Advantages of Taking CEP

I have learned a lot this semester, especially in CEP. I was not the most tech-savvy person when I began this class, and I am still not, but I know a lot more than I initially did. I did not realize that there were so many different technologies, not only for students with disabilities, but for students in general ! What surprised me even more was the fact that there are so many programs/websites that allow you to do entire assignments using your cell phone !

This class was not a requirement for my major, but I am really glad that I took it. I have learned a lot of things that I can incorporate into my future classroom, and I am sure that my students will appreciate it. I want to provide my students with a variety of different activities that allow them to do more than just read from their textbooks.

My Future in Teaching

Today's lab really made me start thinking about my future in teaching. I never really though about how isolated teachers are. Ira mentioned that the only time that you really interact with other adults is when you're in the cafeteria or when you connect with other educators online.
In the field of teaching, I am going to need a strong support system. When I look back on all of my previous jobs, the only ones that I enjoyed had strong support systems. Having support motivates me to do my best. When I feel alone, I am more likely to pursue another career. I am going to make more time to start reading blogs and trying to contribute to them. I also want to get involved in as many workshops and conferences as possible.

"The Hard Kids"

This assignment gave me a more in-depth understanding of the disorders that millions of people deal with on a daily basis. Students are placed in classrooms with "normal" students, and they have to try to learn at the same pace as the other students, all while dealing with their internal issues. Some people, like the 16-year-old boy with Aspberger's are able to cope with their disability, while others struggle with their disorder everyday. I believe that those who are comfortable with who they are have a strong support system in their lives.
Without today's advances in technology, I really don't know how some students would be able to keep up in class. They would not have assistive technologies like text-to-speech software and laptops to help make their lessons easier. They would not have the proper medication to help them keep things under control. I could not imagine having a learning disability in the 50's or the 60's. In addition to the lack of technology, some disabilities were not yet named/defined so no one knew how to help people with these disabilities. Thanks to advances in technology, people with disabilities have a better chance at living a normal life and being included in regular classrooms.

Google Docs

I am really enjoying learing how to use Google Docs. I've had a gmail account for years, and I was not aware of all the cool features. It is very convenient to be able to share documents and presentations and create forms for surveys. I think that learning how to use Google sites is very helpful for working in groups, and it makes you more advantageous as a teacher. It gives your students a lot more options for group work, and helps those students who are unable to attend class. It is also eco-friendly because you do not have to use paper.

"Youtube in the Classroom?"

Keeping up with technology is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to make class fun and hold students' interest. Making PowerPoints, doing papers, and reading can become really old, especially if you have been doing the same thing for years. I really think that using Youtube in schools is a great alternative to regular homework. It does not have to be an everyday thing, but creating the occasional video will make students want to do their homework. It also gives the students a chance to strengthen their creativity and presentation skills.

Is America's School System "Behind?"

After class, I began thinking a little more about how America's school system is considered to be "behind." Some of the work that we do in middle school is stuff that students in other countries learned in elementary school. In other countries, students go to school almost everyday. They dont' have tons of vacations like we do. They are also drilled and taught to be "test-takers" on a regular basis, which makes them a lot more prepared for for standardized tests.

Not all students are great test takers. I received a 21 on my ACT, but graduated from high school with a 3.73 gpa. I still consider myself to be intelligent, but according to the ACT, I'm average. Many people judge a student's/school's intellect by what the standardized test scores were, and some of the students who perform poorly on the tests are simply not good test takers. They may be nervous or overthink the answers, which happens to me pretty often.

It is very sad to know that some teachers lose their jobs based on their students' ability to take a test. What's even worse is that some teachers try to cheat for the students in order for them to keep their job. Standardized tests should not weigh so heavily in the school systems.