In
today’s schools, with a population of digital
natives, it is becoming more important to introduce and utilize technology
to engage our students in their learning and to prepare them for the world
outside of the classroom. Technology is not just a form of entertainment; it is
a positive learning tool that opens up so many doors for those who know how to
use it and are given the opportunity. As teachers we know that not all students
learn at the same pace or same level. I know from experience that it can be
difficult to effectively communicate an idea or lesson to my students in ways
that they all grasp and understand. Through the use of technology in the
classroom instruction can become more student-centered, meaning that each
student can control the pace and way that they explore a topic.
During
our reading for Module 2 we were provided with an article entitled Technology Applications to support Diverse
Learner. I found that this particular article opened my eyes to the
specific technology accommodations that exist for our students. Technology that
I found particularly interesting was the text to speech options, ScreenReader
by TextHelp or Reading Pen by Wizcomtec, talking word processors, Read and
Write Gold by TextHelp or Write Outloud by Don Johnsto, and OCR and word
processors, TestTalkster. Thinking back to my own education, I feel almost
cheated that these tools and the idea of student-centered learning did not
exist.
Having
done my undergraduate work in English and Literary Studies, and thinking back
to my practicum and student teaching work in a very rural community in
Washington County, Maine, I remember many of my junior high school students
unable to read a chapter of a novel for discussion or making up excuses as to
why they could not read, “the print is too small.” Or my Senior high school
students writing the first draft of their college essays and not knowing where
to start a new paragraph or the correct structure of an essay. These were seniors,
some preparing for college! I still think back to those students and can’t help
but feel sad for them. This school did utilize technology very well. We had a
computer lab that students could use the laptops for no more than two hours a
day. I remember trying to set up a lesson for my students to research the
biography of different Maine authors and present their findings to the class
using SMART board. We were only able to get computers one day, the rest of the
research was done at home or outside of the class and I had to bring a SMART
board from my university over to the high school. Such a simple lesson with
technology use was so difficult to pull off!
If
the types of technology mentioned above had been available to those students I
believe they would have been so much further ahead in their understanding of
literacy and reading comprehension. If I were to design instruction for those
students today I would encourage them to use such technologies listed above as
well as things like interactive media and graphic organizers. It was mentioned
through our discussion boards that one teacher gives each of her students a
simple quiz at the begging of the school year to determine how they learn best.
I love, love, LOVE this! Not only does it show the students that you care about
their education, but you show them that they should too! Once we know how our
student’s best learn we can then see technology we have available and what we
can research other technologies that could possibly be introduced to our
students.
On
a Side Note –
I
found this site that I thought provided a pretty fun learning styles quiz, as
well as breaking down the different learning styles.
Teachable Moments
Nice reflection. I definitely think that learning styles assessments should be standard fare in the classroom. Kids should be aware of how they learn best in order to self-advocate in the classroom. Great job!
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