Learning Outcomes 3-4

Design learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the needs of all leaners and apply research to learning in a technology-enhanced environment.

Supporting the Needs of All Learners

Jamie Cavender

EDU 697:  Capstone: A Project Approach

Dr. Keith Pressey

December 21, 2015

Supporting the Needs of All Learners

            It seems as though the need for a “cookie cutter” teacher is a concept of the past.  Teachers, like students, teach in different ways.  This is very helpful for the students because the students are diverse in their ability to learn.  Educators are taking this into account more when they are teaching a classroom.  It is important as an educator to reach all of the students in the classroom.   Reaching all of the students in a classroom can be achieved by using a universal design of learning. 

            Teachers need to learn to embrace the creativity in each and every child.  According to Ken Robinson’s lecture, “Creativity is as important in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status” (2006).  Through the use of technology we are able to teach in a diverse set of manners.  For example, if my daughter is given a reading assignment with questions on a piece of paper, she struggles with the answers and focusing on the assignment.  If she is given the same exact assignment with the same questions on an IPad, she can stay focused and answer the questions.  Some learners are better with this than others.  This is why it is important to teach a classroom using many different technological devices. 

            In the Power Point presentation I have attached, I change many things about this presentation.  The first item that I changed was the background.  The original background was very busy and distracting which could become a problem for students with problems focusing in the classroom.  I also added pictures to demonstrate what was being discussed in the presentation.  Giving the reader something to look at as well as read can help them visualize what is being discussed.  Power Point will allow the students to use many different learning skills and practice these while viewing the presentation.  Technology has opened the door for so many learners including myself.

Reference

TED. (2006). Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity [Video]. Retrieved from TED Talks: http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

TED video talk about the evolution of education systems and the vested interest of educators to support the needs of all learners (Length -19:29