Artifact 7

I created this artifact in block of my senior year. This presentation was mainly created to teach my classmates and I about the different types of diverse learners, with special focus on ESL students. ESL stands for English as a second language. I worked in a cooperative group to generate information within the presentation. Our main focuses were mainstreaming and modifications in the classroom and in the school. To complete my artifact, I used Netscape Composer to create a web page as a way to present the information both clearly and effectively. The presentation provided my peers with access to many tools that will be helpful in dealing with diverse learners. Also included in our presentation were activities that would be beneficial to both the everyday and diverse learner. There were two other presentations among the class that focused on Behavioral Disorders and Cognitive Disorders. From each presentation, I learned valuable and worthwhile information.

Impact

As a future elementary teacher, I will be faced with these kind of challenges each year, some being harder than others. I can use the information on all of these exceptionalites and better benefit my learners. Our ESL population is growing so rapidly and there is very little offered to them when they enter the classroom. It is my job to do the best I can to offer help and support in the lacking areas. Simple activities such as putting the words in Spanish if you put them in English so that they do not feel guilty or wrong for being a native. Granted the behavior disorders tend to outweigh the others, there is a growing need to diverse teachers, and this web site is a good start for teachers out there that are just encountering the change.

Alignment

The Inquiry Presentation aligns with Technology Competency 13.2. It allows me to use media and technology to support learning for children with special needs. Throughout our project, we spent a lot of time on the Internet finding web sites and activities that would be helpful for teachers to use in the given situation. We were able to take the information we found and put it on the web for teachers everywhere, and especiallywe will be able to utilize this.

The Inquiry Presentation also aligns with Technology Competency 13.3 because it allows me to use the media and technology to support learning for children whose primary language is not English. This is what my group's focus was, and the media and technology played a large role in helping me gather useful information about ESL. More than anything, it opened my eyes to what is out there for me and everybody. There are endless resources to be tapped, and we made sure to allow you the ability to access them from our web page.

The Inquiry Presentation also aligns with Technology Competency 13.4. It allowed me to use appropriate local, state, and National services or resources to meet diverse learning needs through technology. While inquiring about ESL through many different resources, we found that there are many people, organizations at the state and local level that are more than willing to offer there time and knowledge on the subject. One of my group members were able to take to the ESL chairperson here at Appalachian State University and get feedback from him on how to help new teachers, teachers, students about what is out there and what works best.

The Inquiry Project also aligns with INTASC principle 9. As I worked through this project and finally presented it, it helped contribute to my own personal growth and well being. It allowed me to evaluate my work ethic and what I had created and that was a contribution to my professional growth. I used professional literature, colleagues and other sources to put in and get the most out of the project while seeking even more opportunities. I learned to evaluate the effects of my choices and assess what I have learned, as well as my students. Being able to do all of this makes for a great professional educator.