Educ 6714: Week 8 Reflection

I have learned a great deal from this course. I have gained a variety of strategies and resources that will help me to reach and engage all learners, specifically through the use of technology. Aside from the course assignments and weekly resources, my groups page, Group 3, has provided valuable resources to use in my instructional practice. I have spent a considerable amount of time exploring the links we have compiled and I plan to continue to use them to help improve my instructional practices.
I am focused on how I will use these resources in rspect to the upcoming school year. I am working to integrate technology inot my classroom more completely this next school year. From the knowledge that I have gained through this course, I am striving to truly implement the Universal Design for Learning and a true level of differentiated instruction. The first steps that I will take will be to design my own inventory and/or use one from our resources, for parents to complete about the readiness levels, interests, and learning styles of their children. I will use this information to begin adapting my content, and instructional methods to reach and engage each individual learner in my classrom. One I have identified and explored the specific abilities and characteristics in my classroom I will continue to use the resources identified in our Differentiation Station to design instruction that provides Multiple Means of Representation, Expression, and Engagement! I am so excited to see what this change to my instruction will yield in my students' learning.
I am also focused on using the resources to integrate a higher, more developed level of technology within my classroom. I want to implement tools for both myself and my students that will foster differentiation. Again I plan to utilize Group 3's resources to assist me in this process. I want to continue to explore and familiarize myself with the tools and strategies that were presented and included in this course. I would also like to make strides to educate my administration and colleagues on these tools and their benefits in hopes to make more of it available to us teachers.
Overall I have learned a great deal from this course. My ultimate goal is move forward with the implementing of UDL and DI in my classroom. I am making changes to my instructional practices and the learning environment that I create for my students. I am anxious to truly and completely adapt my teaching to better meet the needs of all of my learners!
Sarah Horner