Blog Post #3

Peer Critiquing
For this blog post we were required to read "Paige Ellis' Blog Assignment #12" and view the slide show "Peer Edit With Perfection Tutorial" and watch the video's "What is Peer Editing" and "Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes". After learning from these videos, slide show and blog post we were required to critique a peers blog post entry. I was going to leave a comment though e-mail, but since I did not find an e-mail address listed on the post, I critiqued the post by leaving a comment. I think the post was well written with a few grammatical errors. I agreed with much of what was written in the post. If there would have been more errors and it wasn't well written, I would have taken more steps to send an e-mail instead. I feel like an e-mail gives a person a chance to fix their mistakes without having to feel like they were, "called out" in front of peers. Since there were only minor mistakes and it was well written, I felt comfortable leaving a comment.

In the before mentioned blog post, video, and slide show, I have learned a nice way to critique my peers. I learned that you need to start out with a compliment. Stay positive and peers will not feel like they are being attacked. Make suggestions about what they wrote and how it might enhance it, if it was written differently. Give them different word choices, details, and see if they stayed on topic.

After making suggestions if there are any punctuation, grammar, or spelling errors tell them specifically where they are and how to fix them. Continue to remain positive. Constructive criticism is better than being negative. I believe people will get a better response when they are nice about it and not making the person feel that their work is not worthy. I learned that when critiquing a peer to not be over critical. I will try to treat others with the same respect that I would like to be treated with.

Technology in Special Education
In the video "Technology in Special Education" , Ms. Cook explained the importance of technology in a special education class. She showed examples of how students worked with and without advanced technology. The children seem to respond to using technology with better attitudes and seemed to be more productive. These technologies used also benefits the teacher. When a student can't read well it takes someone to help with reading, but with an ipod students can listen to audio books which makes it fun for the student. The students have more fun with the technology and have better attitudes about learning. This also benefits the teacher.

In the video we saw students that aren't able to speak. Using laptops gives these students a way to communicate more efficiently. A student that is special needs, handwriting isn't always legible. The use of lap tops the students can type or click words to communicate. Students with vision problems, a program called "zoom text" can magnify the words on a computer for students to see clearer. This is basically breaking down barriers of communication between students and teachers.

Teaching special needs students how to use computers and other types of technology will prepare them for jobs they may possibly have in the future. Keeping them up to date with technology gives them more opportunities to actually get a job. I would use as much technology as I could for my students to give them a fun learning experience and prepare them for possible jobs. I can communicate with the parents by way of e-mail or a website listing what the lessons are and how to help their children with homework. I have worked with a special needs child that could not speak and the computer she used helped tremendously with communication.

How the iPad Works with Academics for Autism
In the video How the iPad Works with Academic for Autism" parents were working with an autistic child using toddler counting, my first word, and kids writing pad. All of these apps would work in a classroom depending on the age and skill level of the student. I found an app called MathBoard at "Apple.Education Apps.com". With MathBoard I could teach them how to add, subtract, multiply and divide. This would be a fun and interactive way of learning. Math is my favorite subject and there are also apps as Math Bingo that would be a fun game to help them learn as well.

I like the counting exercise that was the toddler counting app. For lower level learners I could use that to teach them how to count before teaching them to add and subtract. In the use of iPads the students could hopefully have on at home to be able to work with parents to keep them involved in their education. A student could show parents what they have learned for reinforcement of encouragement. I believe if school have funding of this kind of technology it will greatly benefit students with special needs.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
In the video,"Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts"by Vicki Davis she shows us how she teaches students using their interest and strengths. She focuses on which group of students like what kinds of technologies and then allows them to teach the rest of the class. I think this is an awesome way of learning. She uses vocabulary that they have to research on the internet. This is using a creative way of teaching literacy. Sometimes the students even teach her something new.

The students on this video were from a small time in a rural area. Some students aren't able to travel, but introducing them to blogging is a way to connect them with the world. It gives them a chance to look at other cultures without having to leave home. I think this is a great opportunity for students to connect with other cultures and a learning process that isn't offered in books alone. It is the most current and up-to-date information about what a country or culture is experiencing.