LEARNING DIFFERENCES

The Friday Institute has organized an interesting MOOC on line this summer and I have been following it because there is an interesting plan of activities on line and good forums for discussing with collegues the many problems we might have to face when teaching.

Learning Differences from The Friday Institute on Vimeo.

You can get more information for other courses on line by following this link:

https://place.fi.ncsu.edu/course/index.php

The features of this MOOC can be summarized by saying all Teachers should be aware that every learner is important and it is up to us , the teachers, to devise and plan activities can meet our students neeeds.

KEY IDEAS

MODULE 1

It is your job to know your learners well

MODULE 2: THE MYTH OF AVERAGE

There is an interesting website that can help us learn more about our students and provide a tool to design a learner sketch:

http://www.facesoflearning.net/your-learner-sketch/

To know more about the importance of Learning and our students' needs:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/meeting-needs-all-students-first-step-elena-aguilar

MODULE 2:WORKING MEMORY

MOLLY'S STORY

This experience shared on line makes us understand that we should give opportunities and support students who are struggling to learn.

Molly's experience should be discussed by teachers because too many students cannot meet the objectives of the syllabus as we do not know how hard they are struggling.

LEARNING DISABILITIES : WORKING MEMORY

A nice way of working with students with disabilities

THINKING ABOUT WORKING MEMORY

LEARNING ABOUT WORKING MEMORY

http://www.cogmed.com/about-working-memory

https://cogmed.wufoo.com/forms/checklist-for-cogmed-working-memory-training/

HOW TO ENHANCE MEMORY: STRATEGIES FOR TEACHERS

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/10-strategies-enhance-students-memory

WHY ENGAGING STUDENTS CAN BE IMPORTANT

This interesting activity was successful and students were able to cope with their Learning difficulties. We should all learn that every student is important!!

MODULE 3: EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS

To learn more about EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/executive-functioning-issues/ebook-executive-function-101

MATT'S STORY

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS: WHAT THEY ARE

AMY TALKS ABOUT EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS WHEN TEACHING

SKILLS FOR LIFE AND LEARNING

MODULE 4: STUDENT MOTIVATION

TRAVI'S STORY

" I was really motivated too many things at the same time"

AMY'S CLASSROOM

Strategies for helping students

"Providing students with the opportunity to identify their own strengths and weaknesses through data analysis gives them a powerful tool for Learning" .

See the interesting article from which I am quoting the keywords :

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/09/08/how-students-can-be-partners-in-data-driven-approaches-to-learning/

These are important words which we should always bear in mind.

Interesting video about MOTIVATION:

PROJECT BASED LEARNING FOR GETTING THEM MOTIVATED

About PBL :

http://pblchecklist.4teachers.org/more.shtml

A school where almost everybody is successfull:

http://www.newtechnetwork.org/about/video/project-based-learning-success-start-finish

You Matter:"a great lessons for us as Teachers"

FINDING MEANING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PBL

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/08/18/how-a-bigger-purpose-can-motivate-students-to-learn/

SELF-DIRECTED PROJECTS

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/genius-hour-into-genius-year-jennifer-berstein

References for further studies about MOTIVATION

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/guest-post-helping-students-motivate-themselves/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=2

deaedu.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Idea_Paper_41.pdf (student motivation and Learning)

http://ecologyofeducation.net/wsite/intrinsic-vs-extrinsic-the-challenge-of-motivation/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Nik16C2tM&list=PL38E418CF3785C6F6&index=3

http://www.angelamaiers.com/2008/04/engagement-alph ( 26 Keys to student engagement)

MOTIVATION AND BLOGGING: WRITING-INTERESTING FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/intrinsic-motivation-growth-mindset-writing-amy-conley

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/using-mentor-text-motivate-and-support-student-writers-rebecca-alber

http://www.thewritesource.com/studentmodels/ (INTERESTING SITE FOR PROVIDING MODELS)

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-engagement-definition-ben-johnson

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept95/vol53/num01/Strengthening-Student-Engagement@-What-Do-Students-Want.aspx

PBL- RESOURCES AND MORE

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Seven_Essentials_for_Project-Based_Learning.aspx

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/11/18/how-to-help-students-develop-the-motivation-to-learn/

https://place.fi.ncsu.edu/mod/resourcelib/view.php?id=520

MODULE 5 OVERVIEW

Great lesson: THINK ........ MORE AS A TEACHER AND TRY TO SEE THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY

https://www.understood.org/en/tools/through-your-childs-eyes

SUPPORTING THE WHOLE STUDENT

USING PINTEREST AS EDUCATORS AND IN SCHOOLS:

Portfolios, projects, organizing resources , links and pictures or videos

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/pinterest-for-educators

http://stephenslighthouse.com/2012/02/08/pinterest-and-education/

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=learning+differences

RESOURCES IN THE MODULE WHICH YOU SHOULD CHECK

" Everyone can learn......" a positive message anyone who is struggling while learning.

USEFUL IDEAS WHEN DEALING WITH PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION

How to approach the problem:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-ways-to-plan-john-McCarthy

MODULE 6

EMBRACING A GROWTH MINDSET

Great ideas about teaching: every student is part of the learning process and we do need to take care and create a nice learning environment. Learning differences can help us to work on our teaching techniques to care for everybody.

Wyatt's Story

My Mantra

I read this great post about teaching: " Less us more them" which are words that are following the ideas presented in this course. This is the link to the post:

http://www.joebower.org/2014/04/a-teaching-mantra-less-us-more-them.html

This course has helped me develop a critical attitude towards my ways and ideas about teaching and meeting the students' needs. There should be more interest in the students and their interests. A good teacher is caring and loves them. A great lesson which I will try to put into practice when I get back to school in September.

And this is my mantra: I have looked for a lot of quotes and there were so many that I liked.

MY TOOLBOX

MODULE 1

SpeakIt reads ALOUD selected online text using Text-to-Speech technology with language auto-detection. It can read text in more than 50 languages.
ChromeVis This CHROME extension magnifies any selected text on a webpage. The magnified text is displayed inside of a separate lens and preserves the original page layout. You can change both the lens text color and the lens background color. The User Manual can provide additional guidance.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-accessibility-features-windows-offer#1TC=windows-7
https://support.google.com/a/answer/2821355?hl=en
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/177893?hl=en

MODULE 2

Tools for learning and organizing our work and learning

https://www.diigo.com/

Diigo allows users to collect, organize, collaborate, and annotate resources on the web to support their content Learning.

https://evernote.com/?var=1

Evernote is a device-neutral note-taking, collaborative, and resource curation tool that supports organization and student working memory.

MODULE 3

Clearly from the Chrome Store allows users an alternate view of the page without navigation, ads, or links to other content. It comes with three reading themes:

Newsprint - Like reading a newspaper
Notable - A clean, modern look
Nightowl - Dark background and white text; perfect for nighttime reading

You can even customize and create your own theme!

MODULE 4

https://www.remind.com/

REMIND

This web-based tool and mobile app (OS and Android) keeps students and parents informed of vital information about your classes/school. Remind sends reminders about assignments or upcoming events, and sends encouragement for a job welldone to build student motivation!

https://www.classpager.com/

ClassPager engages students in formative assessment and check for understanding in or out of class, and provides immediate feedback to and from students in your class. ClassPager works on all devices.

https://getkahoot.com/

Kahoot! turns any device into a clicker. You can ask thoughtful provoking questions that motivate and engage students, and help students take control of their own Learning.

https://www.futureme.org/

Futureme.org is a nice way for writing to the future and could be used with our students to get them engaged about their aims and goals.

MODULE 5

https://rpc.elm4you.org/

This research project calculator can provide support for your older students who need help planning for long term assignments.

https://studyboost.com/

StudyBoost is a mobile app that allows students to study by answering self- or teacher-prepared questions, at home or while on the go.

It also empowers teachers to use popular technology to further engage their students in task initiation and study beyond the classroom.

MODULE 6

Tool Finder on line:

https://www.understood.org/en/tools/tech-finder

https://www.pinterest.com/understoodorg/education-technology/