Implementing technology will not just benefit those who are disabled, but I think everyone will really get something out of it. Technology wasn’t created just for people with disabilities; it was created for many different reasons which I won’t get into. But by including more technology in your classroom I think it would help create an environment where everyone would benefit and learn more. As a teacher, it is part of my job to help educate all students in the best possible way. Using technology, and many different sorts of it, I believe will help me achieve this.
Universal Design is not just one common way to teach, but it is actually many different ways to help teach so it reaches everyone’s different ability levels. This website gives a great example of how like speakerphones and closed captioning helps everyone, not just those who are disabled. I know plenty of people who use closed captioning a lot and they have no hearing impairment, they just like to see what is being said. Universal Design uses a lot of technology to help environments and society become more inclusive.
Section 508 is a law that was enacted in 1998 by congress. It is an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act that states that electronic and information technology should be available for people with disabilities. This means that everyone, including federal agencies will have to follow the guidelines and sections of 508 when creating new technology. Hopefully with this law, new technologies will be made to better assist the disabled. It will also help change old technologies to make them more accessible so that people can better obtain and learn from them
Obviously, one technology that I think I would most definitely need in my classroom is a computer. This is something that every classroom should have. It has so many uses that go above and beyond just helping someone with a disability. You can do research on it or you can have it read a book aloud to you. Another technology I would use in my classroom is a Smart Board. I think these are truly incredibly useful in so many different ways. It also makes a good visual for anyone. Another technology that I may want in my classroom is a Tango. This would be useful especially with an autistic child, but could be helpful in early learners. One last technology I would like to use is the Touch Math book; these had great lessons in them that I think would be applicable to many different ranges of students.
I think by using some, maybe not all of the technologies I talked about it would help make my classroom more inclusive. It would have students learning on different levels. I would also be approaching how I taught students in different ways so that it fits the needs of all. I think creating a classroom modeled around Universal Design will benefit everyone including myself. Also, as a teacher, it is part of my duty to comply with the section 508 and make sure I am helping meet all students’ needs.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Science Unit Ideas
1.) Planets (Grade 5?)
I would have students study the planets and find out different characteristics about all the different planets. We would read a few books, but a lot of this would be independent research. Then as an ending project I would assign each student a planet. They would then have to use Nvu to create a web page about their planet that they could share. They could also use Pixie to draw their planet.
2.) Environment (Grade 4 or 5?)
I would have students research the different environments that there are in the world. Then we would specifically look at the environment that we live in. Then we would talk about the environments that our in our country. I would then somehow set up kids to have pen-pals but through e-mail to talk with a student in a different part of the country that live in a different environment. As an ending project they would have to write a comparative essay on the two different environments.
3.)Plants (Grade 2?)
I would have students study different plants from books and online research. Then we would use the information we found to go and identify plants around the school. I would have students pick one particular plant and draw a picture on pixie of it. They would then write a small informational piece about this plant.
4.) Owl Pellets (Grade 3)
I would have students research owls and find out what they eat and their habitat. Then I would have them visit websites in which they could dissect owl pellets to see what they eat. Then if I could I would have an organization bring in pellets so students could really dissect owl pellets. I would have them taking pictures (almost like a crime scene!) so they could put them into frames and make a short movie about dissecting owl pellets.
5.) Inventions(Grade 8)
I would have my students research the different inventions that were made, and how the whole process of things being invented. Then I would have them think up of their own inventions and then try and create them. They could then make their own i-movie on the inventions that they made. They would have to write about the process of how they thought of, made, and would try to get a patent on their inventions.
I think I am going to write up a lesson plan for my first idea on the planets science unit. This seems fun and interesting to do!
I would have students study the planets and find out different characteristics about all the different planets. We would read a few books, but a lot of this would be independent research. Then as an ending project I would assign each student a planet. They would then have to use Nvu to create a web page about their planet that they could share. They could also use Pixie to draw their planet.
2.) Environment (Grade 4 or 5?)
I would have students research the different environments that there are in the world. Then we would specifically look at the environment that we live in. Then we would talk about the environments that our in our country. I would then somehow set up kids to have pen-pals but through e-mail to talk with a student in a different part of the country that live in a different environment. As an ending project they would have to write a comparative essay on the two different environments.
3.)Plants (Grade 2?)
I would have students study different plants from books and online research. Then we would use the information we found to go and identify plants around the school. I would have students pick one particular plant and draw a picture on pixie of it. They would then write a small informational piece about this plant.
4.) Owl Pellets (Grade 3)
I would have students research owls and find out what they eat and their habitat. Then I would have them visit websites in which they could dissect owl pellets to see what they eat. Then if I could I would have an organization bring in pellets so students could really dissect owl pellets. I would have them taking pictures (almost like a crime scene!) so they could put them into frames and make a short movie about dissecting owl pellets.
5.) Inventions(Grade 8)
I would have my students research the different inventions that were made, and how the whole process of things being invented. Then I would have them think up of their own inventions and then try and create them. They could then make their own i-movie on the inventions that they made. They would have to write about the process of how they thought of, made, and would try to get a patent on their inventions.
I think I am going to write up a lesson plan for my first idea on the planets science unit. This seems fun and interesting to do!
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