Holle,+Jeffrey

Jeffrey Holle's Personal ISTC Webpage

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This document is the annotated web list that we made for class. Inside you will find links to educational websites that can be used by English teachers.

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**CAST Website** ====After completing the learning styles survey it confirmed what I had known before, that I do my best learning when I am physically doing something to reinforce the information being conveyed. The tip in from the website about reviewing new information by writing it on something large such as a chalkboard seems like it could be helpful, it would seem to be more useful in that manner than simply writing the information in a notebook.====

====The CAST website was filled with useful information for getting students to do their best work by using different types of instruction and how to facilitate their learning in the classroom. The amount of information on the site regarding teaching styles makes it seem as though the website will be quite helpful in the future.====

====I think the most important piece gathered from the electronic version of //Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age// was that all students don't learn using the same methods. By changing the way you teach and adapting to your classroom a teacher will be able to work with their students to develop plans to enhance their own learning.====

====The activities we were interesting, mainly the one with the pictures, but the goal setting couldn't keep my attention. Being able to visualize how the eyes work and what people pinpoint on when asked to do specific things was quite interesting. I don't believe I gained anything from the activity, but it was interesting.====

====Developing differentiated instruction is certainly important in the classroom, and the CAST site has lots of information on learning about students needs and implementing things in the classroom in an attempt to better help the students. I could see myself coming back to the site in the future when planning.====

====Simply exploring the site more would be beneficial, as for the assignment I only did that which was instructed. I'm sure the CAST site has a lot more to offer and that it deserves a second look to discover more.====

**Assistive Technology**
 * 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?


 * Assistive technology that is available for disabled individuals is based on allowing disabled individuals to use technology as easily as possible. While disabilities make it difficult for people to do the same things as those without disabilities, the assistive technology is created to make that difficulty gap as low as possible.**


 * 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 Microsoft assistive technology page was quite thorough. The website has links to different disabilities that links to companies where you can purchase technology. Because the website has so many links to different places to learn about and purchase this technology it could be quite helpful in the future.**


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


 * These technologies allow students with disabilities to learn in the same way as their peers. A students might have difficulty seeing things on their papers, but if there is a magnifier in the classroom they can learn using the same methods as their peers.**


 * 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.


 * I have not had experience with students who used assistive technology in the classroom. I work in a library where we have a magnifier for people with vision problems and it seems to be very easy to use; the machine is pretty much a small overhead projector. You place the material in the bottom and you view it on a screen.**


 * 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?


 * I think the thing that will be carried along with me as I become a teacher is just knowing that if students come into my class with a disability, there is likely some way that they can be accommodated. I believe people too easily accept that because someone has been living with a disibility they have learned the best way to cope with it, but if they have not been introduced to the assistive technology that may not be the case.**

**Virtual Field Trips and Museums** ====Virtual field trips have a lot to offer to schools because of the costs of visiting a site off of school property, the risks that are taken by the school when arranging for their classes to go to a public place, and the ease of access to sites that would normally be off limits to students. School field trips are expensive for the schools, especially due to the fact that a lot of students find them as time off of school, as opposed to the learning opportunity they are meant to be.====

====Schools also face the risks of ensuring student safety when groups of them are taken off of the school campus and bussed to a public place such as a museum or other educational facility (zoo, aquarium, etc...). The virtual field trip removes the risks of students being lost off school grounds, or causing trouble in a public place. A strong advantage to virtual field trips is that one can visit anywhere in the world via a computer. While a sixth grade class learning about Leonardo da Vinci in Baltimore, Maryland may not be able to plan a trip to the Louvre and visit the Mona Lisa, they can see it in High Definition using their computer screen, which is a better view of the portrait anyway because of it's small size and limitations on viewing. Virtual field trips are an excellent way for students to learn first hand about things that seem to be out of their reach.====

This document is the Reading and Reflecting assignment. Inside you will find my thoughts on the virtual learning website that we were assigned.

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The piece that I chose for my mp3 is part of a story titled //Cabin Fever, it was written by Christopher Q,// a teenager, and was featured in the magazine Teen Ink. I chose this piece because I believe it is a prime example of fiction for children to base their creative writing off of. The piece engages the readers and encourages them to read further. Students can use examples such as this to learn how to make their work more appealing to audiences. Because the piece was published it will also work as motivation for the students; because the piece was written by a teenager like themselves they can see that not all work that is published is by famous authors, but that good work by anyone can be recognized. This could be used in various age groups and grades, but based on some of the vocabulary used I would recommended the piece be used with students in 8th grade or higher.

**Keystone Assignment (Cowboy Henk)** media type="youtube" key="OE4ieMufCpw" height="349" width="560" align="center"