In the summer of 2016, I enrolled in an online course as part of my Master of Education degree in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development with OISE at UofT. As part of the course - Holistic Approaches to Information Technology - I had to create a web-based, creative project. Since I had never created a website before, I chose to create one for this assignment.
I am currently teaching a special education class of 13 students aged 9-12 who have very individual learning needs. I thought this website could help us as we try to master some of the most commonly used words in the English language. I will be using the Dolch word lists for this website.
The idea is that the learning be co-constructed by students, teachers and family members who are interested in helping us to master these words! My reasoning for making this site co-constructed is based on a quote I read in an article during my search for defining holistic education:
"Wholeness holds that every thing in the universe is interconnected to everything else"
- (Mahmoudi et al., 2012, p.182)
My interpretation of this statement is that in order for my students to become avid readers of these sight words, they must have it be connected to their experiences, relationships and surroundings. Integrating technology allows me to provide these opportunities to the students without having it become an overwhelming task.
Additionally, these students will inevitably have technology connected to their lives in many different ways. Being able to contribute their ideas, comments and images to the site will allow them to gain confidence being on the Internet and provide context when discussing digital literacy.
REFERENCES: Mahmoudi, S., Jafari, E. & Nasrabadi, H.A. (2012). Holistic education: an approach for 21 century. International Education Studies, 5(2), 178-186.
I am currently teaching a special education class of 13 students aged 9-12 who have very individual learning needs. I thought this website could help us as we try to master some of the most commonly used words in the English language. I will be using the Dolch word lists for this website.
The idea is that the learning be co-constructed by students, teachers and family members who are interested in helping us to master these words! My reasoning for making this site co-constructed is based on a quote I read in an article during my search for defining holistic education:
"Wholeness holds that every thing in the universe is interconnected to everything else"
- (Mahmoudi et al., 2012, p.182)
My interpretation of this statement is that in order for my students to become avid readers of these sight words, they must have it be connected to their experiences, relationships and surroundings. Integrating technology allows me to provide these opportunities to the students without having it become an overwhelming task.
Additionally, these students will inevitably have technology connected to their lives in many different ways. Being able to contribute their ideas, comments and images to the site will allow them to gain confidence being on the Internet and provide context when discussing digital literacy.
REFERENCES: Mahmoudi, S., Jafari, E. & Nasrabadi, H.A. (2012). Holistic education: an approach for 21 century. International Education Studies, 5(2), 178-186.
About MeI am a special education teacher in a suburb northwest of Toronto. I am currently enrolled in graduate studies with the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at UofT. I have been teaching since 2010.
I enjoy playing and watching sports, especially volleyball and basketball. Go Raptors Go! |