Diversity
Diversity
From the beginning stages of our country, diversity has been a major part of our lives. With the population growing, our diversity has grown with it. As educators, we have the ability to touch the lives of many different students from many different backgrounds and cultures. As educators, we must establish a culture of acceptance and celebrate our students’ differences regardless of their race, religion, socio-economic background, or capabilities.
Technology has been the driving force for teachers to locate lesson ideas, lesson plans, communicate with other peers, and post plans to administrators. This also translates to what students complete in the classroom. There are many different digital tools and web 2.0 tools for teachers and students to use that will assist students with different needs. Districts must provide equitable availability of devices to all students. Preparing our students for future jobs is our top priority, so all students must be equipped with technology devices and tools in schools that will help narrow the digital divide that our low socio-economic students experience. We need our students to leave school with the knowledge and skills needed for utilizing technology tools in their future careers.
The Instructional Technology Ed. S program has equipped me with the learning experiences that have contributed to my skills, knowledge, and ability as a technology leader in my school. I have gained knowledge and research about the latest trends in instructional technology. I have acquired various skills with different and new technologies to promote higher-order thinking skills with the diverse students taught. When working with these technologies and a diverse population, I have learned that patients and planning are the keys. Problems will occur but believe in the technology used and students’ abilities and it will all come together.
Throughout my coursework in this program, there were some key professional experiences that demonstrate my ability to successfully address diversity issues in schools. The list below provides a few examples:
From the beginning stages of our country, diversity has been a major part of our lives. With the population growing, our diversity has grown with it. As educators, we have the ability to touch the lives of many different students from many different backgrounds and cultures. As educators, we must establish a culture of acceptance and celebrate our students’ differences regardless of their race, religion, socio-economic background, or capabilities.
Technology has been the driving force for teachers to locate lesson ideas, lesson plans, communicate with other peers, and post plans to administrators. This also translates to what students complete in the classroom. There are many different digital tools and web 2.0 tools for teachers and students to use that will assist students with different needs. Districts must provide equitable availability of devices to all students. Preparing our students for future jobs is our top priority, so all students must be equipped with technology devices and tools in schools that will help narrow the digital divide that our low socio-economic students experience. We need our students to leave school with the knowledge and skills needed for utilizing technology tools in their future careers.
The Instructional Technology Ed. S program has equipped me with the learning experiences that have contributed to my skills, knowledge, and ability as a technology leader in my school. I have gained knowledge and research about the latest trends in instructional technology. I have acquired various skills with different and new technologies to promote higher-order thinking skills with the diverse students taught. When working with these technologies and a diverse population, I have learned that patients and planning are the keys. Problems will occur but believe in the technology used and students’ abilities and it will all come together.
Throughout my coursework in this program, there were some key professional experiences that demonstrate my ability to successfully address diversity issues in schools. The list below provides a few examples:
- Developed engaging lessons that follow the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to meet the needs of all learners
- Evaluated new and emerging assistive technology tools for use with special needs children
- Designed, developed, and taught lessons to a special needs middle school student using assistive learning devices while adhering the student’s Individual Education Program (IEP)
- Designed, developed, and taught sheltered lessons to that incorporated culturally responsive pedagogy using technology tools to better serve English Language Learners (ELLs)
- Conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis that outlined a plan to implement intervention strategies for providing equitable access to technology devices for low SES (socio-economic status) students and other diverse learning populations
- Collected and utilized demographic or subgroup data to create a presentation for targeted school improvement