Blog #8- Planning Ahead

As our semester slowly winds down, I think it was great time for us to discuss how we, as future educators, can plan and organize our lessons using technology. Some of the great points brought up in our discussion in terms of planning were to think critically about our planning: Create a vision for what they do, match it to what we need, think about what software would we use for the student’s learning barriers, as well as what class would it benefit the student in. We have to always consider is our instruction and tool we chose assistive or instructional?

We discussed taking into consideration our students recognition network, when we start planning and organizing our lessons. We need to consider how our students are perceiving and getting information into their senses. Great strategies that we discussed were:

            -Provide multiple examples

            -Highlighting critical features

            -Providing multiple media and formats    

-Supporting background context

We discussed some of the tool we could use for kids who need recognition support:

·      Kurzweil

·      Subtext

·      Smartboard (IWB interactive white board)

·      Bookshare

·      UDL

·      Stixy

·      Voice thread

·      Little bird tale

·      Ipad and assistive apps

·      You tube

·      Vimeo

·      MS Word speech

·      Alternate font and contrast

·      Pictures and movies

·      Digital recordings

·      Circle and highlighting on IWB

We also need to foster the strategic network, which is the “how” and the action we take to help students make connections. We discussed:

            -Providing flexible models off skilled performance

            -Providing opportunities to practice with supports

            -Providing on going feedback to our students

           -Offering flexible opportunities for demonstrating the skill

For kids who need strategic support, we could use:

·      Smartboard- feedback

·      Internet- explore websites- hyperlinks make connections

·      Kurweil bubbles- study skills element

·      Online quizzes

·      Voice thread- having conversations

·      Popplet

·      Prezi- linear or circular.

·      Edmodo

·      Google calendar

·      Inspirtation map

·      Powerpoint/key note

·      Recorded response

·      Blogs and wikis

                       

Most importantly, I think is the consideration of the affective network. This makes us, as educators think to “why am I learning this?” In order to foster this we need to:

            -Offer choices of content and tools

            -Offer adjustable levels of challenge

            -Offer choices of reward

            -Offer choices of learned content

For kids who need affective support we could use:

·      Edmodo surveys

·      Smartboard

·      Non-linear representation so they can choose

·      Graphic organizer (web with pic, word, etc.)

·      Live scribe

·      Interactive quizzes- makes fun and reduces anxiety

·      Proloquo2go

·      Game design

·      Math games

These strategies are most important because they support the concept of self-competency and increase motivation in our students. If our students like what they are doing and they are able to express them selves in the way that best suits them, they will be most successful; UDL!

Other very important discussions we had in class was on the intentional implementation of technology. Technology should be part of the plan not an addition. We want the technology to help the student learn and not get in the way.

When thinking of using technology we have to make the technology work for you, as an educator, and you control it. Use what works for you, what you’re excited about!

One of my biggest take aways is the idea that we need to evaluate and adjust our lessons based on the technology we intend to use. We need to make sure we’re just not throwing in technology, but really thinking about which program we are going to use, and for what purpose. We need to ask ourselves questions such as: Did the student get lost, are you prepped if the technology fails, do you have a back up!? Was the technology use to enhance the lesson and is the lesson interesting, humorous, and fun? Technology can be frustrating, especially if we spend endless hours working to implement the technology in our lesson, and low and behold it doesn’t work! But we need to prepare for these moments and be patient. When it does work, it works! It can be a wonderful engaging and instructional experience for all!