Lesson Planning

Creating my second lesson plan was challenging, yet benefiting. It was challenging because I was required to implement multiple media in my lesson; and considering my grade level, it was a bit difficult. It was benefiting because it enabled me to think outside the box, and into the “digital-world.” I asked myself, “What do children like to do when they go to fascinating places?” I automatically thought of picture taking. Children love playing with cameras and printing their photos; it gives them a sense of ownership and of course gives them confidence. I immediately wrote “cameras” as one of my multimedia ideas.
Thinking of another way we can go digital is possibly using a printer to print the photos the students were going to take at the Zoo, but then I thought that utilizing a printer isn’t much considered educational. Instead, I thought about using an extremely simple program on the computer called Microsoft PowerPoint. Creating a digital Zoo-book on a PowerPoint would be an excellent idea. Ideas started pouring as I started my objectives. I was also required to accommodate a student with a disability, so I accommodated a blind student.
As teachers, we are bound to have disabled students, whether they’re in a wheelchair, deaf, or blind; and accommodating them in our lessons is extremely important. I came across a site about accommodating disabled students; it stated “Teachers need special training to assist these learners as they cannot communicate and learn in the same way as other children do.” (Atriclesbase) I don’t fully agree with this saying because as certified teachers, we never receive the “special training” to assist them, by the courses we take in college; we’re supposed to already know how to assist them.
The National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T) for Teachers standard 2A is to “design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity” (International Society…) I was satisfied by the lesson plan I created because not only was I able to implement multiple media in my activity, I was also able to accommodate my special student, and gain more knowledge and ideas in creating more lesson plans in the future.

Sources:
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). NETS for Teacher 2008. Standard 2A. Retrieved February 15, 2009. From International Society for Technology in Education. Website: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_for_Teachers_2008.html

Disable Child and Mainstream Education - Getting It Right
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