Reflection

Personal progress and academic growth is what I take away from this course. I did not only learn new technology tools, but increased my experience and desire for further success in my future professional environment. I plan to give my students a positive educational change in their lives. I was able to reaffirm my professional goals; which will facilitate my efforts educating a linguistically diverse population of students. I learned basic concepts, productivity technology tools while addressing ethical, social and cultural issues and how they relate to technology within education. I have been enabled this understanding for a successful, efficient and useful purpose that will promote my creativity as a teacher.
The United States is becoming more ethically, racially and linguistically diverse over time. This growth in diversity is especially noticeable within the educational system. It is very important that as a bilingual teacher to always build upon and connect existing cultural backgrounds of students. Deep understanding and cognitive engagement are more likely to be generated in contexts where instruction build on student’s prior knowledge and learning is supported by cultural and active collaboration within of learners (Cummins, Brown and Sayer pg. 47). The sensitivity and insight regarding cultural diversity, will give every one of my students an equal chance to succeed academically within a national system. Sometimes school districts are not aware of the impact of having a strong bilingual or ESL program for multicultural students. Unfortunately many times schools do not provide adequate support for teachers with the appropriate materials and/or the pedagogical theory behind it. The U.S. population has shown consistent trends of growth in diverse population, which not only will call for specialist, but also additional training for regular teachers. The use of computers and other technologies have proven to reinforce the teaching of English.
This semester I learned how to make the best use of new technologies (Blog, Podcast, Wikkies, Captivate, etc.). The educational impact that technology offers to teachers and students will transform the approach to oral and literate education within the ESL and bilingual programs.
As a result of this course, I was able to develop my abilities in meshing to enhance the learning experience in education and performance. The interaction that I had this semester with peers helped me tremendously to gain more confidence expressing myself. They were all very supportive and caring. I really enjoyed how everybody collaborated by sharing a piece of their knowledge on helping to contribute to the development of the U.S. Education System. I believe in fostering personal and academic growth and that is what I achieved this semester.

Cummins, J., Brown K., and Sayers, D. (2007). Literacy, Technology and Diversity:
Teaching for Success in Changing Times. Boston: Allyn &
Bacon.

Sotware Evaluation # 3

Title of Software: Adventure Workshop (1st-3rd Grade). Clue Finders: Mystery of the Monkey Kingdom.

Producer: Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited, 2002. The Learning Company.

Target students (e.g., age or grade-level of students): 1st through 3rd Grade Students. (7-9 yrs. old)

Proficiency level (e.g., beginning, intermediate, advanced): Targeted different levels of math.

Description: This is a math software program where the student can learn and build on math reading comprehension, listening, writing, oral and visual skills, problem-solving, etc., during a fun variety of playing time.
Mystery of the Monkey Kingdom, is a computer software where the child together with the cartoon animated characters, they are solving the mystery of finding a scientist that is lost in the forest by getting hints and solving math problems. This fun and creative activities contains quizzes and challenge on different stages. Also, characters helps them reinforce beginning math skills while encourages them to continue on next step. This is a good program where children can learn and understand basic mathematical skills: addition, substraction, multiplication, division and develop their higher order thinking skills while playing.

Language skills targeted: Basic Communication Skills

Evaluation:This is a math program for students because of the different math activities that will expose the students to variety of fun. The student can monitored their own progress by selecting a math level and receiving immediately feedback. The only thing is that it takes too long for the activities to appear. It is more a cartoon than a learning object.