Chapter 10 and 11

I think that having something in the classroom that can help differentiate learning can be very helpful. We as teachers have a lot on our plate and we always should be making sure all of the needs of all of our students are met. No one is the same and everyone learns differently, yet there will only be one of you, the teacher. How can we teach to all of these different learners and be successful? Some would say you can't, that you should teach one lesson one way and teach to the median of the class. Some will be bored and some will struggle but you got your job done, right? NO, NOT RIGHT. We as teachers are not the same as many other professions. We don't just clock in and clock out and call it a day. We touch many, many lives and we can shape them to be better and better. The kid who is bored could be the net genius who can discover a cure to a horrible disease, but they will not get that way by being bored every day in class, they should be challenged and learn to question and research their questions. The kid who is struggling will just get more and more frustrated, and will fall further and further behind, possibly even drop out of school. Who knows what great things they could do with some patience and  extra attention? The world would never know unless that mind is cultivated. However, I am a rationalist and I realize that all of this is not always possible. Technology can make our jobs a little easier when it comes to success of all students.

I have personally worked with a student pretty low on the autistic spectrum. He was a high school student and was nonverbal. However, he was able to use technology to communicate. He had something that almost looked like a keyboard that had almost anything that he would need to say. He also loved art but had trouble holding a pencil or any writing utensil. His Para got a drawing app on his iPad so he was able to express himself with his abilities. I think technology does a very important thing that we try to focus on the most. It helps the students focus on their abilities and not their disabilities.

Questions:

1. What is one piece of technology that you think would help your education as a young learner and why?

2. Where did you stand in the level of the classroom (bored, struggling, or somewhere in between)? Do you feel that you were ignored and didn't get all of the benefits from your education?

3. Have you seen technology used to help a student with special needs? How was it used?

Chapter 7 and 8

I remember learning Polya’s problem solving methodologies in an undergrad theories class. We learned that you must understand the problem, use problem solving strategies, and check the results. However, when we present a problem to students, we already know the answer or have a few acceptable answers in our head, these are structured problems. “Real life- the social, economic and political world that teachers are preparing students to enter- rarely has well-structured problems” (Page 160). In today’s world there are many more tools and strategies that we can use that were not available in a world without technology. Computers open so many doors for our students. The textbook spoke about a simulation game named River City. This game seemed a little complicated, branching into math, science, economic, social, and research. This made me think of many simulation games I used to play. One of the websites that was very popular when I was in elementary school was Neopets. On this site you had to take care of your pets and you had to make money. You had to use this money to buy food for them to eat, clothing and weapons to make them stronger, and bath and beauty items to keep them clean. This required knowing how much money that you had and how much you could spend. Two of the great features of the website were the bank and stock market. These taught elementary aged children how money grows in a bank, and in the stock market, how to buy stocks, and watch them to grow your money.

I think that many people who have not grown up using technology in their daily lives can see it as being anti-social. They come from a generation where sending a letter to a friend was a great way of communicating, and feel that today we aren’t as personal. However there are two new forms of communication that came about with new technology. “Synchronous communications occur in real time, as with cell phone conversations or text message exchanges. Individuals converse as if face to face; there is little to no wait time for a reply to statements” (Page 188), “Asynchronous communications involve a time delay, as with email messages, online discussions, or blogs. Communicators wait for replies to their statements, although the usual time lag is dramatically shorter than for a letter or postcard sent through postal mail” (Page 188).  Technology can help teachers communicate even better with the students and families. The teacher can remind students of assignments as well as send links to extra material. The teacher can also email parents any important information as well as status reports for the student.

Questions:

What are some new problem solving strategies and tools now available because of new advances in technology?

Have you ever played a simulation game? Did it feel like work? What do you think you learned?

Since I am using asynchronous communication, do you think this form of communication is anti-social, or less personal than writing a letter or discussing the information in person with you?