Dooley

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__ Learning Styles Inventory Reflection __

When I took the test, it said I was a kinesthetic learner. This is very true because I am a very active person. I learn best when I am hands on with the situation and I have to figure it out for myself. It is hard for me to listen to a lecture, or to watch what someone is doing. I tend to zone out, and it doesn't hold much value to me. When I have to do it myself, I stay focused and the information sinks into my brain easier. It is hard when I sit in class to focus, especially the time we do. That is why I believe the test to be accurate because I have always noticed this about myself. If you know this about your learning style, then perhaps you be more understanding of your students who will also need activity to keep them engaged. It's a challenge to try to meet the needs of the variety of learners in a class, the more experience you gain, the easier it will be.


 * __Responses/Reflection to Learning Styles and CAST Website Resources __**

When I took the learning style survey, I expected to have a better insight of myself after completing it. As excited I was to find the answers to my survey, I found out what I had already known. My results said that I am a kinestethic learner. This wasn’t anything new to me since I knew that I do better when I am hands on, and learning through experience. I do not do well in lectures, and when given oral directions. There were great suggestions offered for improving my study skills that I hadn’t considered before. One of them was to pace back and forth and to say the material out loud. I am not really sure why I would this, but I am going to try it because I will take any suggestions to improve my grades! Another thing you can do is to use a recorder to record notes or information, then play that while you're walking (being active). If you download Audacity to your computer then you can make MP3 files to put on your Ipod or your phone. My overall impression of the CAST website was that it was a good thing to use. It had a lot of resources within the website. I loved how it had a tab for ideas and information, and tools and activities. It was a great resource to use as a teacher. It broke down every that a teacher would need in an organized way. I really thought this was a great tool to have and should be used for most teachers. //Teaching Every Student In The Digital Age //was neat. It gave good information, and I loved how it was all available online. It was like a virtual text book, which I have not witnessed before. The activities were creative, and fun. The website provided good information, and broke it down in a good way as well. I might use this information while teaching by using the brain picture. I love that it shows three different brains and shows the patterns used in the brain. It is colorful and is a great reference if I was teaching psychology to my class. The web designers "practice what they preach" in designing the e-text site - you have a number of different ways in which the information in each chapter is presented so as to appeal to various learning styles and networks of the brain. My reaction to the activities was that they were very interesting, and challenged my thinking. I was happy they included them in chapters and the book. They broke up the readings and made the assignment more enjoyable. What I loved was the one activity with the picture is that they pointed out people point things out according to their emotions. This was a great concept to consider because I feel as if that is what more people may gravitate to. I learned that I tap into people’s emotions very well, and that is what I focused on mostly when doing the activity with the picture. As much as I enjoyed the use of the website for CAST, I do not feel it should be used as much. There is nothing like using a book, and how to look up material. That is a simple pleasure in life that you simply can’t get from a computer. We need to stop trying to advance technology so much in our lives that we are so reliant on them and hold zero skills toward other tasks. In some cases though, I do believe we can benefit from the use of technology. I find it interesting that you make this comment given how interactive the CAST site is and how the e-text can appeal to different learners' preferences. But then again, if you prefer a hard copy text, then you should be able to use that too. What I would like to learn more about CAST is where is started, and how it came about! If you read the CAST home page or "about us" you will get the background information of the organization. It came from the Harvard School of Education.


 * __Assistive Technology __**

From reviewing the material I have learned some new things about assistive technology for disabled individuals. First thing I learned is how costly it can get. There a lot of great tools for one to use and these individuals need these tools. As much as they need them, it can get expensive. I also learned how much more work and preparation one needs to get through the day. Those are dedicate their lives to teach special education work very hard to make sure there day runs smoothly, and they have all the possibilities to succeed. I learned how hard people have worked to improve the lives of those who are disabled and how important it is to ensure that this occurs.

I really enjoyed the website [|http://atto.buffalo.edu]. I loved it because the creators of the website seemed to put a lot of time and effort In creating it. It had great tools and tips for when having a classroom. For example, it gave information with students who may have difficulties working on a key board. It was a lot information, some in which some teachers may not consider when they are teaching their classroom. Most students commented as you did about the ATTO site.

Promises/potentials that technology provides students with diverse learning needs are that they can live a life to the full potential. Technology is great because it provides some students with things that they may not have otherwise. For example, on the website with the tools it shows a box in which help students to be able speak clearly. This is great for students who can’t otherwise to communicate otherwise. Some may have to adjust some things in their lives, but thankfully technology gives them more options to live a fuller life.

I once had a class with a student in my college class who had a computer to help them do their work. It was bigger so they could see, and they could write all their notes on. I noticed that she worked hard, and seemed to appreciate the learning more than I did. I have sadly taken for granted being able to sit in class every day and write notes. This student was able to record all her notes on her lap top, and probably couldn’t have ten years ago. The student seemed to appreciate the classroom more than I ever have. It was interesting, and nice to see. I have encountered a number of students in my life time who had physical disabilities that prevented them from being fully involved in education. I think about those students who didn't have the benefit of modern technological devices to help them to learn and to express themselves. Often, a physical impairment hides the real potential in an individual - we tend to think that if the body is impaired, so is the mind and that is often not the case.

From reviewing all the material I will take with me a new insight in teaching. On the days that I am so stressed out about teaching, and I don’t want to gather my materials, I need to remind myself to be grateful. As stressful as my day is for preparing, my students with disabilities are more stressed due to all the things they need to have prepared for their day. They also have to adjust their day to learn the lesson. As stressed as I am to prepare for a certain day, I can’t imagine all they have to go through every day. I need to remind myself and continue to stay grateful for what I have. I tell my students that they don't know what challenges lie ahead for them in the students who are assigned to their classes. You need to be as informed as possible and have knowledge of resources that can help you to meet the needs of special students.


 * __The Virtual Field Trip__**

Taking a virtual field trip is a very neat tool that technology provides. It allows one to see what else is out there rather than leaving their home. As I think this is a great advanced tool in technology, I don’t think it should be abused. This only contributes to laziness, and more ignorance in the world. I only think this should be used for those who are not mobile but still want an opportunity to view neat things in the world.

The only time I find this useful is now they use it for viewing schools that one may want to attend for college. This is great because it is way too much money to view a school across the state, especially if you aren’t sure if you want to attend it. Also, when you attend all these different schools its expensive. But it is nice to see what other schools are out there.

All in all, I don’t like this but it is cool considering where we have come in the past one hundred years. It shouldn’t be abused, but it is a neat tool.

This is the LINK to my digital movie.


 * __Final Reflection__**

I asked this question because I’m curious as to how often technology is used in your classroom. I personally think technology is a great learning tool, and want to know how the other teachers at this institution value technology as well. Technology opens up students eyes to new things in life they may not have an opportunity to explore. They also are up to date to the world because as we know, technology is used all around us.

Technology can provide things, that as a teacher, I can not teach my students. For example, technology can provide virtual videos of different countries that we can not have a field trip to but I am teaching. This allows a hands on experience. Technology also keeps the students very engaged, they can use technology to learn as well.

Technology is a great tool to have in a classroom, and should be used often. Hopefully if I get the opportunity to work here, I can help implement more technology in the school. This would only benefit the school.

My opinion on technology as changed. Before I thought technology only helped out the lazy. I believed my generation relied too heavily on technology and didn’t do much work. I still think my generation relies a little too much on technology (cell phones, internet, etc.) I learned after doing this course all the great opportunities for learning in the classrooms. I learned how to organize projects and create creative presentations for lessons. The glogster was cool but it couldn’t load which was a bummer! Besides that, I have learned that technology can only give creative ideas for lessons to help teach students.