Girardi,+Lisa

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__**Annotated Website:**__ [] This website allows students to see and track slave voyages that crossed over from Africa to other areas around the world. Students can see and learn information about the ships, and the passengers on board. They can see where they docked, and on what date. They can get information about what types of people were on the ships. It's a great research tool for students studying the trans-atlantic slave trade.

__** Cast Assignment **__
In completing the learning style survey, I learned that I am mostly an auditory learner, meaning I learn best by listening. I have known for a while that I do well in school when I listen to an instructor lecture, however I did not know that was my strongest learning ability. I have not considered studying information aloud or in group settings, which was suggested to me. Overall, I really enjoyed browsing through the CAST website because I found a great deal of interesting information in the electronic version of **//Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age//** chapters**//.//** I liked the concept maps that helped to explain how technology has impacted learning. I learned interesting concepts from chapter 6: Using UDL to Support Every Student's Learning. I will probably incorporate this information into my teaching to use technology to apply to all different types of learners. I believe by participating in these 2 activities I have gained new insights into my strengths of understanding how I learn best and how to apply teaching that applies to all learners so that all of my students have the best opportunity to learn. I think it’s important to know about different learning styles and how instructors can stimulate all learners which is why websites like CAST are great tools for educators to use a guide. It’s important to develop differentiated instruction so that all learners have a fair chance to learn. In the future I may use CAST to continue to explore the site and continue to learn about what differentiated ideas are out there to continue to be the best teacher I can possibly be.

__** Virtual Fieldtrips **__ Virtual fieldtrips can be very effective when used in the classroom. They are a source of motivation for students to learn because it will be engaging, and it will appeal to their familiarity with technology. I think it may even be better than going to a museum, and certainly it's better than bookwork. Allowing stundets to view virutal museums and other websites, it will cause less chaos and confusion. Viewing sites online is much more guided and much less stressful. Also, the students will be very interested in in learning this way, rather than learning by reading a textbook. Also, it makes the information more real, and it makes learning come to life. The students will get a full picture of what things were really like and how it worked.

__** Reading Reflection: **__ I read the //Virtual Learning Online// article that discussed the pros and cons of have having students attend a public virtual school. The article offered the perspective that students typically performed better at the virtual school, than at traditional schools because it better prepared them for real word experiences. Also, students who attended the virtual school "consistently earned higher grades, received better state assessment scores, and achieved higher marks on AP exams than students in traditional schools." This is because the school is designed to meet the needs of the students by appealing to their interests and familiarity with technology. The article described the type of learning as being "any-time, any-place, any-path, any-pace," which helps students learn because they can learn in their own time, in their own way. Lessons and assignments are presented to students online. To provide face-to-face contact, teachers meet with students either one-on-one or in group meetings to provide assistance in person when needed. When I read this article, I was very surprised to see this type of school appearing on the secondary education level, but I was also very impressed both with the intuition itself, and the way the students responded to it. I was glad to see that more responsibility was forced upon young people. Sometimes I feel that young people need more independence to prepare for life after high school, and I feel that stripping away the classroom, teacher, and peers forces responsibility. Some students may fail without guidance from a traditional school setting, but it seems like in this case, most students are thriving in a virtual school. I think in part this is because guidance is still there for students when they ask for it, but also I think it is because students want to be independent and learn in a way that is familiar to them. Technology is a great motivator for students because they are so familiar and comfortable with it. The use of technology even improved the student’s academic performance at the virtual school, in comparison to tradition schools. Not only do students like technology, but most employers like it as well, and want their employees to be able to use it for almost any job they may be offering in the 21st century. Teaching students with technology is better preparing them for the real world. Most jobs that require a degree require familiarity with technology. It is important that students develop technology related skills in order to be better prepared to enter the labor force.

__**This is my Digital Story:**__ []

__**Assistive Technology:**__