own with the help of this assistive technology thus including him into classroom assignments.

Ipad Usage For the Blind By: Shakeya Andrews

Ipads are good tools to use in my classroom because they have what is called VoiceOver. VoiceOver is a resource that students with vision impairment and students who are deaf can use. This gives them the  opportunity to navigate through email, ibooks, itunes u, and more with just the click of a finger. Using VoiceOver on the ipad will help the student become independent. According to VoiceOver Accessibility “VoiceOver is a revolutionary screen reader that lets you know what is happening on your Multi-Touch screen and it helps you navigate even if you cannot see what is on your screen.” Voiceover is built into the ipad therefore, I will not have to worry about buying and installing this application to use on ipads in my classroom. There is also an application on ibooks called ereader that will be helpful for my students with disabilities. You can buy and read books to students to through this application. Students will be able to hear a description of items that are on their screen and from there they can choose where they want to navigate to on their ipad. Students can also use braille and international voices through VoiceOver. VoiceOver is accessible for almost any student.

Teaching Math to the Blind By: Shakeya Andrews

Instead of using the traditional method of teaching math by pencil and paper or using the whiteboard, I can use number blocks as an assistive technology tool. The blocks have braille on the back of them and the visually impaired student will be able use a barcode scanner to identify what the numbers are. All the student has to do is hold the button on the barcode scanner, then place the scanner over the block and the computer will identify what the number on the block is. Math is already a difficult subject to teach so I think it would be wise for me as the teacher to have a one on one session to teach the student math using this method.

Having a Great Time Teaching Mom- By: Emma Boren

The iPad has a lot of great tools that can assist blind children in using it. Blind children can use the iPad due to it’s talking feedback. You can use a finger to scroll over all the icons, and it will tell you exactly what you are on and how to open it. It also talks to you while typing. There are two modes for this, standard typing mode and touch typing mode. This way, the children know what letters they are typing, and it helps them know that they are typing the right thing. It also talks to you when you have apps open. If you scan your finger across the screen it will tell you what you are clicking on. This is a useful way for these children to get the same benefits of technology as the children who are not blind. The students would still be able to interact in the classroom with the iPads and not feel left out. They would be receiving the same education. I think this an excellent tool to have in a classroom where there are special education students that are visually impaired. I would use it in my classroom!