Educational Blog!

This week's reading pertained to the UDL - Universal Design for Learning. 

       According to the UDL Center, "the goal of education in the 21st century is not simply the mastery of content knowledge or use of new technologies. It is the mastery of the learning process." This is why Universal Design for Learning is about helping teachers meet their goal by providing a navigational curriculum which can be adapted by all different types of learners. UDL guidelines can help teachers recognize barriers within the system, as well as how to reduce these barriers and optimize levels of challenges and support. It is very vital that a curriculum is able to be grasped by all the learners of a classroom and not a particular group. The UDL Guidelines are organized according to the three main principles of UDL that address representation, expression, and engagement. These three principles provide structure for the guidelines.

       The first principle is representation. Even further broken down, it is perception. It is impossible to learn something if the material is unable to be perceived by the learner, and is often challenging when it is presented in ways that required extra effort or assistance. Presenting the information in a way that can be manipulated by the learner to fit the learner's needs is the way to go (ex: sounds, size of text). It is important to have alternative strategies. When showing a picture, image or graph to children, it can be interpreted in many different ways. The purpose of education is not to make information accessible, but rather to teach learners how to transform accessible information into usable knowledge.

       The second principle is providing multiple meanings of expression and action. This can best be  exemplified by how a child with dyslexia may excel in story telling exercises, but may suffer when that same story is in written form. It is important to provide different canvases for expression, not only to level the playing field, but to make ensure that knowledge, concepts, and ideas are appropriately expressed in the learning environment. 

       The final principle is providing multiple means of engagement. This principle encourages teachers to create lessons that are openly inviting for students to interact with one another, as well as independently when needed. Key ideas would be to minimize distractions in the learning environment, vary demands to optimize challenges, and encourage collaboration and group effort at appropriate times. 

Wait a tick.. About Me!

I nearly forgot to tell you about the most important part of this blog! ME! As you know, my name is Amanda LePera, but as soon as I went away to college, I became Amanda La. I was born on the twenty first of October in the year of 1991, making me nineteen years young. I hale from East Northport, Long Island where I have lived my entire life. Among my family, I am the middle daughter, and I have an older sister, Kristin, who is twenty three years old, and I have a younger sister, Lisa, who is fourteen years old. Technically, I also have a brother, Winston, but he's really small and hairy. Ok he's my dog, but consider yourself warned that he will be making many appearances on this blog, yes sir. I have loved sports my whole life and I've played many of them ranging from gymnastics, to soccer, to field hockey, to lacrosse, to softball, to basketball. My favorite would have to be field hockey because I've played it the longest and have developed the closest relationships with teammates. When I'm not dragging my hockey stick across the field, you could probably find me running (for leisure only, competition? blech) or hanging out with my friends. I absolutely love being around people and being in a warm, exciting atmosphere. There is nothing better than laughing until your stomach hurts with a group of people that you love. At the same time, there are times where I love being on my own. Times where I am my own company and I enjoy it. Its funny, because when I'm not being active, I'm being exactly the opposite. I can sit and watch movies for days. Any of my friends can tell you that I can recite a movie line with the drop of a hat. I will openly admit that I am weird, where I can't remember what tech assignment was due today, but I can recite every line Ben Stiller has said in the movie Heavyweights. This would definitely be a trait I learned from my dad; a song will playing on the radio, and he can tell you the name, artist, album, year, gross profit, etc. of it without hesitation. So thanks, Daddy. But more about me. =) I love to write. If there are three lines provided to answer a question, I'll fill out at least twenty. From a young age I have always enjoyed writing and drawing, and even still to this day. I considered a profession in either field, but felt that after it became my occupation, I would lose my passion for it. So I'm on to be a teacher, something I feel I couldn't be happier doing. Lastly, I work at IHOP and I've been happily serving pancakes for six years. I feel its something I just have to say because it always gets a reaction. So theres a little dose of me, if you read the whole thing, more power to ya.

Cheers!

Blog Numero Uno

Aloha!

Amanda La here, and this is my very first blog (surprise)!

Hopefully, in the near future, I'll become a blogging queen

and be able to navigate my way around with ease.

But for now, please bare with the random, short, and possibly uninteresting posts,

because pretty soon I'll be as tech savvy as Dr Shi!

 I'm anticipating many pictures, quotes, stories, videos, and--oh right assignments

 to be posted up here throughout the length of the semester.

So please enjoy!

As a final thought, I would like to leave everyone with a quote.

In the midst of confusion, anger, frustration and insanity,

 your mood is up to, and you can choose your own happiness.

So always remember:

"if you want to be happy, be."

cheers!