1. Students are not interested... this resonates with me to the core. Would you pickup a book at the library and read it if you thought it looked boring? The secondpoint is, how much would you learn or retain from this boring book? We need to change our mindset from getting students to learn to getting "students to want to learn." (Churches, 2011).

2. We have taught the same way since 1960. Our students are going to get jobs in the 21st century! Some of the jobs in 1960 are not even relevant anymore. We need to teach our students to be independent, creative thinkers. Through the generations educators have scoffed at new educational tools and resisted change, only to realize that the new innovations were in fact beneficial to education.(Churches, 2011).

3. We are assessing and testing our students to just retain knowledge and then forget it after the test.Testing knowledge content would be better assessed by a knowing content and applying content project.(Churches, 2011).

The bottom 2/3rds of students are the ones we need to be reaching to improve education for all students. Better sources for these children are digital sources and blog posts, learning games, and video-based learning.

Traditional teachers have been taught to teach traditionally in college. They argue that this is how they learned, so there is no reason the students cannot know the same way. Technology can be scary to incorporate into a curriculum if a teacher is unfamiliar. They also worry about liability and student safety. They also fear that traditional literature will die away with the incorporation of new technology, taking away conventional and cultural values.

These are both valid points, and it is tricky to incorporate the old with the new, but I feel that it is achievable with continuing education and teacher and student support.

2. Another direction in this article points to the benefits of screencasting. Screencasting supports independence and allows students to work at their own pace. Rewatching content or walking students through a difficult-to-understand concept are just a few examples of how incorporating screencasting can improve blended learning initiatives.

3. One of the teachers questioned, provided that providing multiple platforms for students to access content supported blended learning by giving students the choice as to how, when and how much content was needed to learn a subject.

The other side argues that teachers are sometimes controlling how and when students learn. Blended learning is only effective and " dependent upon the direction of the teacher".(Holland, 2017). Blended learning needs to be "more than a digitalversion of traditional teaching."

Holland, B. (2017, February 22). Are we innovating, or just digitizing traditional teaching?. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/are-we-innovating-or-just-digitizing-traditional-teaching-beth-holland

#1. Assistive technology comes in many different forms. They can be high tech or require no tech at all. As long as the AT can support student learning and help to remove the learning barriers and should be incorporated into "quality blended learning."

#2. Computer assisted instruction is a great resource for children with multiple disabiliites and research can back that up. For instance, text-to-speech software "Can improve students' sight reading and decoding abilities" as well as "Helping students with perception of their own work and individual abilities."

#3. In order to be effective, all assistive technology resource should be taught and trained to everyone involved with the student. Teachers, the student, and any additional teachers, or parents.

There are two sides to be considered with assistive technology

Side #1. "Due to limited evidence based research" some teachers will an assistive technology device based on software company claims.(Young & MacCarmack, 2018). Assitive technology is not always the solution for every disability. Another barrier could be the lack of school funding or a teachers access to training in the assistive technology being used in the classroom.

Side #2 Low to High tech innovations in assistive technology are plentiful and available to teachers and students and have shown to help in learning and physical disabilities. Classrooms can be made more inclusive to all with the help of assistive technology. Whether it is a weighted vest that is helping to make a student with autism more comfortable, or a student with vision impairment listening to the same story his classmates are reading, inclusive classrooms will benefit from assistive technology.

One Question

How frequently should an IEP be reevaluated with assistive technology and the fast growing resources and devices?

1. "Citizenship today is Digital"- students are communicating about 80% through social media. Today's students are more logged on than ever.

   Educators are beginning to ban or block social media or any cell usuage in the classroom. When teachers ban tech, they are also banning access to 21st century skills.

2. "What kind of Citizens does our 21st century democracy require?" In school governments and teaching our students about democracy, we are giving students inclusive visions of citizenship. Instead of banning it, model and educate students on safe online usage and how to avoid making mistakes online. Educate on effects of negative social media usage.

   3. Teachers can incorporate social media and digital articles into the curriculm. Having students compare and contrast credible online sources with noncredible will give students insight into and give them multiple perspectives.This will allow students to make their own informed decision about a subject and how to sort through sources and credible resources for their own thinking.

   
   

   There are 2 sides to the matter. First, teachers are hesitant to apply social media in a classroom setting. Why blame them?! They could potentially open themselves up to misunderstanding and they are informed not to add students on personal social media for professional reasons. Teachers also have reported that social media causes distraction in the classroom.But, restricting tech and devices in schools does not solve the bigger problem, students are going to use technology in the future and in their lives. Why not use this as an educational journey? Teachers can set rules, boundaries, and have students sign a form acknowledging understanding of social media usage in school settings with strictly classroom conversations. Teaching students safer and more effective media usage allows teachers to encourage critical thinking. These resources can also be shared with parents and provide strategies and for digital safety and citizenship at home.

   One Question is.... When is a good age to incorporate social media into a classroom?