EDUC 5113 Week 6 Julia Weisenfels This week I am to reflect on whether I notice any similarities between the “Shifting Minds” model of integration of digital technologies, collaboration and innovation in education in Canada and the curriculum development approaches in the U.S. Then I am to give my thoughts as to why digital technologies are so crucial for education in the 21st century. The Shifting Minds Model from Canada focuses on the ability of students to acquire, process, interpret, rationalize and critically analyze large volumes of often conflicting information to the point of making an informed decision and taking action i...
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EDUC 5313 Week 5 Blog Julia Weisenfels Part 1) Select one article from those linked below regarding Universal Design for Learning and provide a summary of the article and discuss connections to the lesson you are developing. I chose: Basham. J.D., Smith. Sl.J., & Satter, A..L. (2016). Universal Design for Learning: Scanning for Alignment in K-12 Blended and Fully Online Learning Materials. Journal of Special Education Technology, 31(3), 147. doi:10.1177/0162643416660836 The article from the Journal of Special Education Technology, mentioned above, was very interesting in that it was written pre-Covid, yet the information could very easily have been written post pandemic. W...
EDUC 5113 Week 5 Blog Julia Weisenfels 1. Think about the standards of “Goal-Based Design” and “Design-Down, Deliver-Up”. How does such philosophy resonate with curriculum development? Goal-Based design considers the following criteria when forming a curriculum: the mission of the school, what the students should be learning, if activity-based learning plays a role, and the technology strategies and tools that are available. This design process emphasizes aligning curriculum design, instruction, and assessment with clearly defined goals. All educational activities work towards desired outcomes while the educational activities provide a framework for accountability and continuous achievement. It en...
Week 4 EDUC 5113 Julia Weisenfels 1. Have you adopted Farrel’s backwards planning model as a teacher in planning sessions? I have adopted Farrel’s backwards planning model. By giving pretests and post-test, I have data showing students’ growth. In Arkansas, teachers may submit evidence of student growth and achievement to the AR Department of Education along with their professional goals and they can be eligible for merit pay. More importantly, I can see growth in my students as they show proof of learning and comprehension by the post test scores. I can also see what, if any, concepts the students do not understand and I can reteach them. 2. Doe...
EDUC 5113 Week 3 Blog Julia Weisenfels
Week 3 EDUC 5113 Julia Weisenfels Question: Am I more Naturalistic or Technological? Do I see any possibilities to adopt a dual approach in curriculum design and instructional delivery? As a science and mathematics teacher in a small, rural school district, I have experienced the adoption of new curricula as well as the elimination of curricula. They were both the results of student needs, or lack thereof, and state requirements. A Physics course was dropped and the administration opted for it to be offered on line due to lack of interest from students. Quantitative Reasoning (Q.R.) was added and replaced Advanced Topics Mathematics, which was mandated by the Arkansas Department of Education. The curriculum for the new math course was guided by the standards, and I designed the curriculum, as I assessed the interests and needs of my students. ...
Julia's Week 2 Blog
EDUC 5113 Week 2 Assignment Julia Weisenfels Based on information from Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) website, I compared the rankings of Finland to the United States in education. The following are my thoughts and answers to the questions as written. 1. Why do I think Finland outperformed so many developed countries with such equitable and non-consequential guiding notions? I think Finland outperformed many other developed countries for a number of reasons, but mainly, because the education system focused on equity and shared responsibility, not choice and competition (Sahlberg, p 27). Finland was a leader in education among developed countries in 2022, and became a model for other countries. Their approach to education focused on fairness and equity, and efficient use of its resources. Finland was rebuilding their economy and reconnecting with ot...
My philosophy of teaching centers around my students and their individual abilities. My goals are to create a safe and welcoming learning environment where my students feel important and are encouraged to learn. I educate my students in the many learning styles that students exhibit and strive to meet the needs of all learning types. I want to be the facilitator of the learning, so throughout the educational journey my students take, I gradually release more of the teaching to the students and I become the facilitator. I consider myself a blend of a traditionalist and a critical theorist. I think the grade level makes a huge difference in what type of educational approach I choose. I have 7th through 10th graders who have many modifications or accommodations, and just a little bit of freedom and a lack of structure turns into chaos. As a traditionalist, I emphasize basic knowledge, using my state standards and ...