EDLD+5364+-+Week+2+Reflection


 * **EDLD 5364 - Teaching in Technology**

Week 2 - Reflection

This week involved brainstorming and planning with my team members for the scenario that we will complete for the group project. We had an extremely helpful conference call on Wednesday night that lasted about 2 hours. The team was able to collaborate, make crucial decisions, and create a plan for each team member’s responsibilities throughout the project. The team worked together and contributed ideas for the information considered necessary in order to answer the guiding questions that will be included in the scenario. The team members have different individual strengths, content knowledge, areas of expertise, and skills to provide for the project which are great resources. The team decided to continue to use the color code system in order to identify each team member's contributions on the team’s Google doc. It was also decided that the team members will continue to contribute to the guiding questions at any time. I must say that I know I am apart of an “A-Team”, and each member has many unique qualities! It has been an absolute pleasure working with this group of strangers since the beginning of the program. If we as educator see the benefits of working as a team then surely our students can take advantage of working on teams and collaborating.

The videos and readings for this week focused on the significance of how technology can without a doubt have an impact on the diverse learners. It has been proven that technology and a learner-centered environment in a classroom, works well for student achievement. It provides many learning styles while accommodating the needs of all students working on the same lesson. As a Special Education Teacher, I agree that educators have to start providing differentiated instruction in the delivery of content and skills as well as promoting critical thinking for the 21st century learners as a whole group. If educators refer to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), they will be able to understand and appreciate the importance of addressing the needs of all students because every learner processes information differently. So when preparing lesson plans, educators have to customize learning using different methods, technology, tools, incorporate research based software, and assessments. Therefore, in order for students to increase their self-esteem and take ownership in their education, educators need to allow students to establish and choose their own goals and objectives.

References:

Page, M.S. (2002). Technology-enriched classrooms: Effects on students of low socioeconomic status. // Journal of Research on Technology in Education, // 34(4), 389-409. Retrieved on March 3, 2012 from the International Society of Education at @http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Number_4_Summer_2002&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&ContentFileID=830

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). //Using Technology with Classroom Instruction// // that Works //. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Team Google Doc []

Team Google Site [] ||