EDLD 5364 Week 3 Reflection on Learning

Overall, this week was a very intense week with the readings, videos, and all the work and collaboration that took place within our teams Google doc and Google site.   The videos were very interesting and inspiring; they also provided guidance to planning with the use of technology. The videos from edutopia.org emphasized on how our students now days are the “Digital Generation.” Technology for these students is more than just a tool; it is a frame for their world’s vision. With technology, students are hyper-connected and engaged in self-directed learning to create, explore, compose and express. Two great examples of this were seen in the videos that showed Luis the 18-year-old student from Oregon, and Cameron an 11-year-old student from Indiana. Both showed a great interest and knowledge with technology and were great at problem solving. Another key piece of information given in the videos was the Top Ten Tips for Using Technology in the Classroom, which I felt adamant about and glad that I am using most of them within my own classroom.   Within the reading lots of great information was explained. Overall, for this week in particular the readings explained the goal of the UDL, which is to provide every student customized and responsive experience. In order to do that, teachers must design an instruction to support recognition of learning, strategic learning, and affective learning. Universal Design Learning gives a learning opportunity for all it supports and challenges learning. The UDL principles were also important in order to develop my own UDL lesson; they included representation, action/expression, and engagement. In the readings, Pitler gave us four planning questions, which were helpful throughout this week’s assignments. He explained that the lesson should always begin with these four questions in mind: 1) What will students learn? 2) Which strategies will provide evidence of student learning? 3) Which strategies will help students acquire and integrate learning? 4) Which strategies will help students, practice, review, and apply learning? Finally, Solomon & Schrum provided great examples of how to integrate classroom applications using the tools for learning and with teaching content.   Work Cited   Videos   Edutopia.org (nd). Welcome to the Digital Generation. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-project-overview-video   Edutopia.org (nd). Digital Youth Portrait -- Luis. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-luis-video   Edutopia.org (nd). Digital Youth Portrait -- Cameron. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-cameron-video   Schooltube.com (nd). Kansas Technology Rich Classrooms – Partnership for 21st Century Learning. Retrieved from http://www.schooltube.com/video/36743/Kansas-Technology-Rich-Classrooms--Partnership-for-21st-Century-Learning-Summit-Video#   Boxoftricks.net (nd). Top 10 Tips for Using Technology in the Classroom [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiisteObuhk   Reading   Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Available online at the Center for Applied Special Technology Web site. Chapter 6. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/   Cast.org (2009). Cast UDL book builder. Center for Applied Special Technology. Retrieved from http://bookbuilder.cast.org   Cast.org (2009). Model UDL lessons. Center for Applied Special Technology. Retrieved from http://udlselfcheck.cast.org/   Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: New tools, New schools. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education, 77-98.   Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 41-58, 217-225.