DL School Choices

For those interested in a quality online education for their children, Ohio has a variety of options available to choose from; among them are OHDELA, Connections Academy, and Ohio Virtual Academy. Upon investigation of each school I personally found OHDELA to be the most interesting, inclusive, and comprehensive. They offer virtual classrooms, recorded and live teacher taught web lessons that students can access on an as-needed basis, learning resources such as audio and e-books that can be checked out and are tailored to your child's specific intellectual level, tools for parents to interact and access their student's performance. Computers and software are provided by the school, they offer reimbursement for internet connections, as high-speed internet access is a requirement; also, being in contact with this level of technology will give students an edge in the latest software and devices.

Among the many amenities to online learning, OHDELA also tailors specific academic programs to the students grade, including independent studies for older students, National Honor Society, and college-credit-plus credits for those who are college bound. Many fear that isolation is a side-effect to online schooling, but with OHDELA they go a step further by providing lessons with online discussion boards, interactive learning programs, school-wide events, field trips, virtual clubs and extracurricular activities, and free admission to museums and parks. To add to the many fantastic flexibility options of online learning, there is also the fact that many will get to spend more time at home with their families, without the hustle and bustle of early mornings rushing through breakfast, and catching the bus or the morning school commute. Students are able to wake up at a more reasonable time, and work according to their needs in the comfort of their home, with the support of their family, and no bullying! Most of all, parents are given a chance to play a larger role in their child's learning process, something many are limited to in the traditional school setting.

While the other two school options have many great qualities, OHDELA seemed to have every corner covered and then some. All the traditional fears of e-learning are removed and replaced with a cohesive program that works to provide students with all the material and support they need to succeed and grow.

https://ohdela.com/

Assistive Technology for Students with ADHD

ADHD is a disability often overlooked for some students at home and in the classroom, but one that without treatment, may cause unnecessary frustrations and disadvantages for the student. However, if given the appropriate accommodations, such as assisitive technologies, many students persistently improve their performance in the classroom, and their communication and attention skills. Many students and adults with ADHD have difficulty with focusing due to external and internal distractions; so, by determining what these distractions may stem from allows for a greater understanding of what assistive technologies will work best for the individuals' specific needs (Arbour, 2016). Distractions can appear in the form of, visual, auditory, or tactile effects for the student, and technologies available are in a range from low assistive technology needs to high assistive technology needs.

https://www.ldatschool.ca/appropriate-at/

Low assistive technology devices and equipment include handheld magnifiers, large print text on phones and computer, and reachers and grabbers; however those affected by ADHD will find that devices in the middle of the range and above the most effective. Those that fall into this category include electronic organizers with lists and alarms to stay on track with daily tasks, or books on cd for those who learn best through an auditory output and are better able to comprehend the information, among others (Stanberry, Raskind). One such specific technology is Wunderlist, an app for your phone, tablet, or computer that allows the user to create and store lists and notes, as well as set alarms and timers for specific activities and events to keep the user on task and focused; one great thing is these lists are capable of being synced to all your devices, and even shared with other users you allow to add useful items or notes to already created posts such as school notes, or project due dates.

https://www.additudemag.com/change-the-program/

http://learningworksforkids.com/apps/wunderlist/

While there are many high tech assistive technologies, such as power wheelchairs and hands free speech recognition devices, one that is very helpful for those with ADHD is the trusted computer itself. Modern day computers, smartphones, and tablets are so common we often neglect to realize the immense amount of computing power they possess; they're very much one of the most high-tech assistive technologies the general population has at their fingertips. With the countless apps and software available, the many different additionally supported devices such as digital drawing pads, and printers, computers allow those with ADHD to lead a more consistent, productive, and manageable lifestyle. Word processors and online tutoring systems, as well as other apps such as Isolator, grant the inattentive a more stimulating, or a more focused experience to keep them engaged and moving at the pace they need to flourish as a student and in their everyday activities (Haven).

https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/assistive-technology/

Finally, technology is progressing at an astonishing rate, and with the tools available to so many of us to create apps, software, and devices to meet our needs when other technology lacks, we're seeing an influx of new ideas that are shaping the way we all learn, especially those with certain disadvantages. More stimulating and deeply engaging assistive technologies will continue to be produced to meet all of our varying needs and strengths, and with that we'll ultimately see self-improvement like never before.

References

Arbour, Choosing Appropriate Assistive Technology for Students with ADHD. Retrieved September 18, 2018. Web. https://www.ldatschool.ca/appropriate-at/

Haven, Assistive Technology to Close the Learning Gap. Retrieved September 18, 2018. Web. https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/assistive-technology/

Stanberry, Raskind, Assistive Technology for ADHD Challenges at School. Retrieved Spetember 18, 2018. Web. https://www.additudemag.com/change-the-program/

Wunderlist (n.d.) Retrieved September 18, 2018. Web. http://learningworksforkids.com/apps/wunderlist/

My Prezi

Above is my first presentation using the Prezi software; within you will find a little bit of information about myself, my passion for teaching literature, and my desire to reach out to high school students and share that passion. As an educator I want to inspire and motivate students to find relevance in literature, writing, and critical thinking to build their inquisitive minds and give them the tools they will need to evaluate the world around them. By studying literature we are giving our students the skills needed to consistently express themselves and to create a connection with those who paved the path before them, and their current peers. With literature a world of opportunities and experiences await our students!

Using Prezi seemed intimidating at first, but once I dove into the software I found it was very easy to navigate. The setup is fun and a great alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint. I'm actually very impressed with it's capabilities, and already have plans to use it for my other classes to present my material more efficiently and interactively. I feel confident that with continued use I will be able to create a wide variety of presentations that fit my needs and aesthetic.

Teacher Blogs

There are many brilliant and practical teaching blogs available to those interested, but settling on just three was rather challenging. I found quite a few to be very interesting and engaging, and finally narrowed my choices down to the ones that had articles I felt finally answered some questions I had always been curious about.

1. https://www.thedaringenglishteacher.com/

Christina is a high school English teacher whom had some fantastic posts about everything from 6-week lesson plans, to resources that allow teachers to purchase learning materials cheaper, as well as some great activities and reading choices that students of a high school level could relate to. She's worked in rural areas with high poverty rates, which is what I'll likely be experiencing if I get to teach in the area I currently desire to teach in. Christina also has a series of informative blog posts on innovative classroom technology, something I found quite interesting; I was finding it difficult to fathom how technology is engaged in this type of class, outside of using blog posts, or Powerpoint and Word.

2. https://www.rethinkela.com/

Michelle Waters is a high school English teacher in rural Oklahoma who is really focused on building her students up and providing them with the skills they need to be successful readers and writers. Her posts about teaching vocabulary in context and nurturing the seed of new found knowledge with reading and writing exercises is starting to open my eyes on ways to engage the student and build their confidence levels in their own skills. Not only does she teach her students how to successfully navigate the English language and literature, but she also help develop their research and studying skills; something they will need in their personal, academic, and professional lives.

3. https://laurarandazzo.com/

Last, but certainly not least is Laura Randazzo's blog; another high school teacher who focuses on a media savvy approach to keep people engaged. In addition to her blog posts, she also has vlogs available to watch on YouTube. What stuck out about Laura is that she's not only trying to help you help the student, but she also helps you manage yourself and the classroom. She has advice/tips for student teachers, mentor teachers, and information on how to engage the students in participating and being active learners, all elements of a successful classroom and learning experiencing.

There are many more amazing teachers out there sharing their wealth of knowledge with those of us who aspire to be teachers ourselves!