Hughes

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**Chelsea Hughes' Page**

=__**Voki**__ = =media type="custom" key="11119710"=

=__**Learning Styles Assessment**__ =

====The results for The Learning Style Assessment that I took were accurate. It concluded that I was a visual/verbal learner. As a student, I have always been a child who benefits from actually seeing a chart, graph, textbook, etc. when learning a new subject/skill. I feel as though seeing what I am learning is helpful because I am able to visualize what I learned when it comes to recall or tests. I have also always been a verbal learner. To explain, when I was a child I always wanted to be read to by teachers or family members. I benefitted from being read to because I was able to visualize and comprehend what was being read to me. Now, as an adult I benefit from verbal directions and procedures given to me along with someone demonstrating visually what I need to complete. In the explanation that the website gave, it said that visual/verbal learners often color code diagrams and highlight or use post-it's when reading or studying. This is exactly what I do when I read textbook or study. Overall, I found The Learning Styles Assessment to be completely accurate. ====

=__**UDL Reflection**__ =

====My overall impression of the CAST website was that it is extremely informative. I felt as though it had many great ideas for helping students reach their maximum potential and what teachers can do to promote UDL. I found Chapter 6 of the electronic version of //Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age// especially interesting. To explain, Chapter 6 discussed how to design instruction to support strategic learning and affective learning. I could incorporate this information into my teaching instruction in many ways. I can incorporate technology in the classroom that will promote success for my students. I can do this by providing students programs online that cater to their ability level and/or interests. Within my classroom, I can also provide different models for publishing work, such as a posting student work to a homepage and I can provide different assessment options, such as replying to student work through a podcast. I feel as though the two activities in which I participated in provided me with insight into how I learn best. For example, I confirmed that I am a visual learner. However, I did not realize how much of a verbal learner I am. Since taking the survey, I have been metacognitive about my verbal learning and I now recognize how much of a verbal learner I truly am. ====

====Developing differentiated instruction is crucial. I think that as a teacher, if you do not differentiate your instruction, you will not reach all of your students. In my classroom, I will utilize resources to provide my students with the appropriate instruction so that they are as successful as they can be. Differentiated instruction does not have to be a difficult process, for example, you can simply differentiate a worksheet for a student who has trouble writing by allowing the student to respond on the computer. Overall, differentiated instruction should not be ignored and if it is utilized correctly in the classroom, teachers will have successful students. ====

====I would like to know more of the research behind the information that is described on the CAST website. For example, I would like to know more of the “behind the scenes” research detailing the procedures and findings of the teaching methods in Chapter 6. ====

====I learned a vast amount of information about assistive technology for disabled individuals. To explain, through Kathy Schrock’s website, I discovered an incredible and informative website that can help teachers learn sign language to meet needs of deaf or hard of hearing students. Through the National Center for Assistive Technology, I discovered many useful products for those who have disabilities. Some of the products are so simple, for example, an extender that has a grip that you can open and close to pick items up. It is the little things such as this that could make all the different for someone in a wheelchair. Another product that was simple, yet extremely effect was a slip on typing aid. It fastens around a person’s hand and has a pointer that allows for easier typing. This could be helpful for many students who have little fine motor skills. Overall, after visiting the websites and viewing the videos I learned a lot of information that can be used when teaching individuals with disabilities and products that could help them be that much more successful. ====

====As I prepare to become a classroom teacher, I feel as though there are numerous sites, products, and resources that I would like to utilize. For example, I would love to be able to supply students in wheelchairs with simple items, as mentioned above, as an extender that helps with picking things up. I also found Kathy Schrocks website incredibly helpful and I feel as though I will use this when I need ideas on what I can use to help particular students with disabilities. Lastly, I really would love to be able to supply my students who have difficulty writing with speech to text technology. I believe that with speech to text technology students would be able to soar. ==== ====For students with diverse learning needs, technology is the key to their learning success. Every teacher wants their students to accomplish all that they possibly can and technology allows for that. Students with diverse learning needs are able to become confident in learning and sharing in class discussion through assistive technology. Students, along with an effective UDL model are able to stay on track with what the curriculum requires. ====

====Dylan, my next-door neighbor is 10 years old. Since first grade, Dylan has had an IEP, he may need extra time on an assignment and his IEP calls for a scribe incase he needs it. Four years later, Dylan now does not need a scribe, and can complete his assignments on time. This is all because of computers. When Dylan has an assignment, he is allowed to use a computer to answer questions, allowing for him to finish on time and most times even early. I have found that when he would come over to my house for homework help, he would get easily frustrated when he would have to manually write. Now, his mother and teachers have discovered that using a computer works best. Dylan is now excited about his work and homework time is a lot less stressful. ====

====From this assignment, I will always keep in my mind that no matter what the disability an individual possess, it does not mean they are limited. I will also always remember that it is my job to seek out technology that will help individuals with disabilities succeed in the classroom. ==== = =

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I enjoyed taking the virutal field trip. I feel as though virtual field trips are an excellent way to integrate technology into the classroom as well as an excellent way for schools who do not have funding to go on actual field trips to experience hands on learning. Students will benefit from virtual field trips because they allow students to explore and inquire about a topic that interests them. For example, as a teacher, you could allow your students to explore the Smithsonian website and report on a topic or exhibit that interests them. Teachers can also integrate virtual field trips during Social Studies class. More specifically, teachers can have students who are learning about American history explore @http://memorialhall.mass.edu/home.html, and discover what it was like to have lived in colonial America. Teachers can also utilize virtual field trips, such as @http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0602/es0602page02.cfm during Science class. This website is espeically helpful when teaching the rock cycle and is a great way for students to be actively engaged in what they are learning as a pose to lecture. All in all, I feel as though it is wise for teachers to take advantage of virtual field trips because it allows students to experience hands on learning, which will make learning more meaningful.

=__Digital Story__ = media type="custom" key="11798968"

This is my digital story. It is an adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood. Over the years, I have discovered many versions of the story to be inappropriate for young children, so I wanted to take a story I love and make it suitable for all audiences, especially the little ones.

=__Final Reflection: Answer to Principal__ =

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">If I were in an interview and a principal showed me that he seemed to be so causal about technology in schools, I would reply to him in a way that shows my passion for technology in the classroom. To explain, I would inform him that students are becoming more and more connected with technology and this is the generation that we really have to start accommodating technological needs. I would then proceed to explain to him that students who get ample technology in the classroom are more engaged and excited to learn. I would wrap up my response by providing him with various websites, for example, Sheppard Software’s website,[]. This website is a site for mathematics. It allows teachers to evaluate students’ knowledge of a subject and teachers can adjust games by ability level. Students on the other hand, will be able to play a game, and not realize that they are learning mathematics. For many students, technology is the only way they can learn. Technology in classrooms is crucial. =====

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">**At the beginning of the semester, I thought that technology in education was important, but not crucial. When I was in school, my teachers would sometimes use an overhead, and that would be it. Maybe this was because that is really the extent of the technology at the time, or maybe it was because they did not embrace the idea of technology in education, they were used to the traditional lecture and take notes approach. Now, at the end of the semester, I really understand how important technology is in education. I now know many websites and programs that are available for teachers to use during instruction. These websites can be used for engagements and evaluations. Also, I now understand that I can help struggling readers with text to speech technology and I can help struggling math students with webcam tutoring. Overall, from the beginning of the semester until now, I did not realize my options when implementing technology in the classroom, but now that I know, I will be able to execute technology instruction and make learning fun and exciting for students in this generation.** =====