EDUC 6714 Reaching and Engaging ALL Learners with Technology course taught me just that – we discovered the true definition of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Differentiated Instruction (DI). I collaborated with my classmates on a social networking site (www.ning.com), and the resources and ideas we shared will be invaluable to me as I implement UDL and DI into my classroom the rest of this school year and years to come. The learning profile, multiple intelligences, etc. surveys discovered and created by my classmates will prepare me to meet all my of students’ needs. My classmates also offered suggestions to my ideas on how to integrate UDL and DI principles into my classroom. I am looking forward to creating a Ning network for my students, since it is not blocked by my district like the Facebook site. I want my students to collaborate on homework and projects similarly to my interactions with my Walden classmates.
I have already implemented some of the suggestions from Smith & Throne for DI. My students were getting bored with the mundane reading log, and they wanted a book report project. I have created a TIC-TAC-TOE choice board for their book report project, and they are very excited to read their book and create their projects. Incorporating technology is a wonderful way to engage students in the content, process, and product of learning (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009). One requirement for the book project is to post a critique on this blog to let other students discover new books to read. I also have been focusing on how my students learn in order to give them options for assessment. Creating learning profiles for each student will be a definite goal at the beginning of next school year. I have been taking small steps to incorporate more technology into our school day. Last week, I went with my class to their technology class. We worked together to learn the features of a program named Timeliner (obviously, software that allows users to create a timeline and add graphics). Since our class was on Monday, the technology teacher was able to use this lesson for the rest of the week with the other 5th grade classes!
I am excited for the rest of this year with my students, as well as my future classes, as I continue to bring technology to my students that will increase their learning and interaction with the content, process, and product.
