Week 7- Accessibility in Teaching with Technology

This week we read about accommodating for all students, even those with disabilities, in an online classroom environment or just when providing online resources for a class. Not all students have the ability to hear well, see well, use a mouse well, and many other things, putting them at a learning disadvantage. By accommodating online tools to fit the needs for these students, before they even have to ask for accommodations, is key. 

Some students are deaf or are hard of hearing. This barrier can be overcome by adding Captions to videos that are assigned. Some YouTube videos are auto captioned, but it's important to check the accuracy of these captions. Some videos are not captioned at all, and captions must be put in place to provide equal access to deaf students. If you create your own lecture, you can accommodate to disadvantaged students by inserting your own captions. 

For students that are blind, on-screen reading can be very helpful. In addition to this, you should include captions for images that can also be read aloud to the student. When you design these accommodations in an online lesson, its key to not have links that just say "Click Here" or the URL name because to a deaf student these can be hard to navigate. Use tools that allow you to change the name of a link to make it less confusing and allow blind students to more easily find that particular information and source.

Not all students can operate a mouse, so another important accommodation to include is to allow everything to be accessed with the keyboard. The arrow keys to move from item to item, the Enter button to submit something, and other keyboard sequences would be helpful for those who are unable to use a mouse.

Overall, when designing material in an online format for a course, it's important to not make things too cluttered. Using simple text on a plain background does so much more than mixing all sorts of fonts and colors. It makes it easier to follow and provides less distractions. When structuring an online course, structure each lesson section in a similar manner to provide routine and eliminate confusion. Organization is key, even when online for a class. Good organization of assignments and materials online creates a more user-friendly learning environment, allows students to stay better on task, and overall eliminates confusion. Mixing simplicity with many accommodations provides an even more user-friendly environment for all students regardless of the disadvantages they may have. Online accommodations provide equal access of content to all students and may even be beneficial for those who don't necessarily have a disability. Captions for example, can be used by someone who isn't deaf in order to better follow along with the video and avoid zoning out (that's that I use the captions in videos for, as I like them on). Image Descriptions also can better help clarify an image for someone who isn't necessarily blind. All in all, it's important to consider the needs of all students up front in order to provide equal learning opportunities and eliminate the need to accommodate something every single time a student asks for an accommodation. It's better to have the accommodation set-in-stone in the first place.

Another thing mentioned in the articles is about accommodations for those not necessarily with a physical disability, but for those with learning disabilities as well. Extra Time on tests is something that many students (including myself) need in order to have an equal opportunity. When we were online and had tests, my teachers would usually generate a separate test that gave extra time for me and other students who had 504 Plans that required that accommodation. Definitely another thing to consider when accommodating your online resources for class.

Week 6- Online Learning

With this day and age, and with all the growing technology in society, Online Learning and Online Teaching are definitely things to be considered when entering the teaching field. With the outbreak of COVID-19, many schools had to transition to a fairly unfamiliar online model of teaching, one done at home and away from the actual school building. With this has come many breakthroughs in teaching, such as the use of Zoom and other video messaging platforms to communicate in an educational way. Though things are increasingly becoming more normalized in the world of teaching, online school will always have a role to play when it comes to being a teacher. The integration of Blended Learning, a mixture of traditional classroom styles and online techniques, will continue to be useful. With the transition to virtual learning from the pandemic also came the emergence of optional online courses in place of in-person courses. Many schools offer these classes (such as Lakeland) where students can choose to learn through online platforms and not meet face-to-face consistently. It takes a special skill set to instruct these online courses. One must be fluent in technology in order to operate effectively. One must stay organized digitally and have good communication with students and parents. Since in-person presence is nonexistent in online classes, maintaining good communication and relationships can be more difficult. It is important to utilize individual email when teaching an online class, and to always check for updates. Take advantage of email and other online tools when establishing good connections with students through computers. Staying organized is also key both for yourself and for students. Being disorganized can lead to confusion for everyone. When taking advantage of Zoom or other video chats, make sure you are in a quiet and secluded environment to avoid distractions (this goes for both the teacher and for students). Overall, though there are many similarities between online learning and in-person learning, there are also many differences.

Though changes in communication, organization, and teaching styles differ with online learning, another important thing to consider is the effect on physical health and how one can continue to live an active lifestyle while consistently teaching online. Taking breaks from your work as an online teacher and giving yourself time away from your computer is key. Clearly state office and availability hours to your students and parents and give yourself down time when not within those hours. It is also essential to maintain a healthy diet and exercise during that downtime so that you aren't sitting all day (because that isn't good for anyone). Make sure to stretch, walk around, go outside for breaks, and do other little things to help your body out. Being an online teacher can become very sedentary so it's important to take that into consideration and move around. Don't feel guilty for having down time outside of office hours. Take advantage of that. But when inside office hours, make sure you are available for student help if needed. Being an online teacher can be effective if tactics are used wisely.

There are many Dos and Don'ts when it comes to being an online instructor. It is important to integrate a variety of tech tools when teaching online, but it's also important to not go too overboard. Don't use too many apps or platforms because that will get confusing quickly for both you and the students. Rely mainly on a few platforms for communication, assignments, and other things. One also has to strongly consider internet safety for everyone. Avoid using foreign platforms or downloading things that could contain viruses. Also have backups for when a platform or the internet doesn't work. Internet issues are definitely one of the most difficult things to deal with when teaching online. Integrate some activities that don't need an internet service (and can be done offline) just in case the internet doesn't work. Provide PDF copies of work so that if one cannot use a computer for whatever reason, the work can be done on paper and submitted via photo later when access has returned. Aside from the internet, one important thing an online instructor should do is to, of course, instruct. Avoid just giving work and leaving it all for the students. Provide lessons and one-on-one video conferences with the students. Provide many resources both from outside things and ones that you took time to make. Don't just download everything directly from something like Teach-Pay-Teacher, hand it off to the kids, and have them do it. The instructor has much of a role to play in still teaching the material and making it engaging even in an online format. As well, give clear directions from the start to avoid confusion. Still integrate a schedule or a syllabus to keep the kids on track. Check in with students via email or video communication. It is key to not lose the role of "teacher" when being an online teacher.

Online courses are helpful for those who do not live within good distance of a school they want to attend, those that do not have the money to afford attending a college, those who learn better self-paced and on their own, for collectively teaching students from all around, and for people with scheduling conflicts. Online courses are for some but not for everyone, and this goes both for instructors and students. It's essential to be fluent in the knowledge of online schooling in case circumstances cause it. Knowing how to effectively teach and communicate online instead of in-person, as well as establishing relationships and clarity, are key to being successful.

Week 5- Flipped Classroom

 

   This week we learned about Flipped Classrooms. We read a few articles and watched a video on the topic. Essentially, a Flipped Classroom is when you use class time instead for more in-depth learning, teacher and peer communication, and more hands-on activities, while the students watch lessons on a device at home prior to the class. This is pretty much "flipping" the traditional model of the classroom, which is lectures during class time and homework outside of class. With the flipped classroom method, "homework" is done before class time in the form of a "pre-lesson," and class time is used for more engagement and understanding as a class. With the growing of technology in the world as a whole and also in classrooms, this style of teaching has increased. There are both positives and negatives of this style of teaching, and really it depends on the teacher and the class for that year to determine if it's the best approach.

    Flipped Classrooms are put in place when students watch short video lectures at home before class and then during class time the teacher engages with the entire class to further strengthen the knowledge of the topic. This leaves class time for questions, partner or group work, and activities and leaves the students with the responsibility of "getting their feet wet" in the topic beforehand. This ends up being more after-school free time for students as not much after-class homework is distributed in this style of learning. This method has become increasingly popular with the growing age of technology and electronic devices. Many teachers integrate it and find many benefits associated, but depending on the district, the students, and the teacher, it may or may not be the most efficient approach.

    There are many positives to a Flipped Classroom. For one reason, designated class time is saved for enhanced learning on the topic instead of just a traditional lecture overview. Students can ask questions and teachers can integrate group work. More one-on-one time can be established because the entire class is not spent on a lecture. Overall its purpose is to be more hands-on, interactive, and engaging. Another Pro is the significantly less homework given to students, which leaves more time for outside activities and eliminates stress. With this model, students would watch a short video or have small at-home computer activities to complete before coming into class and further learning about the topic. Essentially the "homework" is done before and even during the class, which frees up evenings. In addition, students are able to learn more at their own pace instead of having to speed-run through a not-so-entertaining lecture. With the videos, students can rewind as much as needed and take their time on it. Designated class time is also not left to be "boring" with the use of a long lecture. This makes learning more flexible. 

    There are, however, detriments to this method. Student-centered learning can lead to procrastination in some, which causes them to fall behind or not gain as much out of the lesson. There is indeed a good amount of trust and responsibility placed on the students to "learn" some material before class. This also revolves around a lot of out-of-class device use which may be problematic for those who do not have device or internet access. For lower-income schools this may not be the best approach as not everyone can get the same benefits out of it because of lack of access. For those who do have access to devices, this method definitely increases screen time which can overall be detrimental. Indeed we live in a world where technological devices are growing and growing, but having this decreases traditional screenless paper-pencil approaches that some students learn better with. What if technological issues arise for those who do have access? A power outage, no internet for the time given to watch the lesson, or malfunctions. Those and other things can place barriers on learning that aren't even the fault of the student or teacher. In this case, its always good to have backups. Also mentioned is how Flipped Classrooms do not "teach to the standardized tests" like traditional lectures would more closely follow. This could lead kids to be less prepared come state test time, since they test knowledge on subjects over active participation and learning.

    All in all, Flipped Classrooms are definitely a good idea to implement, but one must also be aware of the potential detriments. Depending on the district and the students, it may or may not be a good idea to fully transition to "The Flipped Side" of teaching. Lower-income neighborhoods would not benefit from this approach, but school systems in which most have good access to technology would definitely find benefits from this. Overall, I think that even with this, it's important to incorporate many different styles and methods of teaching to satisfy all student learning needs. A mixture of paper-pencil and technology would overall be the best approach. Too much of anything, whether that be long "boring" lectures or too much reliance in devices can be detrimental to some degree, so its important to mix and match, try different things out, and see what works best for the class of that year. Being adaptable is key.

Week 4: Blended Learning

This week's focus is on Blended Learning, which is a mixture of traditional hands-on styles of learning in the classroom and learning using devices and online platforms. We read two articles (one on DigitalChalk.com, "Pros and Cons of Blended Learning, " and one on TeachThought.com, "The Definition of Blended Learning") and watched one video about Blended Learning ("What is...Blended Learning?" created by MBR University). There are many ways to incorporate electronic devices and services in an educational way. There are apps made for learning that students can download on tablets, there are ways to video chat with professors and other students (Zoom or Skype), there are document-creating platforms where students can type what could have been written, and many more. The level of technological integration is never set-in-stone and can vary from class to class and even lesson to lesson. The whole point of Blended Learning is to allow technology to complement and strengthen traditional styles of learning, and that way all student learning needs are met. Every student learns differently, so it is important to provide a "blend" of learning styles so that all are receiving the same educational benefits. With the rising of technology, social media, and portable devices, it was bound to be incorporated into learning eventually. 

There are many Pros, and even some Cons, of Blended Learning. The Pros include how many learning style needs are met because you incorporate digital learning with traditional classroom-style hands-on lessons. In addition, this makes learning more portable. Students can finish assignments on their take-home devices at home if they do not finish in class. They can rewatch recorded lessons or follow-up YouTube Videos. Also, communication via email with professors and even Zoom is improved when eLearning is incorporated in the classroom. Some cons, however, include tech issues that can commonly arise. When things don't function properly it can disrupt the learning environment. Many of these blisters are out of one's control, which makes things difficult. In addition, students can find ways to procrastinate because they know they can just "finish their assignments later" on their devices. The article "Pros and Cons of Blended Learning" on DigitalChalk.com exclaims "...students will wait and watch several weeks' worth of videos in one sitting, rather than on a regular basis." All in all, it is beneficial to incorporate digital media in the classroom, but it is important to not rely completely on it. The technology used is meant to complement what is already being done in a traditional style. It is meant to transform and improve learning.