Rainville,+Rachel

media type="custom" key="8408268" align="right"

media type="custom" key="8617640"

media type="youtube" key="KN7WfMtaZm4?hl=en" height="344" width="425"

__ Response to CAST website: Universal Design for Learning __  Completing the learning styles survey confirms what I already knew about my dominant learning styles. My two highest scoring styles were visual/nonverbal and visual/verbal. Both of these emphasize the benefit of using visual aids, especially during lecture or studying. Power-points with structured outlines and charts are helpful to these types of learners. They both describe my style of studying, which is alone and in a quiet room. One style even said the learner may have an artistic side, which I definitely possess. The study skills that the inventory described were ones that I already utilize or have tried in the past. I already color code a lot of my notes, especially my day planner. I also take copious notes when in a lecture class and draw diagrams. By writing it out, it helps me commit it to memory.  Overall, I thought the website was a bit tedious and slow to load but still informative. Parts of the CAST website were filled with excellent resources for educators to utilize. One page included links to lesson plans, websites, workshops, and tools to diagnose and create a more UDL oriented curriculum. The book builder part of the website is a really neat and unique tool. Educational children's books are published on the site with accompanying guiding questions, hints, and short paragraphs identifying the learning goal on each page. Each book has interactive characters that ask questions to the student, either written or aurally, and then provide hints if needed.

 There were many valuable insights I gleaned from reading Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age. I can incorporate some of the strategies detailed in the text into my teaching. The most important idea is that not all students learn the same way. Recognizing the different methods and brain pathways the individual student utilizes can help the teacher to alter her style of instruction to better accommodate all learners.

 The activities that I participated in were confusing. I didn't quite understand the purpose of the first activity, which wanted me to list what I could contribute to a hike on the Appalachian Trail. I found it difficult to connect what I read in chapter 7 of the book to the activity. The second one made a little more sense, testing what parts of my brain networks were utilized when analyzing a picture. I agree with the description of the affective brain network, that our perception is based upon our background knowledge.

 The approach to differentiated instruction described throughout the website can be useful to educators. The site emphasizes using technology to create a universal design for learning in the classroom. Unless the website was updated, I'm not sure that I would use this resource again. The site was slow while I accessed it and slightly confusing to navigate. The most useful parts of the site were the book builder and classic text sections. The prepared questions with colorful characters will engage and help all students.

__Reaction to Virtual Museums and Field Trips__

 Virtual museums and field trips can be a tremendous resource to the school system. While there are some negative aspects to utilizing these sites, it is really up to the teacher to decide when it is appropriate and beneficial for her students to go on a virtual field trip. Each website has its own merits. Virtual fieldtrips could be an economical way to expose students to world culture. For example, there is almost zero chance that an elementary class from America will get to go on a field trip to the Louvre Museum in Paris. However, through the miracle of the internet, students can get a brief taste of what the museum has to offer. This is cost-effective, assuming that the school has access to technology, such as a computer lab.

Some of the sites even went further in depth than a museum could go. They contained interactive games and activities that would be difficult to accomplish in a strict museum setting. Using these virtual museums goes into the universal design for learning. Students with physical exceptionalities may find it difficult to find transportation to the site and maneuver through the exhibits. Online, the student has the better chance of navigating the site on his own time and may run into fewer physical barriers.

My thoughts regarding assistive technology

A reflection to the article "These Infomercials Teach Science"

A list of good websites (annotated):