Blog 6

In today's school, students of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences need varied teaching approaches and multiple instructional methods to be successful learners in school and later in their careers. The Internet offers teachers and students unique resources for exploring multiple languages within the school curriculum.

Online Language Translation Services

- Translations of words, sentences, and webpages happen easily and quickly.

- Notes, assignments, and other materials can be provided in English but also in other language. (Malay, ch. 10, p. 247)

I would have to say "lucky" to today's classroom students. As an English language learner, all I could think about using technology in class was an electronic dictionary. It helped me find the meaning of a vocabulary pretty fast that speed up my understanding of class teaching. However, I remember in some classes, teachers didn't let me use it because they thought that it would distract their learning, like cellphone in today's classroom. A lot of teachers didn't recognized the importance of technology use back then. For now, it's a totally different story. Technology is a big part of teaching. I would say "lucky" to students now because of this reason. They have so many options of different technology tools, softwares to choose from that will enhance their learning. Especially for English language learners, it would be much easier to understand the class content and easier to communicate with teachers now using technology where getting translation from a friend who speak English was the only option for me to understand what was going on in class and to ask questions to teachers back then when I came here.

Assistive technologies apply the concept of technological convergence to the ways that information technologies enable teachers to differentiate instruction and pursue universal design. These tools enable individuals with disabilities to do thing they might otherwise not be able to do. 

Assistive technologies make it possible for individuals with hearing, sight, mobility, or cognitive challenges to translate text and understand spoken words and data with the aid of a supportive tool.

- Speech Recognition Software- Displays a person's spoken words as written text on a computer screen.

- Text reading software (text-to-speech software)- lets computer users hear written text read aloud by a computer.

   Different types of text-to-speech software

    - Screen reading software

    - Optical character recognition and reading software (OCR)

    - Word prediction software

From the video clip that we watched in class, I was surprised to see all different assistive technology is being used in classroom. One thing that I remember is that the machine that specks for the child. He probably couldn't express himself before using that technology and had a lot of limits when learning. Now he can express himself, ask questions and have more opportunities. Assistive  technology not especially to student with severe disabilities but to any students struggling, could be a very helpful tool for their learning.

Assessment is central to the work of teaching. Every teacher, in planning lessons and delivering instruction, evaluates student learning. If learning is to be successful, assessment must be practiced not only by teachers but also by students. Failure to give students a voice in educational decision-making is an opportunity lost. Individuals are more likely to become and remain invested in activities and procedures that they have a role in creating and maintaining. One way is to use Clickers.

Student participation systems with clickers have numerous instructional advantages.

 - Active learning- students are alive participants who must express their opinions electronically.

 - Student involvement- Because students make selections anonymously, individuals worry less about the embarrassment of giving a wrong answer.

 - Real-time feedback- The teacher has immediate feedback about students' content knowledge and test performance.

 - Question-centered instruction- Students are given a challenging question and ask individually, in pairs, or in small groups to consider possible answers.

Questions:

1. How does technology promote learning success for English language learners?

2. How all different assistive technologies help student with disabilities?

3. How can teachers use different technologies to differentiate instructions in multicultural classroom? 

Today's class we talked about assistive technology. Something that we didn't realize that those were actually assistive technology such as eye glasses and from the video we watched wheelchair, phones and basically everything that she used was assistive technology that helped her learn, move and do things. Also, Dr. Chen said that we, teachers should be the one who should advocate students. Even though you might not obtain everything that they need, we should at least start something. I was interested in special education and today's class was very interesting that I got to know different technologies that help students with disability.

Today's class we talked about assistive technology. Something that we didn't realize that those were actually assistive technology such as eye glasses and from the video we watched wheelchair, phones and basically everything that she used was assistive technology that helped her learn, move and do things. Also, Dr. Chen said that we, teachers should be the one who should advocate students. Even though you might not obtain everything that they need, we should at least start something. I was interested in special education and today's class was very interesting that I got to know different technologies that help students with disability.

Today's class we talked about assistive technology. Something that we didn't realize that those were actually assistive technology such as eye glasses and from the video we watched wheelchair, phones and basically everything that she used was assistive technology that helped her learn, move and do things. Also, Dr. Chen said that we, teachers should be the one who should advocate students. Even though you might not obtain everything that they need, we should at least start something. I was interested in special education and today's class was very interesting that I got to know different technologies that help students with disability.

Blog 5

Computers are wonderful tools for teaching problem solving to students. Using software programs and apps, students may consider different possible solutions and then receive immediate feedback about their answers.
Problem solving and inquiry learning use real-world situations and issues to actively engage students. According to the textbook, problem solving and inquiry learning require students to follow a classic approach proposed by  George Polya for solving problems. The essential steps in Polya's framework include:
1. Understanding the problem
2. Using problem-solving strategies
3. Checking results
In chapter 7, text mentioned about a simulation game such as River City, in which math and science problems are tied to economic and social outcomes, provides an in-depth problem-solving experience. I think using simulation games as teaching tool would be a great idea. Depends on what game it is, it can be used as a tool to differentiate instructions to students with different levels of learning. Also, using game as teaching tool would motivate students. It would make learning interesting and fun. Using technology tool such as computer game wasn't an option when I was in school but for children now days, it seems pretty natural when a lot of people has smartphones and tablet PCs that they can play with.
Strategies can help teachers use games and gaming more effectively in the classroom.
1. Minimize the use of Games that teach isolated skills.
2. Scrutinize Games that function solely on points won or lost.
3. Discuss Games and their content.
4. Play Games together.
Among those strategies that mentioned, I think discussing and monitoring what games would be very important. As we discussed and read in previous reading, it is always important to review what websites or software games before children play. Examine what they are using and will learn from those games.
Compute-based social media technologies are changing how teachers and students communicate with one another. Chapter 8 talks about communicating and collaborating with social media.
Communication and social networking technologies provide ways for teachers to connect with students, promote meaningful learning, and extend academic learning beyond the confines of regular school days.
The chapter discuss multiple social media technologies to use in teaching.
1. Email and text messaging
2. Teacher or classroom websites
3. Blogs
4. Online discussions
5. Wikis
Paper handouts were only communicating method that was used during my early school years. One of my friend who is a teacher was communicating through email with one student's mom. At first, it was surprising to me that they actually communicate through emails about students progress and concerns. This was never happened when I was in school. However, I think using social media to communicate with students and parents would be a good method. They can get feedbacks right away. If a student is struggling with something, teachers and parents can cooperate together and help students without delay.

Questions:
1. Any recommendation of good software games to use for first time teachers?
2. What would be pros and cons of using social media technologies as communicating tool with students and parents?
3. What would be some strategies to prevent children from heavily rely on using computer games as only learning tool?

Fist of all, my number was 3 and just went up to 4 even after I saw the webquest example. However, I learned how it should be done and what should be in for each steps of the webquest. My thoughts are still everywhere but the class discussion today about the webquest making helped me a lot. From "I don't know what a Webquest is" to "I think I know at least what should be in for each components of  a webquest". I'm curious myself as how my webquest will come out to, what new technology that I'll learn by doing it and like my lesson trailer project, I'll probably be surprised how much I can be done and another technology tool that will motivate my students.