13.0 Child Development, Learning, and Diversity

Students must understand and utilize concepts designed to accommodate
learning styles and child development/diversity for their content area and grade level.

Reflection:  During my observations, block work and internship I have become more aware of the fact that students are not alike.  Technology helps bridge the gap in a way.  Many students are interested in technology, no matter what their level of understanding is and their learning styles.  I am able to use technology to show students how to do their work and allow them to do their work at their own pace and I can also use technology to present information to students in a way that they may not be used to, which will help peak their interest in the curriculum.

13.1 Demonstrate the appropriate use of various software and self directed software programs to meet individual learning styles and needs.

Evidence / Artifact:
http://paws.wcu.ed/tc19434/soil.html  - This web site will be very useful to the students.  When I am teaching my unit on soil I will be able to send students to the computers and allow them to play games and quiz themselves to see how much they are comprehending.  It has a lot of information and links that will be helpful to the students and their parents, so they will be able to use this at home.

Reflection: I have learned that students learn better when they are able to use technology, many students learn better because they are more interested and have different learning styles.  I will continue to use technology to help me teach my lessons because students seem more interested and are learning more and understanding the information that is presented to them.

13.2 List/Use media and technology to support learning for children with special needs.

Evidence / Artifact:
http://www.ecewebguide.com/special.html  -  This web site helps students, parents and teachers with all types of special needs, including giftedness. It has a lot of links on it to help and also includes information about special needs
http://www.rjcooper.com/ - This web site is by RJ Cooper and Associates and includes information about all of their products to make technology more accessible to students with special needs.
http://www.llsys.com/  -  This web site is for teachers and parents, to help students with the following special needs: Early Intervention • Autism • Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) • Developmental Disabilities • Language-Learning Disabilities • Title I • English as a Second Language (ESL) • Aphasia and Traumatic Brain Injury • Reading Difficulties • Speech and Voice Training • Down Syndrome • Hearing Impairments • Language Delays • Language Disorders • Learning Disabilities • Reading Disabilities • Speech Disorders • Voice Disorders

Reflection: These web sites not only have ways to help students with special needs but also products that can help students with special needs. Using technology with these students can help because there are students that respond better to a computer rather than a person, because it can be predictable and repeated as many times as needed. This information is constantly being updated, so teachers and parents are always able to receive the most up-to-date information that can help their children/students. 

13.3 List/Use media and technology as available to support learning for children whose primary language is not English.

Evidence / Artifact:
http://www.eslpartyland.com/students/nov/media.htm  -  This web site is helpful for ESL students and teachers because it helps teach students English and also quizzes students and allows them to play games that help reinforce the English skills that the students are learning.
http://www.englishlearner.com/  -  This web site is another helpful site for ESL students and teachers, it helps students learn English by quizzing them and allowing them to play games that teach English.  There are also handouts to use in class and a program to learn English through e-mail.

Reflection: These are just two examples of web sites that can help students and teachers while teaching and supporting learning for children whose primary language is not English.  Students that do not speak English are growing in our school systems and it is important for us to be able to communicate with students that do not speak English and also to be able to teach these students.  For students that have computers at home and internet access students can access these web sites from home and practice their English skills at home.

13.4 List/Use appropriate local, state, and national services or resources to meet diverse learning needs through technology.

Evidence / Artifact:
http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/tap/comp13.htm  -  This is the North Carolina Department of Instruction web site and it provides the Advanced Technology Competencies for teachers.
http://www.nea.org/he/heta98/s98pg71.pdf  -  This explains why teachers need to change to meet the needs of students with diverse needs.

Reflection:  As a teacher I will need to be up-to-date on the newest technology that can be used to teach students with diverse learning needs.  I want every student to feel successful, so knowing how to approach information and teach lessons that will make every student feel successful will be a challenge, but with these web sites I will know what is expected of me and what I can do to help students succeed.

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