Final Reflection EDUC-6714
After reflecting on the theories, concepts, and strategies presented in this course, I believe that using technology to differentiate in my classroom will have a huge impact on my teaching practices. In this class I have learned how to use the key characteristics of Universal Design for learning and Differentiated Instruction. I feel that technology, UDL, and DI can provide me with a way to allow my students’ to learn in their preferred learning style and allow them to demonstrate what they’ve learned in ways that capitalize on their strengths and interests. Furthermore, I have learned that technology, UDL, and DI will provide me with ways to better address and manage the variety of learning needs in my classroom. According to Dr. David Rose (Laureate Education, 2009), “UDL is about making sure that there are alternatives, that there are ways in which every student in the classroom can learn”. I know that UDL, DI, and technology can help me customize and personalize learning activities to address my students’ diverse learning styles and abilities. I believe that using technology to differentiate instruction for the diverse learners in my classroom will allow me to design assignments to better respond so student’s specific learning needs.
Before I started this course, I felt overwhelmed with making time to use technology to plan to differentiate instruction. Starting small and trying to use technology to differentiate one unit at a time is one adjustment I will make as a result of my learning from this course. According to Dr. Carol Tomlinson (Laureate Education, 2009), “when it comes to moving form theory to practice, differentiation requires effective planning, organization and management” Instead of starting from scratch, I going to modify my current instructional plans and decide which students needs are best addressed with each activity, and then design additional activities for reteaching or extending learning as necessary for any students who may need it. Although I know that planning to differentiate does take time, I know that it will allow me to start to accumulate a collection of teaching strategies that I can use in the future.
Really getting to know my students from the beginning of the year is another immediate adjustment I will make. According to Grace Smith (Laureate, 2009), “getting to know your students is an essential first step in reaching them as learners”. This course has taught me that the goal of differentiating instruction is to increase the likelihood that students will be successful learners. To make this possible I feel that I must get to know them and understand how they differ from one another in interests, learning preferences and readiness and motivation. I believe it is very important to understand how students comprehend knowledge in order to match learning activities to meet their needs. During week two of this course, I researched, located and created surveys in the areas of student interests, learning styles, multiple intelligences and learning profiles. My goal is to use these surveys to maximize my ability to reach and engage every learner in my classroom. I believe that these surveys will allow me to get to know my students on an academic and personal level. Knowing their interests, learning styles, intelligence preferences, and learning profiles will allow me to provide instruction that will maximize their learning.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). “Universal Design for Learning” [Educational video]. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Introduction: Knowing Your Students [DVD] Reaching and engaging all learners through technology. Baltimore: Author.
