DTL Reflection- MeL Resources for Students- Focusing on Students with Disabilities Needs

Large library are not only physically available, but also digitally.
Picture of the Inside of the George Peabody Library

   When students are working on projects they need a lot of different avenues to give them options of ways to collect resources such as videos, articles, books, and pictures.  When students with disabilities, and struggling students, work on projects they need differentiation and accommodations  of the text and ways to obtain their information.  MeL or Michigan eLibrary, offers a variety of resources for students at many different reading and technology use levels.  MeL provides a connection to sites that provide information on kid-friendly websites.
    I choose to review sites based off their accessibility features for students:

Scholastic BookFlix-  This site has their large selection of fiction and non-fiction text and video format.  For every topic that it covers(for example, owls), it had a story to watch, which was Owl Moon, and a non-fiction story to read online.  Something that my students would really like is the ability to read along with the story that they found.  Each book that they can read has an option to Read-Along.  The website will highlight each word that is read to them.  Another great feature is that, each book has vocabulary words highlighted in them.  If you hover your curser over the highlighted word, a bubble will pop up telling you the definition of the word and let you listen to the word.

Plus side for teacher- there are lessons for any topic you wish to teach your students about in the classroom based off the resources provided.


Kids InfoBits-  This website has a very calming look to it.  I could see my students finding this website very pleasing to look at because of the contrasting colors they use on the website.  On Kids InfoBits students can look up images, magazines, news, and books.  When students want to read magazine, news, and book articles they found on this website, it will give them the option to listen to what is on the page.  While they are listening the students can track what is being read to them because it is being highlighted.  The website also gives students the capability to download what they found in an audio format, which I would find very empowering for students with reading disabilities and visual impairments.
    The other positive thing that this research site offers for kids is it gives them an idea of how difficult the reading will be through a "Content Level" symbol.  They do this by placing colored symbols that mean "basic", "intermediate", or "advanced."  I think this tool would make it easy for students to find resources close to their reading level.  They wouldn't feel like they have to sift through a lot of content that is too difficult for them.
      Kids InfoBits also offers citation tools, options for highlighting information, advanced search options, and a dictionary for students.  I would highly suggest this website for students.


eLibrary Elementary-  I love all the resources on this website.  When searching for something you can search pictures, maps, audio/videos, transcripts, books, magazines, and newspapers.  I really liked the option to search maps.  I haven't seen the option to search for maps on a kids research website before.  I could see eLibrary Elementary making my students feel anxious because the way it lists resources when searching a topic and the website is a very bright white.
    This website has the same option Kids InfoBits by reading text and highlighting text that is being read to them.  You can also download text into an audio format.  This site does separate the resources collected better by having each type of media found(i.e., pictures vs. magazine articles) on their own page.  Students will not easily get distracted by pictures or videos being automatically in their search results.
    Another great feature of this website is that it places a reading level on all the text by rating them by number.  It does not explain what each number means, so the teacher would have to spend some time talking to the students about what each number represents when looking at reading levels.

Do your research

   These are just a few resources available through MeL.  There are several more webpages that students can use in the classroom.  It is always helpful to do your research on which research tool would be more appropriate for your students before they start their projects.  You don't want your students to feel overwhelmed when doing research, which in turn would create more work for you(the teacher).  Empower them by giving them tools that will be easy to use.:)

Discovering with Technology for Learning Course- Reflect- Emerging Technology

   

Photo taken from Pixabay.com

    From the first module of Discovering with Technology for Learning, I have become aware of many new technological tools that are being developed and some that are brand new.  I also learned about how to more effectively apply the SAMR Model to my teaching, even in my resource room.
    When I think of the new and emerging technology, I think of all the different ways the technology can infuse the students learning experience and how they can support students with disabilities.  It is hard to believe that some of the tech that is coming out is real.  I used to see it in moves and thought, "that will never happen."  I am surprised now.  I really think that the Oculous Rift will help be a big game changer in students learning.  Students will be able to experience events of history, manipulate and explore scientific environments, and experience stories through the effects of the Oculous Rift.  I also think this is a great tool for people that are physically disabled.  People that may have not been able to experience sky diving, roller coasters, deep sea diving, may be able to experience some of the affects of it now.  Another new tech that I really enjoyed learning about was the Makey Makey, I could see that being used in many STEM classrooms and a great tool for students to creatively get involved with their assignments.
    The SAMR Model is a very influential model to use when creating higher order thinking and engaging lessons for students.  I thought it would take more time and be a lot harder to make the activities in my lessons at the higher level of modification and redefinition.  I also thought that it would take too much time for my students to complete the assignment in my resource room.  I think that the redefining the activities my students do to fill in the gaps of the learning my actually help them understand the content better.

Discovering with Technology for Learning Course- SAMR Model Redesigning a Lesson

    There are a lot of different things that can be done using the SAMR Model to allow students to be creative while learning and to present what they have learned.  In a Discovering with Technology for Learning course I am taking, I have to redesign a lesson that I taught at the lower SAMR Models and bring it above the line on the SAMR Model.  When I say "above the line" it means in the Modification or Redefinition level.  I did a little research on how to make my activity on a higher level of the SAMR Model because I thought it would be a little difficult to do in a resource room with students at an elementary level.  I found a very helpful poster.  Click on the link below for the poster of some apps at different levels of the SAMR Model at from Greg Swanson's Website.

Photo taken from Pixabay.com

Here is what my students task in the lesson before redesigning my lesson:
   Before christmas break, I had the students write about the best gift for them.  After the students wrote about what the best present was I had them type it on the computer.  This activity fell in the substitution area of the SAMR Model.

After thinking about how I could change the lesson to be above the line of the SAMR Model the lesson looked like this:
    Students will create interview questions they have to ask someone about the best gift ever.  Students will use the Sock Puppets app on the iPad to record and present this interview.  After interviewing their classmate, students will draw a picture (either by hand or using an application on the computer or tablet) of what their classmate wants and create a Voicethread reviewing the interview they had with their classmate.

    If I would have done my lesson after redesigning it, students would be at the redefining level of the SAMR Model, when completing this activity.  I wish I would have done this activity before Christmas.  I think the kids would have had a lot of fun doing it.  I then would have them e-mail it to their parents.  I think I am going to use this redesigned lesson format for an opinion piece I am going to have my students do later this month.  :)