Erika's Blog

I can see the many benefits that Excel has to offer in terms of student reports. However, I do not see myself using the application as others may. I have attempted to use Excel on multiple occasions and rarely am I able to use it correctly no matter how much time or effort I put into it. Data collection, on the other hand, I can see myself using when observing my students. Because I hope to teach middle school, observing behaviors will help me develop a more effective teaching style. This is more of a personal collection. Implementing surveys both at the beginning and end of the school year would also be something that I do to understand what worked and what didn't for the students. The "flipped classroom" is the idea that we opt for core instruction to be taught at home, while homework is worked on in the classroom. This allows for students to work through the lecture at a pace comfortable for them and to work on assignments that they may need assistance with with th...

As technology becomes more advanced, it is without question that those who have certain limitations will struggle. Some of these limitations can include age, mental disabilities, or other physical impairments. This is why the incorporation of assistive and adaptive technologies are imperative when catering to this particular group of individuals. These technologies allow for those who struggle with carrying out specific tasks to obtain assistance. However, these terms are not one in the same. Assistive technologies  allows for more independence by giving individuals the ability to perform tasks they were unable or had difficulty in performing by adjusting and enhancing  t echnology. Adaptive technologies are specifically manufactured for individuals with disabilities. Both of these allow for individuals to experience a positive lifestyle filled with inclusivity and ease. My grandmother has used hearing aids since I could remember. Other than that, I have never experienced othe...

The Dynamic Instructional Design model is a great source to reference when exploring a lesson plan while looking for feedback and revision within that plan. It breaks down a process into 6 steps to follow when analyzing student learning. The lesson plan I chose to assess is known as Respect Others. Respect Yourself.  ( http://headsup.scholastic.com/teachers/respect-others-respect-yourself ). It emphasizes the importance of self-respect in human development in order to construct healthy relationships and behaviors amongst one another. The lesson plan hits on many of the points highlights in the D.I.D model. The first part of the D.I.D discusses knowing your learners. Seeing that the lesson plan targets students in 6-12th grade, one can understand where this age group's developmental stage is and what their backgrounds may consist of. The next part discusses articulate objectives. This lesson plan outlines three important objectives that students should master by the end. The learnin...

As we reach the midpoint of the semester, we reflect on course websites and their efficiency in the classroom. Before taking this class, I was never exposed to the benefits that having a website could provide. The ability to keep students and parents updated on classroom events and material allows for a dependable method of communication. I personally would definitely invest in constructing a website for my classroom in the future. This is because it allows for a common place that all parties can resort to when needing to locate answers. When looking at our blogs, one can see that the set-up was nearly effortless. Despite having to learn yourself how to construct a course website, the benefits outweigh this time and should not be viewed as a trouble. Although I do believe that they are important, I also believe that it is equally important to put out a physical copy of a newsletter to those who do not have access to the internet. Catering to both groups allows for a successful classroo...

I decided to look at Mr. Diaz's teacher page from Franklin High School ( https://www.franklinboe.org/Page/12926 ). It appears he is a band teacher based off of his tabs on the page. These tabs include percussion ensemble, keyboard I/II, and band. The pages are filled with tons of information such as important dates and contact information for Mr. Diaz. When you click on the tabs, the assignments for those specific classrooms will be listed in case students forget! He also has links to google docs to register for certain events. I think this is a great idea to keep both students and parents in the know!  The digital divide creates a cyclical routine of failure between those who have access to technology and those who do not. Typically, students who have limited access to technology find themselves falling behind in the classroom due to lack of resources. When teachers assign work that is heavily dependent on information from the internet or directly on the internet, students are ...

Just like any basis of comparison, a standard is necessary to understand what it considered acceptable. Technological standards are especially important to ensure both educators and students are kept up to date on the latest programs and pieces of technology. I have previously discussed the importance of balancing traditional values of education with modern ones. This belief is particularly directed towards the younger generation. When observing the ELA standards, I chose the kindergarten grade to explore. I was pleased to find that there were very minimal standards to uphold. Some of these standards included becoming familiar with the Paint feature on Microsoft, as well as learning how to use the Smartboard and work collaboratively with other peers. Implementing this would be extremely easy if I chose to teach kindergarteners because I have used the Smartboard before when I was in grade school. I also used paint programs. I believe that the standards for this grade level are a good ba...