Week 8 - Assignment 2

In my article from Week 5, a topic that the author brings up is student use of instant and text messaging in the classroom. Students use these tools in their everyday life outside of the classroom. Do you feel that using these tools would be a motivating way to engage students? Or would they be a distraction in the classroom that allows for the use of "non-standard English", such as "C U L8R"? Also, how could you see yourself using these tools in your classroom?

UDL Book Builder

The Big Game

I am currently teaching a football unit in my Physical Education classes. I decided to write a book about football because of this. I decided to take the view of a student who has an important game coming up. I wanted to show that with hard work anything is possible. My character, Jason, put in the extra work needed to be successful. When speaking to ELA teachers, they talked about the students writing stories that were realistic fiction, meaning stories that could actually happen. The nice part about UDL Book Builder is that students can easily write stories about any subject and publish them using this online tool. The ELA teachers could have the students work through their stories on paper and give them feedback to make sure they are on the right track. When the stories are completed and approved, they can then use UDL Book Builder. Other teachers could use the book I created as an example for their students. The entire process of creating and publishing the book did not take very long and was quite easy to do. Teachers could also take my book and have students create alternative endings to it. This will force the students to think creatively in the writing process.

Week 6 - Assignment 4

Edmodo is a great tool to use in the classroom. It is basically a free social network site for teachers and their students. It is set up similarly to facebook and is quite easy to navigate. Edmodo offers a great way for teachers to communicate with their students. An ELA teacher can use Edmodo to help enhance their teaching and student learning. They can set up their class and send an invite to the students to join the group. Teachers can post notes, assignments, or any other information they need to for their students. It is simple to create a quick quiz using the site. There is a calendar where teachers can post due dates and other important information. There is also a library section, where the teacher can add documents or internet resources for student use. This would make it easier for students to do research. They wouldn’t have to spend hours searching the internet, because the teacher can steer them in the right direction by offering website to go to. Students are also able to comment on each other’s posts. This is a great way to easily create group feedback. Students often feel more comfortable when they are sending a message on a computer, compared to when they are face to face with someone. This site could be used either in class or when the students are at home. Students sometimes forget to write down assignments when they leave the school for the day. Using Edmodo, a student will always be able to know what the homework was. Students will also always have a way to interact with each other from class. There are many benefits to using Edmodo in class.

Week 6 - Assignment 3

Here is my PowerPoint on my game scenario/script. I uploaded it to my dropbox so hopefully you can view it.

Week 6 - Assignment 2

Using games in the classroom can be a very effective teaching tool if done correctly. Games should be used to reinforce what is being learned, not purely for entertainment. Games allow students to develop their new literacies skills, while becoming more accustomed with new technologies. Students are more active learners when they are participating in something they enjoy. An increasing number of students play games in their free time. Teachers need to capitalize on the students’ desire for games by incorporating them into their lessons.

Week 6 - Assignment 1

Teachers are using games in their classrooms to enhance student learning. Gamestar Mechanic is being used to teach students not only how to design games but also how to develop stories. One lesson that I found was done by a teacher to incorporate storyboarding as an element of game design. He had the students develop a storyboard of what the levels of the game would be. Students had to draw their storyboard before they could begin designing their game. This forces the students to fully think through their story. They then had to share their storyboards by talking through them in a group setting. This is a great way for students to work on their writing skills and creativity. The teacher would also have the students reflect on the process to see how the final game compared to their original storyboard. Students could create a story based on any subject. During the writing of their story, students would have to think of 3 main events that will be used in their game design. The three main events would be the basis for their levels of the game.

Week 5

Technology and Adolescence

This article is from the Reading Research Quarterly and was published by the International Reading Association. The title of the article is “Enhancing Adolescent Literacy Achievement through Integration of Technology in the Classroom.” This article looks at 7 areas for further research to improve adolescent literacy that are of interest for policymakers. The seven areas are (1) state-offered virtual courses and delivery systems, (2) communication tools, (3) artificial intelligence, (4) word processors, (5) new literacy practices, (6) professional development, (7) technology for parents. The article discusses Connecticut’s education system, but the same can be true for New York. The reason I chose this article is because many of the areas discussed have significance to this course. The article points out that we need to adapt our teaching styles to the way students learn best. A growing number of students communicate using technology in their everyday life, and teachers need to utilize these technologies in their classroom. Reading this article further supports the use of technology in ELA classrooms.