Assignment #3

Above please find the image I manipulated using Photoshop. As I am in the Elementary Education Program, I would use this image for elementary school students. I would probably show this picture to my students and ask them if they noticed anything unusual about the picture and if so, what? Then I would ask each student to write a story about how the pumpkin ended up in a forest covered with snow. I would ask the class to use their imanigation and to make their story as creative as possible.

*So an not to violate any copyright laws, the pumpkin is an image I took with my own digital camera and the winter forest image is one that came loaded on my computer when I purchased it.

Assignment #2 - UDL Concept Map

Above please find my concept map for UDL. I created this concept map with the intention of demonstrating the goal of UDL which is to make learning and information available to all students, or at least as many students as possible. Pedagogy and learning need to embrace the technological age and utilize different medians of material in order to make learning as easy as possible for students from different backgrounds, students with different learning styles, abilities and disabilities. Digital media can assist with the Universal Design for Learning by offering learning materials in many different formats. In addition, students are able to manipulate the learning material by using different technologies. In summation, teachers need to present learning material in many different styles and students need to be able to adjust these tools to their special needs.

The standard I am using this semester as a target of focus is :

Language Arts Curriculum Framework

Exploring and Responding to Literature

2.3 Students recogonize and appreciate that contemporary and classical literature has shaped human thought.

Grade 3

Students make connections between characters' lives and the real world.

Students will use digital images and concept maps, created in inspiration, to make comparisons between their life and that of the characters in the literature read. Students will create and manipulate their own digital images to show a connection to the book read. Concept maps will show connections to real life as well as mapping out real life themes from the story read.

MD 400 First Assignment

With respect to our first assignment this semester, I looked through level of the suggested blogs. I am not someone who reads blogs, so I must say that I have found out that I do not think that I am missing anything. Honestly, I find reading blogs annoying. Although, the blog that I finally settled on "The Innovative Educator" was the most interesting.

I found the ideas for incorporating technology into the classroom inventive and and a great way to reach a whole host of students. For example, the ideas mentioned for use with ELL Students are some that I personally would probably never have thought of using, but they are wonderful. Google Translate, Microsoft Word - Word Talk, and Google Text are great tools to use with someone who is learning English or any language for that matter. In addition, I think these tools would be great to use with any student, especially students who are having trouble with writing, reading or learning another language.

As for Blogging and Facebook, I see the benefits of using them to get student to write and communicate with others, but I must say that I question the safety of these internet tools.

All in all, I found this blog to be very infromative and it provided a list of wonderful resources for teachers.

With respect to the article "Teddy Bears Go Blogging", I enjoyed the article. Again I think this article, like the blog I read, provided great ideas for helping students learn and for incorporating the use of technology in the classroom. However, the above technologies are great for in the classroom and for the students who have use of a computer at home, but what about those students who are unable to use a computer at home or those who do not even have a computer at home? The use of a computer for learning could easily leave out a large amount of students if you are working in a school that is located in a district that does not have these resources available.

As for the artilce entitled "Who Are Today's Learners?", I was not able to read the text due to a problem with Adobe (a typical technology problem). Anyway, I emailed Hugh and asked him to email me a copy of the article, perhaps I will be able to do something with it so that I am able to view the text. I finally viewed the article. Agin, my concern is that not all students have access to technology.

Above please find the two digital pictures I uploaded. They are pictures of two of my animals, aren't they cute!

First Blog

Hello! This is my first blog.