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EDUC 5313: Week 5

 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) makes learning beneficial for everyone. The current education models most schools have implemented are closed-ended and only work well for a section of the student population with the rest trying to fit a mold that they were not made for. Universal Design is a new way of operating; it provides the framework for flexibility and support so that all students can thrive and succeed.   When learning about Universal Design many immediately jump to the conclusion that is only designed for those with disabilities, but that is not true. Universal Design does benefit people with disabilities, but the idea is that everyone benefits from it. The flexibility that UDL offers students means that everyone can utilize their strengths and work through their weaknesses in a healthy manner; one in which their whole self is supported and not just the parts that align with the traditional school format. In UDL, the students’ needs are taken into consideration and th

EDUC 5313: Week 3

Art poster Infogram If creativity is something that is desired for education, then providing a learning environment conducive to it is very important. As knowledge of the best practices for teaching grows, the memorization and recitation of facts and information that has been a feature for education for so long is being replaced by more effective strategies that develop skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity. It states in the Gura text that “students need to have some time allocated for investigation, experimentation, seeking and reflecting on feedback, revisions, and imagining” (Gura, 2016, p.64). For this to be possible for students, teachers need to provide a creative learning environment; “one that fosters the development of creativity and innovation” (Gura, 2016, p.55). Also, part of this new knowledge about education is the realization that there is no one right way to learn. In the book How People Learn II (2018) memory and its’ functions in learning are di

EDUC 5313: Week 2

  Part I   Authentic Intellectual Work consists of gaining and using knowledge in a more meaningful and original way. In the article, the authors summarize it as “construction of knowledge, through the use of disciplined inquiry, to produce discourse, products, or performances that have value beyond school (Newmann et al., 2007).” It is a way of approaching education with the goal of educating the student for every aspect of their life, not just their time in school. This is a contrast to the typical education practices in schools today. Students are expected to simply memorize information and comply with their teachers’ expectations, with a focus only on the information that is needed for testing and to accomplish educational standards. Authentic Intellectual Work will produce successful people, not just successful students.   The components of Authentic Intellectual Work the article introduces are not separate elements, but three intertwined aspects of gaining and using knowl

EDUC 5313: Week 1

       I never anticipated becoming an educator: I obtained a degree in Interior Architecture and intended to always work in creative fields. After starting what I thought would be a temporary job in my son’s school I fell in love with education and am now working towards my teaching certification. My goal is to teach English as a Second Language—with the ultimate goal to move abroad and teach English there.              Oklahoma Academic Standards for English Language Arts standard 7.5.W.1 and 7.8.W have students write using proper writing rules in shorter time frames while varying their “modes of expression.” (Oklahoma State Department of Education, 2016). The ISTE standard Knowledge Constructor 3d states “Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions (ISTE,2016).        To help develop student’s writing skills in a 7 th grade Language Arts class they will write a Letter to the Edit

Hello!

 Welcome to the blog for Jacqueline Harmon, Educator! Here you will see my thoughts on education as I work towards my Masters of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with an Emphasis in English as a Second Language from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.