Further thoughts
I’ve recently been involved in a committee interacting with a website developer regarding the creation of a new college website in which I specifically asked about catering for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. Some of the developer’s principles on universal design are relevant to Edmodo including:
• The website maintains a consistent design and page layout throughout i.e. logos and links appear in the same place which is relevant to students who have difficulty with poor navigation features.
• Background colour and contrast are simple, obviously tested and available at different resolutions to aid students with poor vision or those who suffer from colour-blindness in deciphering text.
• Standard HTML is used that can be used across multiple browsers.
• Videos have audio or text to aid students with hearing difficulties or those who have older technology.
• Links avoid using the term ‘click here’, but rather contain text relevant to the link or pictures such as a book for library or house for home. This is also particularly relevant in searches by search engines or software assisting those who are visually impaired.
Social networking can often be used as an escape from reality and people will portray an ideal rather than real image of themselves. For example in Edmodo it’s interesting to see the variety of profile pictures students choose and ask them for their rationale in doing so. Students with learning difficulties/disabilities often feel they have a label attached to them and social networking can help them remain anonymous allowing them to promote other aspects of their identity. These topics are particularly relevant in my colleagues’ discussion in the second life virtual classroom. ...
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...978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Wadman, B. (2013). Future of E-learning in Thailand: Edmodo VS Moodle. The 33rd Annual Thailand TESOL International Conference, January 25-26, 2013, Khoen Kaen, Thailand. http://www.academia.edu/3563716/Edmodo_versus_Moodle_-_The_Future_of_Virtual_Learning_Environments_in_Thailand Accessed online 21/05/2014.
WCER (2011). Wisconsin Centre for Education Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison Benefits and Drawbacks of Social Media in Education Summer 2011 Vol. 22, No. 4 http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/publications/highlights/v22n4.pdf Accessed online 26/05/2014
Wordpress (2014) http://educationandtechtalks.wordpress.com/edmodo/ http://educationandtechtalks.wordpress.com/second-life/
http://educationandtechtalks.wordpress.com/interactive-whiteboards-2/
This will benefit Billy and his peer helper. The device would be considered low tech. Since Billy wears glasses he can use a computer with a screen reading software. Which will allow him to see the text displayed and hear what is being said while looking at the word. Screen reading software would be considered high tech. Both devices can be used to assist Billy in a regular classroom. Billy can use the classroom devices at desk to have a better understanding of what’s being taught. During choice or computer time Billy can use the screen reading to review what he didn’t understand during teaching instructions. I think both devices will interest and encourage Billy to want to
...red for my college courses. Additionally, I always keep a small notepad with me so I can jot down words that I am unfamiliar with.
The INCLUDE strategy is based on the application of applying an individualized method for students with disabilities. The characteristics include providing the teacher with an organized way to provide accommodations that fit the student’s needs and ability. The INCLUDE strategy is intertwined with the Response-To-Intervention method (RTI). The INCLUDE strategy is grounded in the presumption that the teacher and student relationship is vital to the success of the student. Additionally, the INCLUDE strategy allows the teacher to examine the student's needs and abilities as it relates to the classroom setting and implement practical accommodations. The INCLUDE strategy includes features of the universal design and differentiated instruction (Friend, & Bursuck, 2012).
Vygotsky, L.S. (1978) Mind in Society: The development of higher mental processes, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
As technology increases and develops in this century, the use of social media increases as well. Schools have begun adapting it, using it as their tool to inform students of any school related news. However, using it as a tool for learning is a different story. By using it as a tool, it can push you off your course with classes. Social media is something that is not needed at school grounds. Schools should not require social media use in classes.
Technology is becoming more and more dominant in our society.Everyday upgrades are being made and new innovations are being discovered. Technology is all around us whether we want it to be or not: it is the vehicles we drive, it can be found in our homes, and can even be found in the grocery store.Every place we look there is some type of technology.I believe technology has had a major impact on our school systems and is still impacting it today.There are those who do not agree, though, that technology has impacted our schools.Eric Gormly writes, “In fact, many theorists point out the overall impact of technology on education has been quite small, manifesting little discernible change in the classroom.” [1]Yes, there are some schools that are not as advanced as others, but many of them do have a significant amount of technology in them.I find it fascinating that so much technology has been incorporated into our classrooms, but I believe that, even with all of the positive aspects that are associated with technology, there are some negative and even dangerous aspects that should be taken into account.I will be sharing some of the equipment that has been used in the schools, how both the students and the teachers use the equipment, and also the positive and negative effects that technology has had on our schools.
Rdouan, F., Abdeliatif, E. A., & Raddouane, C. (2013). Exploring the potential benefits of using social media in education. International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy, 3(4), 50-53.
The twenty-first century has arrived, and it has brought some of the most advanced computing technologies into the classroom; this leaves us with a very important question, do we really need technology, such as iPads or computers, implemented in our learning plans? As a student that has taken entire courses on iPads or computers, I can tell you that the former is not the case. There are plenty of reasons to teach about technological advances in each individual field of learning, but, more often than not, technology is unreliable and distracting for students. Not to mention that methods of maintenance rehearsal, like taking notes by hand, are more effective for recollection of information than staring into a screen. The bottom line is, using technology as a tool for education in the classroom is not necessary because it can inhibit the way students learn material.
Exposing students to the power of social media in the classroom is an important part of preparing them to be active and positive digital citizens in a 21st century world. In the last two years, my own students have rapidly been drawn to Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and many other social networking platforms. They upload, share, and connect with others often without any regard to how their digital footprints may reflect them as individuals. Having continuous conversations with students about the choices that they make can lead to positive results. Students don't realize how powerful social media platforms can be in terms of networking, researching, and engaging in academic conversations. It makes me laugh every time I hear them whisper about my colleague Heather's or my Twitter feed. First of all kids, I can hear you. Second of all, yes, social media can be an amazing way to give and exchanged knowledge.
Social Media has become a very essential tool in the society; in addition, it has a huge impact on communication and learning process. Social media is defined as websites and applications used for social networking. “As of September 2013, seventy-one percent of online adult use Facebook, eighteen percent use Twitter and seventeen percent use Instagram, twenty-two percent use PInterest, and another twenty-two percent use LinkedIn. (PewReasearch, 2013). In addition, "Between February 2005 and August 2006, the use of social networking sites among young adult internet user ages eighteen and twenty-nine jumped from nine percent to forty-nine percent. The usage of social media had grown drastically.” On social media sites like these, users may develop biographical profiles, communicate with friends and strangers, do research, and share thoughts, photos, music, links, and more” (Socialnetworking.procon,2012). Social media has impacted everyone in several different ways. In this present time, majority of college student use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Social media has a bold impact college student's grades, social interactions, and the teaching and learning process.
Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind In Society:the development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, Ma: Harvard University Press.
Technology, as we all know, is helping and improving many disciplines of life. Technology, in Britannica Encyclopedia, is defined as the application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life. (Britannica, 2009)
Social media is a internet-based tools that promote collaboration and information sharing. Social media can be used in academic settings to promote student engagement and facilitate better student learning. The students can use the social media to find any information because can save time and faster to access information. The students also can improve their knowledge and language level when using the social media in students daily routine. Social media can promote community development through collaboration and information sharing. When use the social media it can provide opportunities for individual expression as well as interactions with other users. Current research has indicated that using social media as an educational tool can lead to increased student engagement. Social media can give more experience in daily life and give more knowledge
Modern technology has made it so much easier to obtain educational information for classroom or homework assignments. It offers educational games that stimulate the brain and help children who have difficulties focusing on traditional teaching and learning procedures. College students are even taking advantage of online courses that many colleges are offering as an alternative to physically attending classes. Advances in technology and computers will continue to play an important role in education for many generations to come.
The introduction of technology into education has revolutionized the teaching quality and learning outcome in the last ten years. The integration of technology into lectures by teachers in classroom has become so natural that both teachers and learners consider computers and their related applications for instruction are “a routine component of the classroom and educational processes in general” (Nuldén, 1999 cited in Buzzard et al., 2011, pp.131-139).