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Week 5 Blog Assignment

Digital tools and UDL-based Instructional Strategies to Support Students with Disabilities Online      This week I read the article “Digital Tools and UDL-Based Instructional Strategies to Support Students With Disabilities Online” by Rao, Torres, and Smith. In this article, the authors explain how digital tools can be intentionally used to reduce learning barriers in both fully online and blended environments. They emphasize aligning technology with CAST ’s Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, which includes principles: multiple means of representation, multiple means of action and expression, and multiple means of engagement. The authors note that in online environments, barriers can increase in areas such as motivation, executive functioning, and reading comprehension. Because of this, teachers must proactively design lessons that reduce these barriers by incorporating supports such as text-to-speech and speech-to-text tools, chunked instructions, scaffolded...

Week 4 Blog Assignment

Lesson Plan Generated by Magic School AI  (Linked) This week, I used Magic School AI to help generate a lesson that connects the CCSS , ISTE Standards for Students , and content we are currently covering in class: solving two-step equations and equations involving distribution. The standard addressed in this lesson is CCSS.7.EE.B.4 , which asks students to use variables to represent quantities in real-world or mathematical problems and to construct simple equations and inequalities to solve problems by reasoning about the quantities. Overall, I found the lesson to be well-aligned with the standard. The learning objective directly reflects the standard, requiring students to translate real-world scenarios into equations and solve them by creating a variable for an unknown quantity. I consider this lesson rigorous because it goes beyond basic equation solving—students must interpret their answers, model situations, and justify each step. The assessments, both formative and summativ...

Week 3 Blog Assignment

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Below is an infographic that highlights the key processes that support learning as discussed in Chapter 4 of How People Learn II . It emphasizes executive functioning, self-regulation, and the reconstruction of memory, and explains why these processes are essential in supporting student learning. The infographic also explores connections between this chapter and Gura’s concept of a creative learning environment, as well as Rivero’s technology-focused approach to learning. Through the integration of technology and supportive instructional practices, an ISTE Student Standard is addressed, demonstrating how students can take ownership of their learning, engage creatively, and develop meaningful understanding. This infographic highlights key learning processes from  How People Learn II  and connects them to creative learning environments and the ISTE Standards for Students. References: Gura, M. (2020). Fostering Student Creativity. EdTech Digest the State of the Arts, Creativity, ...

Week 2 Blog Assignment

Part 1:  Authentic Intellectual Work/Authentic Instruction & Assessment.   Use the following questions/prompts to guide the development of your post. What is the nature of Authentic Intellectual Work?  How does it differ from traditional approaches to instruction and assessment?  Discuss the components of Authentic Intellectual Work and provide deep consideration of at least one component by including a discussion of empirical (research-based) evidence found in Chapter 2. Describe a specific example of authentic intellectual work in a discipline or content area. The nature of Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) supports teachers in creating learning experiences that reflect real-world challenges. It emphasizes students constructing knowledge through disciplined inquiry, leading to work that has value beyond the classroom. Rather than relying on memorization and routine procedures, AIW prioritizes problem solving and higher-level thinking, allowing students to ...

Week 1 Blog Assignment

Part 1:  Introduce yourself to us. Tell us about your current and future professional goals. My name is Erica Heuschkel, and I am from Connecticut. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in 2015 and spent 6 years working in substitute teaching and math tutoring. During that time, I was offered a full-time position as a middle school math tutor. Although initially hesitant (excited about the content but nervous about the age range, since my degree was in elementary education) I accepted the role. I quickly discovered that I loved teaching this age group of middle schoolers. I later cross-endorsed to become certified in 7-8 math and began a full-time position as a 7th grade math teacher in my hometown. This is my fourth year teaching there, and I truly enjoy it. I am currently completing my Master’s in Math Curriculum and Instruction as I am deeply passionate about the math curriculum and currently been collaborating with my team to ensure vertical alignment across grade levels with our new c...