Lesson+Learned


 * What are some examples of students with special learning needs and modifications, or accommodations, and/or strategies used to assist them. Please give a personal example. **

In “My case” I have presented a situation where it is necessary to use special strategies in order to attend needs of students. These needs are related with demotivated students, cultural differences, family conflicts, poverty, marginalization, juvenile delincuency, etc. In a context like this the teacher can not follow the curriculum without consider the situation of his or her students. He or she must seek strategies related with their interests and background. Strategies that engage them and made them feel that they can learn something important, useful, related with their situation and their life. The education is then, like a bridge, between what they are and what they can be. The teachers can not avoid their responsibility blaming for the social situation. It is challenge that they must face courageously despite the dificulties.

it relates to supporting students with special learning needs?**
 * What is meant by modification, accommodation and strategy as

New technologies can offer us several ways to attend needs of our students. In page “Tech ToolBox” we have evaluated some of them and how we can use them in school. Each student is different from the rest so have diferent needs. If we offer a inflexible curriculum we are forcing the students to follow the curriculum and many of them could not do it. But if we modificate the curriculum regarding with needs of students, we can get the best of them and we will really be helping them fostering Multiple Pathways to Success.

These concepts are regarding with the idea that we are talking about in last question. A unique way of teaching will attend with difficulties the needs of all the students. Therefore, multiples ways of representation, expresion and engagement are important things in education. The first one refers directly to the teacher. It is a way to teach, communicate, transfer knowledge. New technologies offer us the possibility of use something more than text. We can use with ease images, sounds, movies, etc. that help us to representate curricular contents. When we speak of “expression” we refer to how the students express what they have learnt. It contributes to develop their creativity and communicate skills. Many programs and Web Pages allow the students to use different ways to expression. Finally, “engagement” means the way how the teacher interacts with students and promotes their involvement in tasks. We can find many activities that require the participation of the students and motivate them, and new technologies offer us a new world of possibilities.
 * What is meant by multiple means of: representation; expression; and engagement? **

5. What is meant by “assistive technologies” and when might they be appropriate in classroom contexts? Please give a personal example. 6. What are some examples of assistive technologies that could be used in your classroom? 7. What are some assistive technology resources you would like to share? 8. How might assistive technologies used to address a given learning need, be transferred over to assist “All” students? Please give an example. 9. What are some “free” assistive technologies which could be integrated into your classroom.