UDL

For the UDL assignment, I decided to choose checkpoint 7.1: Optimize individual choice and autonomy. When clicking on this checkpoint, I found that most of the sites listed had to do with choice in the classroom. I also had to take into consideration the cards that I had picked in the beginning of the year. The card I decided to use was the 9 of hearts, which indicated that I had a cart of iPads, chrome books and a smart board in my classroom, and I also had two or more students classified on the autism spectrum.

When searching for something that I could use that included both the checkpoint and my cards, I decided that I would go for an app the students could use on the iPads given. I wanted to have something that all students could use, but mostly the autistic students would benefit from. I found an app called Kid in Story for the iPad. This app makes the students the star of a visual story they get to create while helping support learning, social modeling and building early literacy skills. There are eight different story templates the students get to choose from, or the student can choose to create their own story and modify a template. This app is only $6.99 and has a rating of 4.5 stars.

Myths of Teaching

What really shocked me about the articles that were posted, was the fact that although students seem to be engaged, many are not. Students put on the impression that they are having fun, and they know the material however, they are really bored or falling asleep during a lecture or activity. Although it did not shock me that students need to be involved with their learning, I did find it strange that the article presented that students can fall asleep with their eyes open, and "check out" during a lesson. The article that I was not so surprised about was the one discussing that students remember 10% of what they have learned, 20% of what they see and 30% of what they hear. Many students, especially younger ones will retain most of the information they learn. If a student only retained 10% of what they learned, most would know nothing as they got older. Therefore, this article and all the data associated within it was not a shock to me.

My CT, and most of my teachers in the past, have used what the article "Reframing the Mind" was discussing. Using physical objects, or doing an activity, is said to help a student learn and remember what he/she is being taught. Therefore, many teachers believe that by using objects for learning, the student will think back and remember the activity, and remember the content. However, some students are not hands on learners. I will have both physical learning objects for lessons and lecture tied into teaching. That way, students can learn in multiple ways so he/she can remember things in their own way.