Digital Blog Post G: Chapter 10

Here are the three distinct concepts from chapter 10 that intrigued me the most:

1. Online Language Translation Services
2. Universal Design for Learning
3. Interactive Electronic Storybooks and Storybook Apps

Probably one of the most beneficial aspects with technological advancements is using it to decipher foreign languages in and outside of a classroom.  There is no doubt in my mind that I will eventually have students who will respect an alien language I am not familiar with, but thanks to something like Google Translate, I can translate my language into the student's native tongue and vice-versa.  I already know some Spanish and German, but there may come a day where a student  speaks a dialect that I am not familiar with like Japanese Kansai, but just because I hold the position of a teacher does not mean that I am always going to be the one teaches new lessons.  One of my views of a teacher is a two way street, the teacher does most of the teaching, but at the same time they are learning about new cultures based on the diversity they work with.  It is definitely thanks to things like online translations that can make a educator motivated to learn a new language over time and make students and parents feel more welcomed to new environment.

Universal design was one of my favorite topics to discuss in school, just talking about how all of our minds process information in different ways always makes for an informative discussion.  The concepts surrounding universal design for learning is what is allowing children with disabilities to expand their learning horizon.  Before our current advancements, I am positive that many students with disabilities were given lower expectations because of their deficits, but know thanks things like assistive/adaptive technologies more of these students are offered even greater opportunities.  With the help of devices like hearing aids, students with auditory disabilities can know engage in more learning and social activities since the device enhances their hearing abilities to a greater level.  Looking for new ways to improve the ability to learn for disabled students is just another reason why the concept of universal design is something that more schools should take the time into practicing.

Here is another informative concept that I am already familiar with, interactive electronics.  Based on what I understand interactive technologies can range from apps to video games and that they intend to offer more visual learning methods to assist students.  Something like this can easily apply to the universal design topic, as interactive electronics can assist students who have learning deficits such as ADHD, and because a lot of these games can stimulate the brain's learning productivity makes me wonder why a lot of schools are not blending it into their curriculum.  I know schools just thinks video games are just cartoon silliness, but to me it is more than just null curriculum, it is a gateway to learning experience for students who have hard time concentrating as it is; I mean what is seriously more interesting: written examples on a board or colorful screens loaded with fun characters?  I know one way or another video games are definitely going to be apart of my curriculum.


References Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Garza, R. (October 18, 2015) Websites created with ToonDoo. http://www.toondoo.com/MyToondoo.toon