The webapp I used is called Story Jumper. It allowed me to create a storybook over what I've learned as a student in this technology class. Afterwards and at a low cost, it gives you the option to have it bound and purchase it as a real book to keep forever. My 9 year old daughter can't wait to get her turn to make her own book!
Click on the link below to read and listen to my reflection of my digital technology class for librarians.
Universal
Design for Learning is a research-based set of principles that provide a
practical framework for all learners. It provides an equal opportunity for all
learners. I taught 3rd grade reading for 7 years and have used
portions of this design to incorporate all learners.
While
studying Universal Design for Learning I created a list of terms that draw a
visual for me to grasp the concept of learning for all.
· Thrive
· Acceptance
· Achieve
· Inclusive
· Challenge
· Boundless
What am I
currently incorporating in the classroom? The following includes a typical
lesson we do every day, and it encompasses engagement, representation, and
action and expression.
To grab the attention of all learners, I always start with either a media clip or something hands-on regarding the subject and lesson. It may even activate background knowledge. It gets the students excited and focused on the instruction to follow. Then we proceed with the goal for the day and what to expect for the assessment. The students need to know the purpose of why and what they will learn. All teachers are required to implement the curriculum that guides the gradual release of responsibility. The instruction shifts from teacher modeling to joint responsibility, to independent practice and application. During this time, I instruct students in small groups which involves reteaching of content on their specific needs. This is also using reading material but this time with their instructional level. Here, they are being supported and challenged to reach their capability. At the end of the lesson, all students are given an exit ticket (assessment) to apply what they’ve learned.
During the Shared Reading component of the lesson we focus on vocabulary support in context. We also apply it to real life situations. The students are given a choice of reading material to complete their independent reading and application of content.
As you can
see, components of Universal Design for Learning including engagement,
representation, and action and expression are sprinkled-in
throughout the learning process.
What
Can I Add?
To critique
my teaching as well as the learning process for students, there will always
room for adjustments. My students would
benefit from being provided with personal coping skills and strategies to
accomplish their tasks. Whether it’s providing a checklist on their desks to
remind them of their next step or simply providing the students with an
emotional checklist of how they perceive their work when it’s completed, and
their understanding of the concept learned. This provides the students with an
overall mental check of progress and completion that is only relative to them
specifically as an individual.
Next, I would
like to focus on adding clarification of syntax and structure. We focus on
shared reading using big books and all students read together. At this point
it’s easy for students to become unnoticed when most of the class is reading.
While it’s beneficial to be read to, if a student isn’t participating in whole
class reading, they won’t get practice using the correct syntax and structure.
I would like to refer to other big books we’ve read and focus on sentences with
similar structure and help make those connections.
In everyday
learning, I would like to apply what was previously learned to new concepts.
While the curriculum accomplishes this task, I would like more frequent
references to skills previously learned. This benefits all students.
I
might need help to implement the following:
While the
curriculum is provided for us, I would like to learn more about support
planning and strategy development. I would like to learn where to insert a
“stop and think” moment or a “sentence starter”. The I DO part of a lesson models thinking
aloud and is scripted, but with diverse learners, it’s impossible to implement the right
strategy for each student, at the right time. So, I would like to be directed
on how to support and scaffold them enough that will challenge their thinking
and to produce understanding.
The
following are Universal Design for Learning resources that are available and I
plan to utilize them in the future:
What
Is Universal Design for Learning?
References:
CAST.
(2010). Udl At A Glance. YouTube. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDvKnY0g6e4
Center
for Teaching Innovation. (2022). Universal design for learning. Retrieved
July, 26, 2022 from https://teaching.cornell.edu/teaching-resources/designing-your-course/universal- design-learning
Robinson,
E. (2017). Universal design for learning and school libraries: A logical
partnership.
Knowledge Quest, 46(1), 50-54. Gale
Academics.
Do you listen to Podcasts? Are you an avid listener? What topics or categories interests you?
Podcasts consist of a series of audio episodes, covering a topic or theme that serves your interest.
Benefits of utilizing podcasts in the school library:
It gives students a voice to be heard.
It’s an engaging technology tool that incorporates learning.
Only requires a microphone which is built into most computers.
Students can give a review of a book they read.
Students can give recommendations.
Students can record excerpts of a book they recommend.
Librarians can give book talks.
The librarian can post a podcast link to the school/library website.
Librarians can record instructions on how to use online databases.
Librarians can discuss award winning books.
There can be discussions concerning banned books.
Students can discuss makerspace activities.
Let me introduce to you a few podcasts that I've been exploring over the past few days.
Provides a step-by-step guide on how to start a podcast.
Easily accessible from smartphone by downloading from the app store or google play.
Provides numerous features without having to buy a subscription.
The layout, organization, and aesthetics are pleasing.
Runs smoothly without any glitches.
The user can create a live show.
Allows video content and a guest host to join in.
Allows for promotion of your channel.
Subscriptions range from $9-99 per month.
The recording button is not easily found.
Doesn’t offer security features.
Only allows up to 5 hours of audio per month with a free plan.
It does not provide a back-up feature.
Only a 7 day refund policy.
Suitable for beginners.
Has chapter markers which allows users to navigate to their favorite part.
It allows you to create a customizable website to host the podcast with your domain.
Allows for multiple episodes in one player.
Easy to navigate for beginners and to analyze data.
Has a sound bite feature to create a video trailer for your podcast.
It forecasts the amount of downloads you will have for the next episode.
You can manage unlimited podcasts under one account.
Gives a detailed guide on how to start a podcast.
Plans are more expensive starting at $12/month and increase to $24/month.
Each subscription allows a limited number of uploads.
Free plan ends in 90 days.
The subscriber will lose unused space each month.
100% free–there are no paid options.
An app mobile for mobile devices is available in addition to the website for computer use.
Allows you to record audio from your browser and save audio files to reuse. No file conversion is needed.
You can add songs from Spotify to your episodes.
The interface is very easy to use–you just drag and drop different audio files, transition songs, and sounds into the episode bar on the right, drag to reorder sections, and save.
You can easily add background music to your recorded voice.
You can only have one show per account.
Anchor is owned by Spotify, and since it’s a free program, they insert ads into your podcast.
If you choose to monetize your podcast, you must pay a cut to Spotify.
Recording time is limited to 30 minutes.
Requires approval by Spotify before an episode goes live if you include songs from Spotify.
With all this positive information, you know there are always challenges.
Students may not feel comfortable recording their voice or being criticized for sharing their opinions on literature. Also, students may not have school access to utilize this tool.
If you are using podcasts for school purposes, remember.....
A digital/online policy must be created and followed by all users.
No matter if you listen to podcasts or not, I promise it's worth your time. Choose a topic or category or just put it on in the background! You won't regret it!
Students can digitally put their creative ideas in a comic strip and the teacher or librarian can display for students to read. Students will feel accomplished when they realize they are an author and used the latest technology to create it. As a librarian, I would like to introduce these resources to teachers in one of their weekly meetings. This can be used as an ice breaker or simply as a resource they can incorporate in the classroom. Teachers can have students create them as a continuation of a story they’ve read. They can also create them to demonstrate their knowledge of school rules at the beginning of school. Another idea allows students to demonstrate new vocabulary words in context. I know I’ll be taking advantage of it!
You Tube
As I browsed through YouTube videos I found some interesting, creative, and helpful videos that pertain to the library. All of the YouTube videos I searched were either helpful or entertaining. The purpose of these videos invites the students to communicate and learn while using technology.
There were several videos on overdue library books. They are geared towards different age levels.
Beauty and the Beast- Overdue Books -Lower Elementary
The webapp I used is called Story Jumper. It allowed me to create a storybook over what I've learned as a student in this technology cla...