Adaptive Technologies Case Study Answers

1. I think the Strengths Assessment would be very beneficial to help address the learning styles of my students. There are three main reasons why I think the Strengths Assessment will be very beneficial when addressing the learning styles of my students. First, it will require the students to utilize the internet. Second, the students will find out useful information about themselves, while reflecting on the results of the assessment. Third, it will allow me to see which ways the students learn the best, so I can help address these learning styles as I plan instruction.

2. Most of the time, collaboration always has a positive outlook. I think this type of collaboration would help my instruction and benefit my students because it would allow me to get ideas from a coworker while keeping my ideas in mind to put the best ideas into play to plan the best instruction possible. There are three main reasons why this would help my instruction and benefit my students. First, it would allow me to put my thoughts together along with another teacher to plan the best instruction possible. Second, it would allow me to work with someone who knows more about children and has worked with children often, also. Therefore, I might learn something from her experience. Third, it would allow me to “broaden my horizons” to new ideas and advice to help plan the best instruction and reach all of my students in my classroom.

3. Marilyn is using graphing organizers to enhance the lesson by mapping out the organization of the book with the students. Then, she will map out the three fifteen-minute activities that would happen concurrently and be tiered: teacher-guided small group instruction, student-facilitated skill center, and student-facilitated writing activity. Together, they will label the characters, setting, problem, solution, and virtue exhibited by the characters. The use of graphic organizers will help Oscar because organization helps children with disabilities. Oscar will know what to expect and what is expected of him by following along with the graphic organizer. He will also be able to see the sequence in which the lesson is taking place. Finally, Oscar will be able to review the work.

4. Using the Web to locate information has pros and cons. Using the Web to locate information can be both beneficial and stressful. As a college student, using the Web to locate information has been very beneficial to me. However, there have been some difficulties encountered when searching the Web to locate information. There are several websites that members can go in and change the information on. Therefore, when doing research for a project, it is important to know an accredited website. That way, you know all the information from the website is very factual and not opinionated. There are also times when bad sites pop up because of not being specific when typing words into the search engine. Last but not least, finding websites that have different information is sometimes a task. There are plenty of times when several websites will contain the same information on a certain topic, so it becomes hard to provide a lot of different information about one specific topic.

5. There were three benefits the students gained from being included in Oscar’s small group. One, the students learned to work with someone who was not on the same level as them. They had the opportunity to work with someone who was challenged, and they had to embrace the situation with respect. Second, the students learned to work quietly as they whispered while reading the books. The students had to maybe take a different approach to the lesson than normal because Oscar needed more attention to complete the book. Third, the students learned to interact and become familiar with working and learning with a child their same age that has a disability.

6. I do not think Oscar’s experience would have been as powerful if he would have worked in isolation with Juanita. I think Oscar’s experience would not have been as powerful because what made the entire experience powerful was the interaction with the teacher and the students while learning. One on one is an effective way of teaching, and in many cases it has to be done that way. However, in Oscar’s situation, learning in a group setting was very beneficial to him. He was a part of the classroom doing just what the other students were doing, and he was learning. Oscar probably felt more at ease knowing he wasn’t being picked out of the classroom to work one on one with Juanita. I am assuming Oscar felt proud and belonging, which probably made his learning experience more powerful than any other.

7. Three ways in which Marilyn addresses the needs of her class by the use of technology is: WebQuest, the video, and iMovie presentations. The use of technology addressed the needs of her class because every student had the opportunity or will have the opportunity to successfully utilize this technology. The technology allowed all students to participate in the lesson because all of the students were involved in the lesson and each student participated in every aspect of the lesson in some way, shape, or form. Oscar could participate in all the uses of technology because he had assistance with WebQuest, he participated in the video, and will be able to make his iMovie, and if Oscar can participate then all the students in the general education classroom can participate, also.