Yolonda

=== Hello Everyone! I am so excited about my first RTC course here at HEC. I am using this course to complete the requirements for my certificate renewal. Well, let me go ahead and tell you about myself. I am a first year Computer Technology teacher at Easton Middle School in Talbot County. My first year was awesome, and I am looking forward to many more. I have even been selected to represent the School Improvement Team for the upcoming school year, so I know that this course will benefit me greatly. Before teaching, I worked as a correctional officer in an all male prison for ten years. Teaching is what I had a passion for so I went back to UMES and earned my degree in Business Education in 2007. I am also certified to teach middle school mathematics. I have a 13 year old daughter, who thinks that she is 16 already, so please pray for me. I love traveling in my spare time. I actually just returned from a 7 day cruise to the Bahamas last week. Really looking forward to a great week! ===

===Not being a know it all. I feel that you gain more respect from others when you are willing to listen, and change your thoughts. Even if you disagree with someone's thoughts, I think that it is better to make them think that you agree even if you don't.===

*Engagement- Why
//National Center on UDL Examples and Resources-// How can I use this site? Self Assessment and Reflection- It is important for teachers as well as students to reflect on a daily basis. I like the use of learner diaries in the classroom. Some of my students finish assignments early and I think that reflecting on what they learned is a good way for the teacher to know what could be done to improve on a lesson.

Response and Navigation- Using your head for the mouse instead of your hands.

Click and Type Virtual Keyboard- When my students are learning the keyboard, this visual keyboard can be displayed if they forget where a key is located.

Downside is that a lot of these programs are not made to download for Mac OS.

I AM FROM.... My daughter's scrapbook, dog Coby, family portrait Basketball Court Yo-Yo, Lonnie, Skinny Minny Taco Dip, Chicken and Dumplings Cruise to Hawaii My daughter excelling in school, and being selected to play on an AAU(Amateur Athletic Union) basketball team.

Jigsaw Chapter 3, 4, 6, and 7/Appendix, and Tapscott Digital Media- Versatile, Transformed, Marked, Networking New Role of Assistive Technology- IEP and what is necessary to access the curriculum.
 * Chapter 3**- My group
 * Chapter 4**- What is Universal Design For Learning- See links from Peggy's Page/
 * Chapter 6**- UDL to support every student's learning. *See Chris P's Page
 * Chapter 7**- See UDL Assessment

**__Reflection #1__** // At the core of UDL is the premise that often the curriculum is disabled (and disabling!). It is not flexible; it often poses barriers, and consequently prevents rather than supports optimal learning experiences. Do you agree or disagree with this view? Why or why not? //

As a teacher that has to incorporate technology in my lessons every day, I disagree with this view. This is my first year teaching and along with my content specialist, we are always trying to find ways to reach the needs of the students. If I feel that my classroom needs more technology tools, she makes sure that we get them so that my students have optimal learning experiences. We have a curriculum, but it makes it easier for me because I am the only teacher in the school that teaches Computer Applications. I am free to make changes to it as I go along, but I still make sure that the changes correlate with the NETS Standards. Next week, I will actually be working with my specialist on a new curriculum for my class. Based on our group discussion most of the groups feel that the curriculum is flexible, but the problem lies in the state assessments. Most assessments do not align with how you teach the material.

__**Reflection #2**__ // What are the benefits of analyzing the curriculum for strengths and weaknesses rather than focusing on the student’s strengths and weaknesses? What are the challenges of this approach? //

The benefits of analyzing the curriculum for strengths and weaknesses rather than focusing on those of the students is that you are more focused on the content that has to be delivered, and making sure that it aligns with national and state standards. The needs of each student are important, but you are not focusing on the individual needs and interests.

The challenges of this approach is that you do not whether or not the curriculum is working based on student results. Some assessments may be poorly developed, and without this data, you do not know if it is interfering with performance. Feedback from the student's is important when deciding what works well, and what parts need to be revised.

Some school districts curriculums are set, but are still flexible in allowing you to make changes to it to fit the needs of your students.

FINAL PRESENTATION- Angles https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G6RB8PH0kEHP8-ci7J9oLx32LA8Y7ZZFrQCa_3zGH_8/edit?hl=en_US


 * Google Sketchup can also be used to draw angles. It even provides a protractor tool for more precise measurements.

http://sketchup.google.com/

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5 new technologies to try- Xtranormal, Voicethread, Delicious, and Prezi =====

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4 ideas to share with others- Slideshare, and Googledocs with the staff. Podcasting, and Wordle with my students .=====

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3 principles of Universal Design for Learning- Representation, Expression, and Engagement =====

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2 changes in your teaching to reach all learners in the Digital Age- Giving a choice in the tools that they want to use, and also making my class more social. =====

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1 BIG idea to implement “on Monday”- Using wikis to make my class more social. The students can communicate with each other instead of me always asking them to be quiet for talking across the room. They can now communicate with each other as long as it is appropriate. =====

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