4.3 Diversity, Cultural Understanding & Global Awareness
Candidates model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to support diverse student needs, enhance cultural understanding, and increase global awareness. (PSC 4.3/ISTE 5c)
Artifact: English Language Learner Report
Artifact: Diversity Blog Posting
Reflection:
The diversity blog posting and the English Language Learner (ELL) report, both of which I created for ITEC 7430, illustrate my ability to "model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to support diverse student needs, enhance cultural understanding, and increase global awareness." For these assignments, I researched methods of supporting diversity in the classroom. In the English Language Learner field experience, I used digital resources to assist two ELL students meet the goals of their educational plans: to improve their usage of English expressions and understanding of American customs. I used online games, tutorials, instructional videos, podcasts, and quizzes to teach and assess them on American culture. In the diversity blog posting, I addressed how to use digital tools, like blogs, Skype, Twitter, and Google Maps, to expand the walls of the classroom so that students can learn and interact with other cultures. As a foreign language teacher, learning about other cultures and making connections and comparisons with students' own cultures are daily activities in my classroom. Our students live in a globally-connected world, and therefore must have a strong understanding of and appreciation for cultural influences and differences.
Overall, throughout my experience in my Instructional Technology classes, I have discovered how the Internet can and should be used to connect students to the world. Teachers should use blogs, social media, Skype, Google, and other digital resources to enable students to explore the world beyond the classroom. Global awareness is an essential 21st century skill that we should impress upon our students. Additionally, we can increase student engagement by adding in cultural elements to our lessons. By permitting students to share their work and experiences with a global audience, the assignment is more meaningful and authentic to the students. By allowing students to share about their culture, students feel valued and accepted. We are no longer limited by geography since the Internet expands the walls of our classrooms; therefore, we must take advantage of this opportunity to assist our students in becoming globally-minded.
These assignments changed my teaching methods. Due to my enhanced skills, knowledge, and disposition, I now make sure to address diversity and include cultural elements in each of my units. I have implemented digital tools such as Wikispaces, blogs, and virtual field trips to help my students learn about and connect with other cultures. The most beneficial part of these assignments was the ELL assignment, which gave me the opportunity to work with students one on one. I showed them tools that could help them achieve their individual goals. I also was able to see the students becoming more comfortable engaging with their peers in class due to their increased understanding of American culture. If I were to complete this assignment again, I would led a professional development session on the Iris Center’s effective instructional practices for teaching English language learners. By sharing this valuable resource, I could help teachers meet the needs of all the ELL students in our school. I could help foster an environment that is supportive of diversity throughout the school.
The effects of these artifacts can be assessed through observations and surveys. When entering my class, one will observe cultural decorations on my walls and will hear discussions about cultural traditions. A review of student work will show students creating videos, blogs, and Wikispaces addressing culture and diversity. When instructing, I provide written notes for my ELL students that has key vocabulary and concepts in their native languages. This additional assistance is observable in their increased assessment scores. Overall, the classroom environment has been enhanced as a place where diversity is accepted, encouraged, and support through discussions and technology.
The diversity blog posting and the English Language Learner (ELL) report, both of which I created for ITEC 7430, illustrate my ability to "model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to support diverse student needs, enhance cultural understanding, and increase global awareness." For these assignments, I researched methods of supporting diversity in the classroom. In the English Language Learner field experience, I used digital resources to assist two ELL students meet the goals of their educational plans: to improve their usage of English expressions and understanding of American customs. I used online games, tutorials, instructional videos, podcasts, and quizzes to teach and assess them on American culture. In the diversity blog posting, I addressed how to use digital tools, like blogs, Skype, Twitter, and Google Maps, to expand the walls of the classroom so that students can learn and interact with other cultures. As a foreign language teacher, learning about other cultures and making connections and comparisons with students' own cultures are daily activities in my classroom. Our students live in a globally-connected world, and therefore must have a strong understanding of and appreciation for cultural influences and differences.
Overall, throughout my experience in my Instructional Technology classes, I have discovered how the Internet can and should be used to connect students to the world. Teachers should use blogs, social media, Skype, Google, and other digital resources to enable students to explore the world beyond the classroom. Global awareness is an essential 21st century skill that we should impress upon our students. Additionally, we can increase student engagement by adding in cultural elements to our lessons. By permitting students to share their work and experiences with a global audience, the assignment is more meaningful and authentic to the students. By allowing students to share about their culture, students feel valued and accepted. We are no longer limited by geography since the Internet expands the walls of our classrooms; therefore, we must take advantage of this opportunity to assist our students in becoming globally-minded.
These assignments changed my teaching methods. Due to my enhanced skills, knowledge, and disposition, I now make sure to address diversity and include cultural elements in each of my units. I have implemented digital tools such as Wikispaces, blogs, and virtual field trips to help my students learn about and connect with other cultures. The most beneficial part of these assignments was the ELL assignment, which gave me the opportunity to work with students one on one. I showed them tools that could help them achieve their individual goals. I also was able to see the students becoming more comfortable engaging with their peers in class due to their increased understanding of American culture. If I were to complete this assignment again, I would led a professional development session on the Iris Center’s effective instructional practices for teaching English language learners. By sharing this valuable resource, I could help teachers meet the needs of all the ELL students in our school. I could help foster an environment that is supportive of diversity throughout the school.
The effects of these artifacts can be assessed through observations and surveys. When entering my class, one will observe cultural decorations on my walls and will hear discussions about cultural traditions. A review of student work will show students creating videos, blogs, and Wikispaces addressing culture and diversity. When instructing, I provide written notes for my ELL students that has key vocabulary and concepts in their native languages. This additional assistance is observable in their increased assessment scores. Overall, the classroom environment has been enhanced as a place where diversity is accepted, encouraged, and support through discussions and technology.