Social Stories

     The idea of using Digital stories to help students with disabilities work on specific skills that are of high priorities is an amazing idea. There are many benefits of implementing Digital stories into students with disabilities daily schedules. One of the most important benefits that Cori More article highlights is that social stories can meet the diverse needs of learners by combining visual cues with verbal cues as cited from (Barry &Burlew 2004). This is essential because students with disabilities needs various ways of learning. They need to be provided with information as well as with the use of demonstration in order to obtain and retain what they are learning. Digital stories addresses all types of learners from visual, to auditory, and to those who learn by observing. Using digital stories creates a unique, fun, and meaningful learning experience for students with disabilities because the information is directly related to their own experience. Having Digital stories allows students time to practice skills that are not only needed in school, but at home or in other places where the student with disability attends. 

     In creating my own Digital story I had a great time doing it. I thought it was very simple and can be very beneficial in my joinery in becoming an educator. I learned something that many educators may overlook when designing a Digital story, which is allowing the child with disability along with peers to assist in the process. This helps promote independence and generalization of skill with the student who has the disability. In the article "Digital Stories Targeting Social Skills for Children with Disabilities: Multidimensional Learning"  Cori states that "it is important to help children with disabilities begin to take ownership of learning as early as possible to avoid learned helplessness" (More 2008). This supports my reasons as to why Digital stories should be used in educational institutions. 

     My Digital story I created is titled "Walking Through the Hallways". This helps students with any type of disability learn appropriate behavior strategies for walking in the hallways. I picked this topic because I thought it was essential for student with disabilities, to learn age appropriate behavioral strategies while in the hallways. Also it's very important to keep them safe as they might be in schools that is mixed with students with and without disabilities from all different grades. 
Here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcdgtOOQSrs

Google Drive In Education

 Can Google drive fit into education? My answer is yes. Having to use this application for the first time to create a survey was a learning experience. I felt like a little kid when using it for the first time. I was amazed at all the various things you can use Google drive for. Creating the survey help me understand the perspective of students. Getting to know your students as a future educator is so essential in a classroom setting. To have the opportunity to create an open environment for the students, just by having them fill out a simple form is creative. Google drive form allows the students to interact with their peers based off common interest.

In becoming a future educator we need to keep in mind that not all students are social, or may want to participate in large group activities in order to get to know their classmates. This is where implementing Google drive into the education curriculum come into place. You can create a survey for students who are shy, nonverbal, or those whose disability prevents them from expressing themselves. Not only can surveys be created, but so can exams of all forms. This allows the teacher to attend to all students preferred learning style.

Another major thing about Google drive which is very beneficial in the classroom environment is the editing process. If students are put into groups, they can upload the assignment to Google doc, and revise and edit their work all from different locations at the same time. This prevents the emailing back and forth, and cuts down the time it will take to complete a group assignment. I would utilize Google docs for students with and without disabilities. For students with disabilities I would use Google doc as a form of communication or have work they missed uploaded and sent to them. I can also encourage parents who work a lot to have access to this so they can assist students with their homework even if they’re not at home.  Google doc is simple and free of cost. In the world we live in today I feel anything can be implemented into classrooms, as long as there being used properly. 

Is There Room for Facebook in The Classroom Setting?

Examining the world we live in today social media is all around us. Whether or not we implement it into our classrooms, students will still be exposed to it, so why not turn this into a positive thing. Society is so consumed with what educators use to teach students, instead of evaluating the benefits they will get from it. When using Facebook or any type of social media in the classroom we automatically think of all the negatives, without fully grasping how effective these tools can have on students education. If used and monitored properly I believe Facebook as well as any social media can have great effect on students education.

Bernie Poole states strong points as to why Internet in classrooms can be damaging not only to the child, but their education and overall life. However when reading this article something that over looked his arguments was the solutions he provides. To every problem isn't there always a solution, or some way of addressing the issue at hand. According to Poole solution he quotes Pleshette by stating "punishing a student by restricting digital access is like taking away the textbook in a math, social studies, or English lit class" (2011). This addresses families and teachers who believe that students shouldn't be expose to social media in classrooms. By preventing students access to technology we are restricting them from the real world around them. 

Some of the pros to consider when using Facebook are the interactions students can get from communicating with other peers in different parts of the world. Facebook can be used to open doors for students to experience how technology can be used as a resource in the classroom. If students can be educated in the classroom, why can't they be educated with the use of social media? In the article "5 Best Practices For Educators on Facebook " the author highlights how a teacher turned Facebook into a positive for his students by exposing them to ocean field research (2011). 

Facebook can also be used as an assistance for teachers to create learning beyond the classroom setting. It allow students to understand learning can happen everywhere, and through anything when used accordingly. You can even use Facebook as a way of showing what to expect when using the Internet, and show how to avoid situations they might encounter when using it. 

Although Facebook have some positives, it can also have a negative effect on students. Poole highlights key issues students may face such as young children being exposed to inappropriate material, are given inaccurate or bias information, online predators, and cyberbullying (2011). All these issues Poole state can't be avoided and this is what causes fear of social media in classroom settings. I think it's important to know as parents and future educators what information is being disclosed to students when using the Internet. 

As a future educator I will use Facebook for classroom trips,sharing links, and to relay information that may not have came up in class. On classroom trips students will be given a series of questions, and they will have to take a picture of the answer, and upload it to Facebook as if they are on a scavenger hunt. This allows fun and learning to continue to happen outside the class. Also if given a  lesson and I forget to mention something in class I will form a group using Facebook, to share notes and links with the class. Overall I think Facebook can be very effective in the classroom if teachers have knowledge of how to use it to foster learning. 

References 

Fog-Phillips L., Fog B., Baird D. Facebook for Educators (2011). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/FBforEducators?sk=app_182667455607

Facebook in Education (2009). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/education

Poole B. (2011, September 12). Education World: Integrating the Internet: Risks and Solutions Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/poole/poole018.shtml

Kessler S. (2011, December 5). 5 Best Practices for Educators on Facebook Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2011/12/05/educators-on-facebook/

Stewart S. (2011) Just to let you know Facebook does not have the ability to cure cancer, solve global warming or make you a better teacher Retrieved from 

http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.co.nz/2011/04/just-to-let-you-knowfacebook-does-not.html

Web 2.0 Tools for Students With Disabilties

When viewing Larry Ferlazzo blog for educators I found his web 2.0 tools for teachers to be different. I never really examined the various tools, or resources we can use as future educators, to assist our students in the classroom environment. Larry highlighted tools that would be beneficial in the classroom, but one in particular was Webklipper. I feel that Webklipper can work for students with and without disabilities. Whether or not the students with a disability is in a general education or inclusive classroom it can be used the same way. Webklipper caught my eye the most because it can support students with disabilities by allowing them to highlight, and create notes on what there reading. Students with disabilities encounter many problems with reading and Webklipper gives them room to create notes to hep memorize or understand what they just read. Being able to highlight and write at the same time helps children develop strong writing and reading strategies they will need to be successful in the classroom. Teachers can also used this as a guide for the whole class so, no child feels out of place.

Watching the "Did You Know" video was amazing. It depicts how society have been consumed so much by technology, that we forget how to do things the old fashion way. One point that was made which connected to Larry Ferlazzo blog post was over the years as technology became more advance it took less years for it to be market to the world. This relates to Larry Ferlazzo whole blog post because as various technologies are being invented his list of Web 2.0 tools change and become more advanced. As a future teacher Larry blog along with the video helped me understand technology can be used to teach or assist with anything in the school setting.

 http://webklipper.com/b/dSnODAop5ZgzHnXQIUXz - here is a example of how to use Webklipper. 

http://webklipper.com/webklipper- here is the tool website

Can Technology Be Useful In A Classroom Setting?

Throughout society technology is constantly changing. The evolution of technology increases the amount of support and resources available for teachers to implement in a classroom setting.  Universal Design for Learning allows teachers to modify the curriculum, in order for children to receive an education that best fits all. This means that UDL can fit in to the Web 2.0 world.

As a future special education teacher it's essential to know no child learns the same. Web 2.0  allows for information and experiences to be shared and published in many different ways (Nelson & Rosen, 2008). This allows  students with and without disabilities to be apart of the learning experience in class. Instead of having to alternate the curriculum to meet the needs of students with disabilities, Web 2.0 can provide an alternative to how the child learns the curriculum. UDL is all about meeting the needs of all students, and with Web 2.0 it can be the foundation as another resource to accommodating to any child's unique way of learning.

Being in the society we live in today technology can be of a great value in the classroom setting. It not only assist students with disabilities but, brings learning to life for all children. Although technology can be beneficial when implemented correctly, it can also be a burden on teachers as well. Technology is not very resourceful as it once was. Now anyone with an Internet browser can write to the web (Nelson &Rosen 2008). With this in mind teachers now have to be more cautious in what they teach and how, because we now live in a society where you can put anything out there. With implementing technology into the classrooms you now have to hire and look for more qualified educators who know how to use technology.

Whether we consider ourselves to be digital natives, or digital immigrants, we need to examine the big picture of the effect technology has on society. Being a digital native is considered growing up in the era where technology was introduce and is familiar but, being a digital native is not as good as news make it to be. In the Today Show video on "What is the Internet, Anyway?" they highlighted a good point where they didn't understand what the @ symbol meant but, somehow used it anyway. This shows no matter how much we use technology in everyday life we still don't fully understand little things that might slip our minds when using technology.

Rosen, Dina; Nelson Charles. (2008). Web 2.0: A new generation of learners and education, Computers in the Schools, 25:3-4, 211-225, DOI: 10.1080/07380560802370997 

Using a Blog as a Teacher and Educational Tool

I feel that the links provided to help us better understand the use of blogs and how it can be implemented in a classroom setting were very useful and helpful.Creating a blog allows you to give your own perspective of things. As the video put it anything is news and I agree. Blogs can help develop writing skills for students of all ages. Whether they are being creative or responding to a specific topic blogs allow children to explore their thinking outside of the classroom. The tips given in "33 ways to use blogs in your classroom and educational settings", are ways I would use blogs or have my students use blogs. I also loved the idea that Ms. Linda had by using the blog to inform parents on whats going on inside of the classroom. This help everyone whose in involved in the child educational process to be knowledgeable of strengths, weaknesses, and what works and don't work.