It's done; it's OVER! I have learned so much this semester. In a word (actually two) practical application is the phrase that comes to mind. Though there were a few educational flubs that slowed me down i.e. Iowa Core Curriculum & Bloom's Taxonomy. I also had my fair share of wonderful ah moments or 'ooh, I can do that at work' while learning about Gradual Release of Responsibility or tools that we already use that are simply renamed with Universal Design for Learning.
At the end of it all, I'm pooped! My head is still spinning and I'm a bit unsure if I pulled this off correctly. In the end, there's only one way to measure success, with your feedback. So please, after you've eaten your second slice of pie and you've darted away from your friends and family to read cohort blogs check it out and let me know what you think about it.
Seasons Greetings! (until next semester)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Kicking it Up....
Have you ever been in a situation where something feels familiar but you cannot quite place exactly how or why? Well, that has been experience as I journey through the last few semesters as a Master’s student pursuing a degree in Instructional Technology at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI).
In my cohort are a group of righteous educators who I am constantly encouraged by. In ‘small town Iowa’ schools across the state they are transforming the way their students engage curriculum using technology. They are kicking up the learning experience which allows elementary students a global skyping experience. Removing the the classroom walls and encouraging students to be creative and open up to peer-to-peer critique.
Though our worlds are different - them teaching in the classroom while my work is heavily focused on training, the outcome is the same: to educate young people, help develop their skill sets and prepare them for the workforce. Whether it's life after primary/secondary schooling or Life After AmeriCorps NCCC (LAA) we are helping to influence the leaders of tomorrow. Here's my adaptation for TIM for training young adults on a specialized skill who are engaged in national service. For more information on creating your own Technology Integration Matrix for your education program or classroom, check Dr. Leigh Zeitz's blog posting on TIM.
Image provided by: http://skreened.com/totallyawesomeshirts/kick-it-up-a-notch
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Universal Learning Design: A Trainer's Perspective
For this assignment, I interviewed an educator who trains national service participants to perform community service projects over a 10 month period. Although learners aren't in a traditional classroom setting the method of UDL is implemented as a best practice for instruction.
After reviewing the interview, I have learned that while the NCCC program has implemented UDL in their training settings, there isn't a strong emphasis on technology. Technology is infused primarily through lecture style power point presentations.
If the program had wireless devices available such as iPads, clickers, or other tablets members would have an opportunity to interact more in trainings, making it a more enriched experience. That being said, it is encouraging to see audio, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles addressed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)