3 Take Aways From our First Class

On Saturday, April 4^th, we began our adventure into our third master's course, GILT 675 176 Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology: Enhancing Literacy Skills for all Learners

I have to be honest, I am not that techie and the thought of this class being offered completely online through a virtual classroom was a little unnerving for me.  Our first class was very well organized, informative and went forward with only a few hitches.  I've always said technology can be fantastic when it works properly - we were in a group that could not break into our breakaway group.

3 main takeaways from today's class are as follows:

1.     The technology used for today's class

With so much technology available to us in this technology-driven world, it's nice to find new things that we can use in our classroom. 

The blackboard classroom was straightforward to use!  I was impressed with those who added photos to their profiles.  I have to find a picture to add to my profile. The only issue is; I'm usually the one behind the camera or phone.  With all that's happening in the world right now, I'm sure that teachers who may find themselves teaching from home could defiantly use this platform as a resource.

I loved Menti!  Something that I cannot wait to use in the classroom.  It was fantastic!  I like how students can add their ideas anonymously and how the answers can be presented in a visual format.

Finally, "Wheel of Names" – something I will be adding to my list to use in my classroom.  I have used the program named "The Hat" in the past, and my students loved it!  It was great for grouping as it could draw two names at the same time.  It also had many themes the students enjoyed such as a beach theme, Halloween…  The only issue with the program was as it became more and more popular; the creators decided to charge for its use.  Wheel of Names could be a replacement!  I also like the fact that it could be used for much more than just names.  https://wheelofnames.com/

2.  You Can't Turn Your Back on Assistive Technology

The SETT Framework and Tyler – WOW!!!!  Tyler is truly an inspiration to all.  He showed that through preservation and with the help of assistive technology, possibilities are endless!  He reminds us that every student is capable of achieving many things if we are willing to help in every way possible.  As we learned in the Ted Talk, "The Myth of Average," we should not have a 1 size fits all curriculum.  We need to provide our students with a curriculum that is accessible to all and Tyler is a prime example of why we should do this and the positive outcomes! 

3.   Book Creator

Another fantastic resource to incorporate in the classroom!  It seems to be an excellent way for students to practice their writing skills.  I am looking forward to using this program myself and sharing it with my two boys.  I am sure that writing will be much more enjoyable!