Midterm Reflections

The semester so far has been a lot different than I expected. It has really made me think about how much I do not know about technology. When we started this course, I thought I was fairly tech savvy, but it turns out this is not entirely the case. It is great to learn new little tricks while working on the computer, and it is even nicer to be using both the Mac and Windows version of things. I have really enjoyed every project we have done so far and I am especially excited to complete my digital story, because I feel like this will be such a wonderful thing for my Special Education students. It's such a great tool for visual learners and it can be tweaked and revised as often as needed. There is also tons of room for interaction between students and technology. Being a Special Ed major, I am always looking for great new tools that can help to accommodate my students and their special needs. I had really hoped to learn more about Smart Board as well as the IPad apps for students with autism. This is obviously beyond the realm of general education technology, but it is something I would find very helpful and useful for my students. Nonetheless, I look forward to having my webpage as a great resource full of all my technological achievements to show my students.

This is a very interesting video about what it feels like for a child with a learning disability who is in a mainstream classroom setting.

Inquiry Based Learning

In my experience in Special Ed classrooms, inquiry-based learning is a common practice. With so much one on one attention given to each student, there is such a great opportunity for the student to be involved in their own learning. Not to mention, many of the programs developed for Special Ed reading and math are inquiry based because it strengthens motor skills. For example, Edmark reading systems for LD students requires the students active participation in order for the program to succeed. Involving the students in their own learning forces their brains to process things in different ways and it creates an enriching environment where everyone gets used to and feels comfortable participating. Inquiry based learning also allows students to control how they absorb information. It helps students who learn visually, as well as auditory and active learners. It is definitely an excellent concept to introduce to all classrooms. 

Copyright Law and Teachers

After learning about copyright laws in class, I have to admit that it was a very overwhelming and somewhat frightening topic. Almost every single resource a teacher uses to help them teach is protected by some sort of copyright law, and each law greatly varies. One glimmer in all the confusion is that copyright laws seem to be on the side of education. For the most part, teachers are able to use whatever they need to in the classroom, as long as they do not copy or reproduce it. However, this should not serve as an incentive for teachers to use whatever materials they want. Each source is different and laws should still be checked and followed. I think that one of the most important things for teachers to remember is that is not just them who can be held accountable and lose their job for certain copyright violations, but their administrators, and whole school districts as well. Teachers should also do all they can to educate their students on the importance of copyright.