Blog #4 UDL Representation

What is Multiple Means of Representation?
 Every student has a way that they learn best. There is not one way to teach a group of students. With each lesson there should be various ways to learn about a topic, that's what Multiple Means of Representation is.The more ways that a learner's senses can be used in a lesson the more connections can be made. When more connections are made the more learning and remembering will occur. If we can see something, hear something, read something and do something we are going to remember it and apply it in real life situations. When there is connections and applications made by students they will learn.  Here is a great example of Multiple Means of Representation from the article: 

Teaching Elementary Students with Multiple Disabilities to Participate in Shared Stories

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
by Judith Viorst.

Adaptations           Book was shortened (page  removed and lines were cut from text).
 
Repeated story line        Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

Objects used to promote   Gum, candy bar, cereal box, shoes
  meaning while reading 
                                                
Character name               Student's name used for character--Alexander
  adaptation                                 
                                                                                                
Surprise element added    When the lights burned out in the story, the lights were  turned off in the classroom       
  near end of story                        
                                               
                                                                               
A goal in my future classroom is to provide learners with different options to learn. Through group work, technology, artistic expression and oral presentations there should be a way that each student is comfortable learning about a topic as well as sharing what they know

Works Cited

Browder, Diane M., et al. "Teaching Elementary Students with Multiple Disabilities to Participate in Shared Stories." Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (RPSD), vol. 33, no. 1-2, 01 Jan. 2008, pp. 3-12. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.uvu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ838735.

Blog #3 Digital Citizenship

Who is a Digital Citizen?

If you are reading this blog, then YOU are! Now more than ever technology is everywhere we go, we carry it in our pockets and its in our classrooms. As teachers we use our online communities to connect with other educators to enhance, extend and enrich our lessons.

Why is being a Digital Citizen important?

You may be thinking that students in your classrooms are too young to have digital footprint, however, many kids have a digital footprint before they even start school! Having technology readily available is an amazing opportunity. With each wonderful opportunity a child is given there is a need to teach a responsibility.

According to Mike Ribble District Administrator for the Ogden-Manhattan School District in Kansas:

"Digital citizenship focuses on using technology in an appropriate way while enjoying its vast capabilities and becoming more productive."

Digital Citizenship in Schools, 2nd Ed., identifies three main categories—respect, education and protection (or REP)—to guide the use of technology in schools, at home and in the community. These are broken down in three ways and a total of nine underlying areas of focus:

Respect: Digital etiquette, access and the law.
Educate: Digital communication, literacy and commerce.
Protect: Digital rights and responsibilities, safety and security, and health and wellness.
A great way to start teaching digital citizenship through Google apps, such as Google Docs or Google Slides. Using these apps is a safe way for students to work with others on a project that is monitored by the teacher. Using these apps also are a great way for students to navigate the internet while collaborating with a group.

How would I use this?
I would use these apps as a tool to teach Digital Citizenship while simultaneously having the students present Social Study presentation on a group Google Slide about their state

Blog #2 - Standards and PLNs

Connect and Share With Me

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A Drop in the Bucket- USU Water Cycle

Blog #1: Equity and UDL.

If you put any group of people together, chances are that they will all have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to learning. This is very evident in a classroom. Classrooms are now and always have been diverse. Research says that the different ways that students learn are as unique as their fingerprints. How does a teacher address the diverse needs of her students to ensure that all are learning no matter what barriers that are present?
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a tool that can break down these barriers and build a foundation for all students  to learn, no matter their strengths, no matter their weakness. A UDL curriculum is made to be flexible and accommodate all kinds of learners. I can integrate UDL concepts into my classroom curriculum by identifying what I want my students to know, do and care about. When doing this I also need to address any barriers in my classroom that may get in the way of this goal.

UDL is made up of three categories:

1) Representation - show the information in different ways. 

2) Action and Expression- give students options for showing what they know. 

3) Engagement- give students choices that engage their ideas and interests. Encourage taking risks. 

UDL = Learning opportunities for ALL

I am excited to incorporate the UDL concepts into my curriculum so that all of my students will have a level playing field when it comes to learning. If I can do this than my classroom will be a place where students take risks, share ideas, and love learning. 

1. What does the research say about this?
2. How can this be effectively integrated into your teaching?
3. How will this help your students?
4. What are your goals with regard to this topic?
5. How does this shape your vision for empowered learning for your students?

A Bit About Me

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Destiny Hansen, I am from Payson Utah. I'm married to a pretty good guy and I have four gorgeous and wonderfully talented children ranging in ages from 7-16 years old.

• Being accepted into the El Ed program at UVU has been a goal that I have worked to achieve for the last four years (which seems like forever). I LOVE to learn so forever is okay with me. 
• Music makes my world go round. I am always listening to, singing to, or dancing to music. None of these things are what you may call 'talents' but I enjoy doing them none the less.
• Some other things that are right up my alley are television, pop-culture and puns. I'm not sure how they are related, but in my mind they all go perfectly together.
• Reading is something that we do as a family. A good book series brings people together like nothing else can.
• My friends are some of the sweetest, most talented and hilarious ladies you could ever meet. We love going to thrift shops. You can always hear us yelling "That's a BARGAIN!" We love to take our thrift store treasures and up-cycle them into amazing Halloween décor. 
• I could go on and on about how excited I am to be in the El Ed program and to learn how to introduce technology into the classroom for my students. Whatever tool can be used to engage a learner is a tool worth having. Lets do this!!