Relection on class 6714I-3

Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Learning with Technology.

DI and UDL are techniques I believe all good teachers use from time to time. They use these because they care about their students learning and they want to see their students succeed. Dr. Stephanie Throne (Laureate Education,Inc. 2009), says it starts with a mindset. I agree, as a teacher I have gained from my coaching career because in coaching planning is essential for success, the classroom is no different.
As teachers, we will have many challenges to face in teaching a group of students. We know through multiple research that all students do not learn the same way. The one size fits all mentality is not a successful way to teach and it does not meet all the needs of our students. The need to find a plan, a format such as UDL and DI is essential to planning, designing, and instructing if those diverse needs are to be meet while working toward the same academic goals (Laureate Education, Inc. 2008).

Technology to me is then the key that opens the door to meet these multiple needs we now all see in our classrooms. Digital technologies are flexible, in a printed book the content, information, and displays are all fused together permanent and while that may open the door to learning for many, it may not for all. In digital technology content is stored but can be displayed in a multitude of ways and places, monitors, hand-held devices, screens, printed, and etc. You can change the format, the colors, the font, letters, almost anything in the display, all with the idea of letting students figure out ways to learn. So, technology can change how students view content, product, how it will most affect them and in essence change the learning environment for each student (Laureate Education, Inc. 2009).
The real challenge for teachers, at least in my way of seeing it is how. How to get all of this done in a time frame that does not confuse both teacher and student? Obviously planning ahead is the only way to make it work successfully. As a coach, I realize that if my players are not prepared for the situations that come up in the game they will not be successful, as a teacher I feel the same way about my students. Planning is the only way I can have them ready, the use of technology as both a planning tool and a tool to get the task done will help insure success. Standards for teachers will not go away. Students are expected to meet certain federal, state and local standards and as teachers our job is to see that it happens.
As teachers these mandates come first and teachers are obligated to use their skills, intellect, and ability to adapt is such a way as to create success for all students they teach. Through the use of such technologies as, going online, blogging, wikis, web 2.0 tools, and social networking where allowed, can open up a whole new way of understanding for all students as they prepare for twenty first century challenges they will all face. Everything we as teachers used to do was so limited, paper, pencil, textbook, chalkboard,and etc. Now there are endless ways to get information that is more current,more direct, and more effective. Technology offers a broad range of options but as Dr. Grace Smith indicates, it boils down to two things,"...it depends on the resources we have and the time we have to use them and the way we use that time". (Laureate Education, Inc, 2009). Understanding that today as teachers, our job is quickly evolving into a teacher/manager. Manager of materials (resources), and opportunities (time) and we are not the only knowledgeable person in the classroom and we are going to have to be more and more flexible if the job of outfitting our students with the knowledge they will need is to get done.

My plans after this course is to try and be a better manager and planner of time and resources for my kids. To try and find better ways to utilize technology to meet the individual needs of all my students. I have started a class blog. It does not publish to the web as of yet. My students have their own personal web page and it is really growing. We are using a similar format for discussions that we do in this class. I monitor the site at www.classpress.com. Parents are peeking in using their students password and are seeing the advantages this type of technology can bring. Two years ago if someone had suggested I would do something like this I would have though they were crazy...today I see the potential. This course has given me better insight into how to meet the individual needs of all my kids, I know it will not be easy, it will be a challenge, but the rewards are what I have my sights set on.

John Poitevint
Health Education

References:

Tomlinson, C. (2009). Learning profiles and achievement. School Administrator. 66(2), 28–33. Retrieved from Education Research Complete database


Laureate Education, Inc. (2008) Universal design for learning. Laureate Education, Inc.

Smith, G., & Throne, S. (2007). Differentiating instruction with technology in K-5 classrooms. Belmont, CA: International Society for Technology in Education. 
Retrieved from Education Research Complete

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Reaching and engaging all learners through technology. Baltimore: Smith G. & Throne, S

Smith, G., & Thorne, S., (2009, November Engaging All Learners Through Technology. “Putting It All Together”. (Laureate, CD-ROM, 2009 release).). Reaching and