Week 8 reflection

Over the past eight weeks in the course Reaching and Engaging All Learners through Technology, I have gained some insight on how to differentiate instruction with technology and how to create a universal design lesson. Technology has improved education a great deal. Teachers are able to reach students of all learning types from visual learners to auditory learners to tactile learners. Also, teachers are able to advance students who are at a high learning level and to remediate those struggling students who may need a little extra to understand the material. This course has giving me some resources that I can use within my classroom to make sure that I am differentiating the correct way to maximize students participating and learning.
Some of the adjustments that I may make after this course is completing a learning profile that I will be able to reach all learning types within my classroom. I already present the information in a wide variety of ways like having students read the material, listen to classroom lectures and discussions, and write down notes using teacher made graphic organizers and fill in notes from an interactive whiteboard. By presenting the information in multiple ways, I am engaging the student's interest and reaching maximum learning. Once of the adjustments will be providing students with a learning profile questionnaire to see what types of learning style. Learning the different styles is key in creating a differentiate classroom.
Another adjustment that I can make after this course is maybe providing different types of presenting and sharing the information. With blogs, Wikipages, Facebook page and even my own classroom web page for my classroom becoming an 21st Century classroom, I would creating one for my classroom because I am able to out to my students in multiple ways rather than just in the classroom. With these new techniques, I am able to open new ways of communicating with each student individually and creating the experience of an open line of communication bet wen my students and myself.
Technology paves the way for new and exciting methods of presenting and assessing students. Smith and Throne (2009) states that technology helps students become lifelong and independent learners (Smith and Throne, 2009) and this course provided me with many different resources that will help in creating a fun and exciting environment where all students of different learning styles can learn and become successful.

Smith, Grace and Stephanie Throne (2009). Laureate Education, Inc. DVD