Today was the first day of the Assistive Technology Course: Access to Literacy. We were given the syllabus and informed of the assignments we are going to do to get familiar with the reading process and technology that can be used to help assist when this process breaks down.
Our first job was to try to come up with the task analysis of learning to read. I was surprised by how many things we take for granted when reading and can see where it breaks down for some of the students I work with. The sensory control issue is a huge one.
The biological perspective of learning language was interesting as well. Our brains are wired to learn language, we do it automatically, but we have to learn to read. We need to make those connections in our brain. Our brain needs to take the oral language and associate letters to sounds which are meaningless by themselves. We need to have many, varied oral language experiences and be able to bring these experiences with us when we engage with print. For students who have not been exposed to a lot of language, or the language we speak at school, this does not put them on a level playing field when starting school.
The Sousa article was extremely interesting. I learned a lot about how our brain functions during the process of reading. One thing that stuck out in my mind was how the visual and auditory processing parts of our brain have to work at the same speed to be able to read effectively. It explained one of the common things people use to describe dyslexia: the words and letters get all jumbled up. When you are visually scanning (visual processing) a word you should be sounding out the letter (auditory processing) you see at the same time. If your auditory processing is slower then your visual then you will be sounding out the first letter when your eyes are looking at the third letter. This will cause confusion when learning to read.
The Lindamood-Bell system helps slow down this scanning process and focuses on feeling how your mouth is during each sound you make. There is a youtube video below that is an interview with one of the founders and a student who has used this remediation system with great success.
Lindamood-Bell interview
In talking about the iPhone and its uses, I am amazed everyday how much I use it and depend on it for little conviences. I communicate daily, through messaging, with my partner Jason about everything but most importantly coordinate the kids activities and supper. Today I used the map app and found exactly which building the class was in. I accessed my home e-mail while on the go. I use the clock app every morning as an alarm to get me going. My daughter and Jason's daughter use the game apps I have downloaded to occupy themselves while we are on the road. I have control over what games are on the phone so I know what they are playing. The majority of them have some educational aspect or skill.
I did download Tiki Notes, as was suggested in class. I have been looking for something like this for a student who has extreme difficulty in communicating through writing. Having word choices there automatically without typing any letters may be very helpful. Now I just have to figure out how to use it to show him :)
For those of you who work with Autistic students, the app described in this youtube video maybe helpful.
Behaviour App for Autism
I look forward to learning even more tomorrow!
Assignment 1 - Task Anaysis of Reading
Today's task in class was to try to break up all the components we do when we read. This was an extremely difficult task. I learned to read very easily and quickly. But I was a child who could sit still, filter out background noises, focus, and understood the letter to sound connection. It seemed to come automatically. When you sit and think about all the things that our brain has to do in order to be ready to read and to just read it is amazing. It is no wonder this process breaks down so much and we have so many students who are reluctant/struggling readers.
My partner Darlene and I used Inspiration to create a web showing the processes and relationships that have to be present in order to be a successful reader. I would highly recommend having students use Inspiration to brainstorm or to visually show relationships between concepts being taught in class. It is very easy to use and a lot of fun.
Here is the web that we designed to show what we think the process of reading looks like:
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As you can see reading involves a coordination between the brain and teaching specific concepts. The brain processes that have to coordinate are the auditory processing, visual processing and the executive functioning aspects of our brain. If e cannot attend to what the task is (sit still, focus-executive functioning) or hear the sounds the symbols make properly or see the symbols to try to make that connection then it you may not have a rich vocabulary or knowledge to draw on when someone tries to explicitly teach you the next step in learning to read.
Next, we have to be taught the decoding or the sound symbol relationships and then that will lead to us reading words, sentences, paragraphs and whole books. The more we read the more fluent our reading becomes and we have a better chance of making sense or comprehending what we are reading. If our brain is spending too much energy on the decoding part then it will not have enough energy to put all the words together to make sense.
A very complicated process!!
For my iPhone today the only new thing I did was to try to search out where my daughter's camp would be going tomorrow on their field trip. They are going to Blue Beach to look for fossils. It did not have that location in the map app that comes with the phone. I think that is a local name which is why it could not be found.
I am thouroughly enjoying having to really look at and take apart these processes that for many of us teachers came naturally. This is going to help me look at my students differently and come up with some new strategies to try to assist them in acheiving success at school
My partner Darlene and I used Inspiration to create a web showing the processes and relationships that have to be present in order to be a successful reader. I would highly recommend having students use Inspiration to brainstorm or to visually show relationships between concepts being taught in class. It is very easy to use and a lot of fun.
Here is the web that we designed to show what we think the process of reading looks like:
As you can see reading involves a coordination between the brain and teaching specific concepts. The brain processes that have to coordinate are the auditory processing, visual processing and the executive functioning aspects of our brain. If e cannot attend to what the task is (sit still, focus-executive functioning) or hear the sounds the symbols make properly or see the symbols to try to make that connection then it you may not have a rich vocabulary or knowledge to draw on when someone tries to explicitly teach you the next step in learning to read.
Next, we have to be taught the decoding or the sound symbol relationships and then that will lead to us reading words, sentences, paragraphs and whole books. The more we read the more fluent our reading becomes and we have a better chance of making sense or comprehending what we are reading. If our brain is spending too much energy on the decoding part then it will not have enough energy to put all the words together to make sense.
A very complicated process!!
For my iPhone today the only new thing I did was to try to search out where my daughter's camp would be going tomorrow on their field trip. They are going to Blue Beach to look for fossils. It did not have that location in the map app that comes with the phone. I think that is a local name which is why it could not be found.
I am thouroughly enjoying having to really look at and take apart these processes that for many of us teachers came naturally. This is going to help me look at my students differently and come up with some new strategies to try to assist them in acheiving success at school
Assignment 2 - Reading Apps
Assignment 2 - Finding 20 Apps for iPhone for Reading
I think I went a little overboard on this assignment :) I have actually found 52 apps to help with some aspect of reading (including some that were mentioned in class by Barbara), whether it be for remediation or compensatory, help with the neural processes needed or actual teaching a reading concept itself. I am only putting a description for 20 or so but I will list the names of the others in case you want to do more research on your own.
I found the majority through my iPhone in the Apps Store App and used it to take screen shots of the description (which had more detail then if I looked at the app on the iTunes store on the computer) if it cost money. If the app was free I usually downloaded it and took screen shots of some of the pages in the app itself. I also found a few app descriptions on Youtube and have included these here.
The Reading Game
Helps: increase fluency, give purpose for reading
Description: a student can keep track of their reading and win rewards on this app. It unlocks special characters as you keep track of the number of pages you read. Multi user.Spelling Bus - Deluxe
Description: Kids see pictures and listen to words then type the spelling.
Issues: check to see if pictures are a good representation of what they want them to spell.
Spell That
Description: allows user/parent/teacher to customize spelling list geared toward a particular student. It comes with lists of words but you can enter your own. Allows different levels (see the word and/or hear the word)
Issues: If you are recording the pronunciation of your own word list you have to be careful it is clearly audible.
Flashgram
Helps: with grammar
Description: this app quizzes people on nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in a sentence. You touch the answer so no text input is required.
Issues
Word of the Day (Heartland International English School)
Helps: with vocabulary
Description: each day a new word or idiom or expression is presented. It gives the definition or meaning behind the expression. Will help students who are more literal thinkers and have a hard time understanding expressions or gaining vocabulary.
Issues: Some of the expressions may not be common ones used in Canada.
Word Magic
Helps: phonics
Description: students have to pick the appropriate letters to complete the spelling of the word
Issues: maybe too young looking for students who are at this stage in their literacy but are older in age.
No Fear Shakespeare
Helps: students read SShakespeare
Description: students can see the original Shakespeare prose with the English translation side by side.
Issues: Only one text of Shakespeare can be downloaded free
Memory Game- Spelling words
Helps: teach common spelling words, working memory, visual memory
Description: over 600 words (Doltch's sight word list), match pairs of cards.
Issues: randomly chosen words
Word Game-English VersionHelps: working memory and lateral thinking skills
Description: you are given a sequence of 9 words and you are to put the words in an order of how they are connected to each other.
Issues:
Word Domino
Helps: vocabulary and reading skills (developed with a speech pathologist)
Description: build words with the syllables given, 200 words, 3 levels
Issues
Dyslexia Helper
Helps: concentration and focus and disorientation of reading print
Description: uses game-style exercises and routines that have to be followed in a specific sequence.
Issues $10.99 with no ratings
ADHD Organizer
Description: allows you to set goals, has memory and diary sections and an adive/tips section.
Issues: The description says it helps you find your weaknesses but there is no indication of how it does this.
Simon Says
Description: Students see and hear a sequence of sounds presented on the touch screen and have to repeat the sequence.
Issues
DDT Words
Helps: acquisition of common sight words
Description:
Issues
Playwords
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Helps: learning new words
Description: 3 great games for the child learning to read. Flash cards help children see and hear new words, matching the word to the picture and spelling game to find the missing letter. 350 English words, 3 levels of difficulty, reward stickers
Issues
Word Search
Description: students find the words in the puzzle
Issues
Home Routine![]()
Helps: organization, focus
Description: keep track of homework and other tasks, has a timer so you can give yourself a set time to complete a task
Issues
Speech language app
ibooks app
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phenetic app dictionary
sounding out words app
These are the apps I did not get to research as well:
Match Words
Read Me Stories
Hangman
Rye Books
Match Phonics
I Like Reading
Magnifier
Reading Fun
Meghan'sMatching Game 2nd Grade
ADHD BuddyVOD
IceFall
Archie Comics
Scrabble Blast
Tiki'Notes
Dictionary.com
Dragon Dictation
Documents
montesorri crosswords
fwanimals
moving talesword foto
wordslapquick reader
split wordssyllable hunter
rhyme freenursery rhymes
Sharing Reading Apps
Today we had the opportunity to show our classmates 3 of the apps to support the reading process. Wow there is a lot out there. I have included a list of what was mentioned in class and I have tried to organize them in similar categories that match the reading stage.
Other Apps suggested:
The following video is a great app. it is a scanner iapp for your iPhone. You can scan any document and have it read out to you.
Prizmo
We also started thinking about the writing process and what it entails. Below is the brainstorm my partner and I came up with:
The Writing process
- cursive writing
-we learn to write to convey info
-witing is the opposite of reading
-double the work
-encoding information, need all the reading information plus being able to come up with ideas and information
write a paragrapgh of what you are going to do this weekend
able to listen (auditory processing)
attending (filtering out extraneous info/noises)
engaged emotionally (excited about task)
memory to remember instructions
how seated
find materials to start task (organization of materials)
-generate ideas (prior knowledge, memory/ retrival, imaging), organization of ideas
- sequencing the order of the days, planning
- fine motor skills/coordination (depth perception/visual processing) to pick up pencil -proprioception
-know how to spell the words you want to write
-get ideas from brain to to your hand to write
-choose right words to convey meaning (rich vocab)
Other Apps suggested:
| Interest in reading | Early skills | Other skills | Relaxation | vocab | Older engagement | Misc |
| -Bob books -The lettermen books -farm animals-Laz read -One Rainy Day -Moo Baa La La -Popout books -tyrannosaurus rex -alphabooks lite ages 2-6 -tumble books | -Reading Skill/magic Reading -ABC tracing -ABC phonics -small talk phonemes -Super Why | -grammer jammers -Speech with Milo-prepositions -memory block -iwrite 3d words -Miss Spells class -storybuilder | -nature sounds -Bubbles -composure-zen garden -izen -paint sparkles | my word wall | -Iceberg -RocketBook- Animal Farm cliff notes -reading log kids - first 60 books free -Kid Art -Picture my puzzle -Comic touch -image to text | -whiteboard lite -vbooksz -voice reader |
The following video is a great app. it is a scanner iapp for your iPhone. You can scan any document and have it read out to you.
Prizmo
We also started thinking about the writing process and what it entails. Below is the brainstorm my partner and I came up with:
The Writing process
- cursive writing
-we learn to write to convey info
-witing is the opposite of reading
-double the work
-encoding information, need all the reading information plus being able to come up with ideas and information
write a paragrapgh of what you are going to do this weekend
able to listen (auditory processing)
attending (filtering out extraneous info/noises)
engaged emotionally (excited about task)
memory to remember instructions
how seated
find materials to start task (organization of materials)
-generate ideas (prior knowledge, memory/ retrival, imaging), organization of ideas
- sequencing the order of the days, planning
- fine motor skills/coordination (depth perception/visual processing) to pick up pencil -proprioception
-know how to spell the words you want to write
-get ideas from brain to to your hand to write
-choose right words to convey meaning (rich vocab)
Reluctant Readers and Writer Apps
I have had the opportunity to watch 3 webinars on apps for the iPod/Phone/Pad. The apps that are out there are amazing! It is incredible what technology can do.
Apps in Action Webinar
I have had my iPhone for over a year now and I was not aware of the accessibility options available. I was very glad to learn this. Voice over, zoom, large text and white on black text are what are available. Very easy to change the settings. I think it would take some time to get used to how to use each since you need to tap a different number of times to do different things which is different then what I am accustomed to but with time if I needed these settings to assist someone on my caseload or for a friend or family member to access information I am glad they are there!
In this webinar we were introduced to Apps for hearing impaired, ASD, early learners in reading, Math, visual impairments, communication and other new and noteworthy apps. I have downloaded some of the free apps already like Reducing Fractions, iCoin, and Alebra. If I get a budget for apps I will have a good idea where to start.
Reluctant Readers Webinar
Again incredible technology. One app I will definately be looking into is the audiobooks! I hopw that would be in the book bureau budget because we could purchase a few audiobooks for each novel the ELA teachers get students to read. No more asking volunteers to read out a novel and record it to save the school $100 for a book on tape. The highlighting and sticky note option on the book apps is very important feature.
Also the study guides and cliff notes are great as well. I have already looked at one for the novel the grade 9`s did last year and it looked very thorough and right on track to what the teacher was teaching.
Many of the apps presented were not applicable to my level but I know the learning centre teacher at my school received a grant for an iPad and I will be passing these names on to her.
Reluctant Writers Webinar
Many of the apps presented in this webinar are amazing fun and engaging apps to get students minds going on topics and stories. I know I thought of my daughter during many of the demos and how she would love to be creative and write a story using the app. Many of the apps presented in this webinar are posted in my Writers Blog at http://www.eneaveswriting.blogspot.com/
Website Evaluation
1. Tumbebooks
Looks like a good site. I read a study that said sustined silent reading is not the best practice for student's who are not fluent readers. These readers require more support and more guided oral readings. It may be beneficial to them to have access to these books which read to them, and show the words when teacher time is limited for guided oral readings. The will have a model of what fluent reading sounds like.
2. Earobics
Again, looks like an amazing resource for the younger grades. I have seen it recommended many times in Psych Ed evaluations of students in younger grades. The game site offered games for older students but I found the spelling one very loud and distracting with the music playing. The words seemed very basic but I did like that they sounded out the letters as you typed them.
3. Raz kids
A great site! I know friends of my daughter`s who use this site. Seems very individualized and can give teachers lots of feed back on where the student is in their reading. I like that they can access it from home (if they have technology) to practice. For my practice it would not be very appropriate because of the fact that the sire indicate right on it that it is for K-6 and it is very bright and eementary looking. I wish they would design a sight for older students.
4. PBS kids
Another great tool for teachers in the elementary grades. I have used it with my daughter many times when she was younger. The teacher page is very comprehensive as well.
5. UDL toolkit
Well I certainly saved the best for last! WOW! What an incredible site. I have bookmarked it and will be visiting and revisiting it throughout the school year! I clicked on the apps tab and will be using these articles when I am applying for my grant for the iPad. I have also looked at AND sent the webpage link for the appsineducation website to many of my collegues who are interested in technology. I have put these two links below
http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/AudioBooks
http://www.ipadineducation.co.uk/iPad_in_Education/Welcome.html
Apps in Action Webinar
I have had my iPhone for over a year now and I was not aware of the accessibility options available. I was very glad to learn this. Voice over, zoom, large text and white on black text are what are available. Very easy to change the settings. I think it would take some time to get used to how to use each since you need to tap a different number of times to do different things which is different then what I am accustomed to but with time if I needed these settings to assist someone on my caseload or for a friend or family member to access information I am glad they are there!
In this webinar we were introduced to Apps for hearing impaired, ASD, early learners in reading, Math, visual impairments, communication and other new and noteworthy apps. I have downloaded some of the free apps already like Reducing Fractions, iCoin, and Alebra. If I get a budget for apps I will have a good idea where to start.
Reluctant Readers Webinar
Again incredible technology. One app I will definately be looking into is the audiobooks! I hopw that would be in the book bureau budget because we could purchase a few audiobooks for each novel the ELA teachers get students to read. No more asking volunteers to read out a novel and record it to save the school $100 for a book on tape. The highlighting and sticky note option on the book apps is very important feature.
Also the study guides and cliff notes are great as well. I have already looked at one for the novel the grade 9`s did last year and it looked very thorough and right on track to what the teacher was teaching.
Many of the apps presented were not applicable to my level but I know the learning centre teacher at my school received a grant for an iPad and I will be passing these names on to her.
Reluctant Writers Webinar
Many of the apps presented in this webinar are amazing fun and engaging apps to get students minds going on topics and stories. I know I thought of my daughter during many of the demos and how she would love to be creative and write a story using the app. Many of the apps presented in this webinar are posted in my Writers Blog at http://www.eneaveswriting.blogspot.com/
Website Evaluation
1. Tumbebooks
Looks like a good site. I read a study that said sustined silent reading is not the best practice for student's who are not fluent readers. These readers require more support and more guided oral readings. It may be beneficial to them to have access to these books which read to them, and show the words when teacher time is limited for guided oral readings. The will have a model of what fluent reading sounds like.
2. Earobics
Again, looks like an amazing resource for the younger grades. I have seen it recommended many times in Psych Ed evaluations of students in younger grades. The game site offered games for older students but I found the spelling one very loud and distracting with the music playing. The words seemed very basic but I did like that they sounded out the letters as you typed them.
3. Raz kids
A great site! I know friends of my daughter`s who use this site. Seems very individualized and can give teachers lots of feed back on where the student is in their reading. I like that they can access it from home (if they have technology) to practice. For my practice it would not be very appropriate because of the fact that the sire indicate right on it that it is for K-6 and it is very bright and eementary looking. I wish they would design a sight for older students.
4. PBS kids
Another great tool for teachers in the elementary grades. I have used it with my daughter many times when she was younger. The teacher page is very comprehensive as well.
5. UDL toolkit
Well I certainly saved the best for last! WOW! What an incredible site. I have bookmarked it and will be visiting and revisiting it throughout the school year! I clicked on the apps tab and will be using these articles when I am applying for my grant for the iPad. I have also looked at AND sent the webpage link for the appsineducation website to many of my collegues who are interested in technology. I have put these two links below
http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/AudioBooks
http://www.ipadineducation.co.uk/iPad_in_Education/Welcome.html
Elluminate Live and Kurzweil
Today was an interesting experience. Our class was held in a virtual classroom in Blackboard Collaborate (formally known as Elluminate Live). We could chat with one another via text message and audio. We could use video to communicate. We were given a powerpoint presentation by our instructor. The neatest thing that happened was to be able to work with each other on a project when we were in different locations! We were put into different rooms withing elluminate and were able to see what the other was doing to a program (Kurzweil) and developed a lesson plan together. I was in Kentville and my partner was in Canning!
I can definitely see the potential for Ellunimate to be used with those students who are ill, or who are not able to attend school for a variety of reasons.I have included some utube videos to better explain how Blackboard Collaborate (Elluminate Live) works:
Kurzweil is an amazing program. Our LD specialist and AT people within our board are giving is Dragon Naturally Speaking. I will be advocating for Kurzweil from now on. I can see many of our teachers using this program to assist students with their learning. Watching some of the u tube videos I can see how it can be embedded right in a lesson to teach the skills needed to be a successful reader and writer:
I can definitely see the potential for Ellunimate to be used with those students who are ill, or who are not able to attend school for a variety of reasons.I have included some utube videos to better explain how Blackboard Collaborate (Elluminate Live) works:
Kurzweil is an amazing program. Our LD specialist and AT people within our board are giving is Dragon Naturally Speaking. I will be advocating for Kurzweil from now on. I can see many of our teachers using this program to assist students with their learning. Watching some of the u tube videos I can see how it can be embedded right in a lesson to teach the skills needed to be a successful reader and writer:
Assignment 3 - The Writing Process
My Writing Process and Assistive Technology Blogcan be found at eneaveswriting@blogspot.com
School Mental Health Conference - July 14
I had the opportunity to attend a conference at Dalhousie University on Thurs, July 14 and Fri, July 15. It was an incredible conference that lasted from 8 am - 6 pm both days with presentations at lunch. The speakers were from the IWK and connected with Sunlife Financial Chair who put on this conference. We were given a binder with lesson plans to help teach students about the importance of mental health and websites and resources to aid in this as well.
The speakers were all experts in dealing with various aspects of teen mental health. We heard about anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis, communicating with teens about issues, medications, accessing mental health, ADHD, disruptive behaviours. We had an opportunity to talk with teachers that work at the day programs and overnight programs for students with mental health issues at the IWK as well as teens who volunteer at a peer program to help those with mental health issues called Laing House.
Please find below some websites that were suggested with amazing resources and contacts.
http://www.teenmentalheath.org/
http://www.youtube.com/teenmentalhealth1
http://www.yoomagazine.net/
http://www.tigweb.org/
http://allkindsofminds.org/
http://www.aacap.org/
http://www.lainghouse.org/
http://www.incredibleyears.com/
http://www.anxietybc.com/
http://www2.massgeneral.org/schoolpsychiatry/
The speakers were all experts in dealing with various aspects of teen mental health. We heard about anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis, communicating with teens about issues, medications, accessing mental health, ADHD, disruptive behaviours. We had an opportunity to talk with teachers that work at the day programs and overnight programs for students with mental health issues at the IWK as well as teens who volunteer at a peer program to help those with mental health issues called Laing House.
Please find below some websites that were suggested with amazing resources and contacts.
http://www.teenmentalheath.org/
http://www.youtube.com/teenmentalhealth1
http://www.yoomagazine.net/
http://www.tigweb.org/
http://allkindsofminds.org/
http://www.aacap.org/
http://www.lainghouse.org/
http://www.incredibleyears.com/
http://www.anxietybc.com/
http://www2.massgeneral.org/schoolpsychiatry/
Socail Justice Conference
Today was conference day. It was on Social Justice, social change. We had three speakers.
The first speaker was Pat Tompson who spoke on Changing Schools Alternative Aproaches that Promote Social Justice. She spoke about how teachers are so bogged down by policy and curriculum that we forget about our students. We need to teach to the needsof our students, engage them with big ideas and let them take from it, involve the community and relevant issues.
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3856484/Speaker_1_Social_Justice
Speaker Two was Dr Kevin Alderson who spoke about sexual and gender identity in schools. He started off talkig about gender in society and how even as babies how we force gender idenity on children. He talked about the history of human rights on slavery, womwn voting and same sex marriages. He then went into some quotes from his research showing that even in cities with a rich accepting gay culture such as Montreal, kids do not feel safe and accepted in their schools. He went over statistics of the icidence of violence inflicted on students thought to be gay, lesbian etc.
The advice he gave was to have a no tolerance policy, show flags of different cultures including GLBT to show acceptance of diversity, start challenging the language we here at school ``that`s so gay`to thats so different, explain where the language came from and use inclusive language such as ``Are you dating someone`` instead of using gender.
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3856858/speaker_2_Social_Justice_
Speaker 3 was I have put my jot notes down of what I got from the lecture.
S. Nombuso Dlamini
everyday we can find differences and diversity in the world around us...forming new ideas and looking at ourselves and discover what is new about us...reconfiguring newness...cultural relations are a balance of old and new
studies around cities newness has a lot to do with geography but we need to look beyond that...connected through technology, cosmopolitism-challanges on the notion of boundries
changing name-correct pronouniation of name-ppl in that space need to change to accept the new name that belongs in that space and not see it as foreign
some ppl change name completely to be accepted (conformity) but we shoud embrace differences
newness can be a constant shift of examining everything around us
Teachers need up to date on the ways students want to be defined
institutions are places of conflict and inconsistancies
change can be like ghosts just because we cant see it it doesnt mean it is not there
what is excluded when we examine things is also important
use local newness as a teaching moment
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3857039/speaker_3_social_justice
Overall I found the conference very general with no practical strategies offered.
The first speaker was Pat Tompson who spoke on Changing Schools Alternative Aproaches that Promote Social Justice. She spoke about how teachers are so bogged down by policy and curriculum that we forget about our students. We need to teach to the needsof our students, engage them with big ideas and let them take from it, involve the community and relevant issues.
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3856484/Speaker_1_Social_Justice
Speaker Two was Dr Kevin Alderson who spoke about sexual and gender identity in schools. He started off talkig about gender in society and how even as babies how we force gender idenity on children. He talked about the history of human rights on slavery, womwn voting and same sex marriages. He then went into some quotes from his research showing that even in cities with a rich accepting gay culture such as Montreal, kids do not feel safe and accepted in their schools. He went over statistics of the icidence of violence inflicted on students thought to be gay, lesbian etc.
The advice he gave was to have a no tolerance policy, show flags of different cultures including GLBT to show acceptance of diversity, start challenging the language we here at school ``that`s so gay`to thats so different, explain where the language came from and use inclusive language such as ``Are you dating someone`` instead of using gender.
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3856858/speaker_2_Social_Justice_
Speaker 3 was I have put my jot notes down of what I got from the lecture.
S. Nombuso Dlamini
everyday we can find differences and diversity in the world around us...forming new ideas and looking at ourselves and discover what is new about us...reconfiguring newness...cultural relations are a balance of old and new
studies around cities newness has a lot to do with geography but we need to look beyond that...connected through technology, cosmopolitism-challanges on the notion of boundries
changing name-correct pronouniation of name-ppl in that space need to change to accept the new name that belongs in that space and not see it as foreign
some ppl change name completely to be accepted (conformity) but we shoud embrace differences
newness can be a constant shift of examining everything around us
Teachers need up to date on the ways students want to be defined
institutions are places of conflict and inconsistancies
change can be like ghosts just because we cant see it it doesnt mean it is not there
what is excluded when we examine things is also important
use local newness as a teaching moment
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3857039/speaker_3_social_justice
Overall I found the conference very general with no practical strategies offered.
Sharing Writing Blogs
I was blown away with all the great blogs I saw today. What an amazing resource to have! I loved all the creativity and technology that was used or is out there to support student who struggle with writing.
I would encourage you to visit these websites and see for yourself:
http://processofriting.blogspot.com/
http://assistivegroup.blogspot.com/
http://krista-julie.blogspot.com/
http://atjmj.blogspot.com/
http://supportingthewritingprocess.blogspot.com/
http://harleyjessome.blogspot.com/
http://helenhimsl.blogspot.com/
Again Blackboard Collaborate was an amazing tool to be able to share what we had created.
I would encourage you to visit these websites and see for yourself:
http://processofriting.blogspot.com/
http://assistivegroup.blogspot.com/
http://krista-julie.blogspot.com/
http://atjmj.blogspot.com/
http://supportingthewritingprocess.blogspot.com/
http://harleyjessome.blogspot.com/
http://helenhimsl.blogspot.com/
Again Blackboard Collaborate was an amazing tool to be able to share what we had created.
Reflection
I have really enjoyed taking this course. It gave me the opportunity to examine how we read and write, break these processes apart and figure out what is involved. It then gave me the opportunity to look at different ways we can support students where they are in this process through technology. Practical use of the iPods and apps was amazing. Searching for technology to support learners lead to a wonderful array of resources which will lead to more. Having the flexibility to stay at home and learn was a great option as well. Elluminate Live is an amazing peice of technology and I would not be suprised if it is not going to be used more with in the public school system for students not able to come to school and even for when substitutes come in.
I did find the searching for products, demos etc a little overwheling as it seemed to lead to more and more and took up a lot more time then I thought it would.
Thank you Barb again for presenting a relevant and engaging course.
I did find the searching for products, demos etc a little overwheling as it seemed to lead to more and more and took up a lot more time then I thought it would.
Thank you Barb again for presenting a relevant and engaging course.
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