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UDL and Technology: Week 8 Reflections

April 25th, 2010 | posted by rm222
This 8 weeks really flew by for me!  I have learned so much about Universal Design for Learning (UDL)  and now I can implement technology in my lesson plans for my students.  I did not previously know that there was a thing called UDL but I did know that I had to meet the needs of my students and have them meet my expectations.  
I have access to a great deal of resources now, thanks to our Differentiation Station assignment, and I have made contact with my campus technologist and will start to implement the Promethian Board in my lesson plans and hopefully I will be able to implement it into my literacy centers as well.  In the upcoming unit we will explore the life cycle of a meal worm using this hardware.  I currently an using websites such as www.starfall.com for to promote phonemic awareness and www.pebblego.com for science.  I plan to implement this website, http://www.polk-schools.com/Differentiated.htm  which has links to sample lesson plans, DI resources, articles, power point presentations, learning style questionnaires & info, etc.. 
My students are only Kindergardeners but I cannot wait to start some of these activities with my young learners, their brains are like sponges; they are eager to absorb everything.  This year I have challenged them in so many ways and each time they have exceeded my expectations!  I love using differentiated instruction in my classroom because it allows me to meet the needs of all of my students.  Implementing technology to what I already know about DI is just the icing on the cake as most of my students are digital natives.  It is imperative to their futures that we as educators expose our students to as much technology as possible at an early age to promote the awareness that they will need for future endeavors. 
 
 References:  
Differentiated Instruction http://www.polk-schools.com/Differentiated.htm retrieved from Walden group 2 disscussion board Week 6 - Additional DI Links - Walden Group 2 April 25, 2010.  
Starfall.  Phonemic awareness website  Learn to Read with phonics.  2007 Starfall Education.
 Welcome to PebbleGo!  2009 Capstone Press.