2nd Module Five Reflection

This module has helped me think about self-directed learners and the role of differentiation in the following ways:

Before completing this module, I had not really thought about how learning preferences should play in the process of making educational accommodations for a student. I understood the basic means by which to accommodate a student based on disability (such as with content, process, products, and learning environment), but I had never thought about considering whether a student preferred (and performed more successfully with) visual-auditory-kinesthetic, left brain/right brain, or multiple intelligences learning styles. Basically, I'm glad that a student's preferred learning style is can be taken into consideration for accommodations in addition to what a student needs because of his or her disability.

I had also not considered how beneficial individualized computers can be for differentiating student learning before completing this module. Computers provide the necessary technology for students with disabilities, the resources necessary for English language learners, and extended resources for gifted and talented students. Before I had really only thought about computer use in the sense of projects, but I see how technology could be used for differentiation throughout instructional units.

I have already had self-direction in my mind, though, as I have been creating my instructional unit for this course. The steps for enhancing self-direction through assessments that are listed in the module, for instance, are steps that I am incorporating in unit. My students will have a clear picture of what they will be learning, they will receive continuous feedback about their progress, they will self-assess their own progress, and they will be provided with instruction for the specific steps they will be taking over the course of the unit.

I also have implemented some of the pedagogical practices for supporting the diverse needs of learners in my instructional unit. My students will be offered an example to imitate, they will have structures to monitor their own progress, and they will have a limited amount of options for the project.