Week 7

UDL Book Builder
The book I created is called Lillie Can Draw. It is a book that I hope to encourage and inspire students to create their own artworks. It is a book targeted towards students in kindergarten through the 3rd grade level.

My book allows the students to have the option of  the characters read along with them. I believe Book Builder is a good tool to use in the classroom. Teachers can create their own passages and stories or even existing stories on Book Builder and make it interactive and interesting for the students, rather than using traditional textbooks or handouts. Book Builder reaches out to diverse students, touching upon all of the different learning styles (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic).

*Here is a link to my book.*

http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view.php?op=share&book=adaa486c5383980333eee94a11052ee7&sid=7570

Here is a link to the printable version of my book.
http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view.php?op=view&book=57737&page=1

Assignment #1

Theories and Practices of Multimodal Education: The Instructional Dynamics of Picture Books and Primary Classrooms

Multimodal Education is using different forms of teaching such as: using print, visual images, and designs. There is a shift in literacy learning, it has become more interactive, with the use of the SMART board and interactive books. Students are still learning to read the traditional way and through this idea of multimodal education. Students are becoming more of a critical thinker, analyzing a decoding visual text. When students are reading picture book, they’re using their multimodal education to code and decode images and text. This allows students to be able to analyze images and understand the meaning behind it. The use of different fonts in text is also another way to communicate or represent something. The text can be a different color, size, or shape, which could impact the word differently in meaning. The students’ environment and background influences their way of understanding a subject. With those differences it allows students to interpret and recognize images, signs, or designs in a different way.

Using the ADDIE Model to Design Second Life Activities for Online Learners

Second Life is a program that simulates a real life environment. SL can be used to create online learning environments’. Unlike the use of Blackboard or messaging tools it allows the user to feel like he/she is having a “face-to-face meeting”. It allows users to explore their different environments and gives them the feeling that they are truly in that moment, “social presence” which is missing when using tools like Blackboard or messaging tools. The users are able to interact with one another in a more meaningful way. This interaction falls into 3 categories:

1. Relationships between student and content
2. Relationships between instructors and students
3. Relationships among students

However, there are some challenges when using Second Life. Since SL is an advance program it may have difficulties running on many computers, running into issues such as: needing to upgrade the computer or system, having glitches on the computer and not running smoothly, and it may also be block from schools or organizations. Another issue is that other users that are not included in the class may drop in because SL is an open environment this may occur and disrupt the class session.

Assignment #2

I created an account on Second Life and selected my avatar, however I had difficulties using the program on my computer. I came across the challenges stated above. I was unable to explore the different environments due to my computer not recognizing the program and addresses. I found it a bit difficult and confusing to try to navigate the website.

However, I do see the benefits that this program can provide to students. By reading the information and watching the videos provided on the website. I believe it can be a great tool to use for online meetings other then traditional methods such as Blackboard.

As I discussed this idea with the ELA teacher we talked about the pros and cons of this program. Though our students are in the elementary level, it may be a program that is better use with high level students. We talked about taking books and creating scenarios or environments related to the story and placing our students in that scenario. The students will feel like they are coming alive in the story and being apart of the scene.