Williams

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**My Personal Learning Style**
According to the Learning Inventory Survey on Metamath.com, I am a Visual/ Non-Verbal learner. These type of learners learn best when information is presented visually in a picture of design. They tend to work in a quiet room and often do not like to work in groups. This learning style is definently accurate for me. I am the kind of learner who likes to do things by myself that way I can understand it my way. Some learning strategies for visual/non-verbal learners are, writing in margins of a notebook or using highlighters to show important information. Another learning strategy is making visual aids for information.

**UDL Reflection**

 * 1) In completing the learning styles survey I did not learn anything new about my learning style. The survey more so reiterated what I already knew about the way I learn and what I prefer to do when learning and all of the suggestions were things I had already considered for myself.
 * 2) The CAST website was extremely helpful. The online book could be used to help parents, teachers or students to learn more about UDL. The website also had resources for everyone. Overall I thought the website was very informative.
 * 3) In the electronic version of “Teaching every student in the Digital Age”, I found chapter 2 the most interesting because it taught me things about the way the brain works that I didn’t know before. For example, the “Bottom-Up & Top-Down” processes. This book also connected what I am learning about cognitive learning in my educational psychology class. I would incorporate these things in my teaching by using this information to teach to my student’s specific needs. I would also use some of the teaching skills that were presented in the book. For example, offering different options to complete projects. Drawing, computers, writing, ect.
 * 4) The two activities I participated in were helpful in understanding learning differences and how to overcome them. I actually learn better visually so doing a PowerPoint presentation and watching the other presentations I was more alert and learned more than I would have if I would have listened to a lecture.
 * 5) I think that differentiated instruction is an important tool when teaching. Since we know that not all individuals learn the same it is important to understand the different learning styles and how to teach to those specific differences to optimize the educational experience for all students. Sometimes students may lose interest in school because they are not learning content as easily as their peers so with differentiated learning you can help the student to overcome that insecurity.
 * 6) I think the CAST website did a great job at presenting information on UDL. The only thing I would have liked to see is a video demonstrating a classroom teacher using UDL.

**Assistive Technology**


 * 1. From visiting the websites and viewing the videos in Part I of the assignment, what information did you learn about assistive technology for disabled individuals?**

-From visiting the websites and viewing the videos in Part 1 I learned that assistive technology is important to the quality of how disabled individuals learn. Assistive technology helps students to be on the same level as all other students and assists them in completing work.


 * 2. Were there any sites, products, or resources that particularly impressed you and that you want to remember as you prepare to become a classroom teacher?**

-The product that impressed me and that I will keep in mind when becoming a teacher is the page turner. Children with motor problems may have trouble turning the pages of their books. This type of assistive technology is very helpful to a simple task that may be troubling for a child with special needs.


 * 3. What promises/potentials does technology provide for students with diverse learning needs?**

-Technology provides students with opportunities they may not have had before the assistive technology. It gives the child hope and confidence in their schoolwork.


 * 4. Have you ever had a personal experience with a student or other person who has used some form of assistive technology to help them function in learning or everyday life? If so, describe what you observed from that experience in terms of meeting the special needs of those individuals.**

-When I was in middle school there was a student who had special needs and he had a laptop that helped him with his work. The computer would make print larger or speak instructions to him. He was a fairly good student and I think the technology helped him a lot.


 * 5. From this assignment, what will you carry with you as you prepare to become a teacher – one that will, most likely, face the challenge of meeting the needs of special education students along with non-disabled learners?**

-Since I am a special education major I will take into account any and all resources that can be helpful to students becoming independent in their learning. Assistive technology will help them to be on a level learning field and do work on their own without a personal assistant.

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This is the LINK to my movie maker video. This video is about a 4th grader named Amy who learns a very important lesson about procrastination.


 * Final Reflection Senario**

Technology in the classroom is very important for the development and relation to the students. In my grade level students have grown up learning with technology. They read books on Kindle’s, play games on the internet or video game systems, and watch educational shows on TV. These children haven’t known anything else except for technology so to take that away from them in a school learning environment would be a hindrance to their development. Technology is a great way to connect with students especially younger students who may have a harder time staying focused on tasks. Technology is always changing and improving so the benefit of having a Smartboard or computers in the classroom would make it easier to present information to students in a way they would understand and remember. Technology can also be a helpful teaching tool because you can assign homework that can be done on the internet and there are some programs where teachers and students can interact through questions and answers. There are also technology programs that help students struggling with reading, writing, math and other areas. It provides extra help without the presence of a teacher. Technology is also helpful because it connects school with home, some students do not like to do schoolwork at home but the internet is a fun way for students to learn at home. As a teacher technology will be an important part of my instruction. I will use technology to enhance content materials. In most states there are technology standards that children will need to be able to do. Overall technology is becoming one of the most used and accepted form of stimulation for education. It is important that technology is used to achieve the highest quality of learning for the type of students coming up now.