Alex Trice University of Maryland University College
Students should be exposed to a variety of methods that support Applied
Learning in order to maximize opportunities for lasting comprehension.
Students in todays classrooms benefit from a variety of methods that
focus on different types of skills that can be applied from the real world and derived from past knowledge and experiences. Through preparing students for college and the world after high school, students need concepts, facts, and procedures that have a focus on the academic knowledge, problem solving and technical knowledge as well as methods that are built on and support making connections and utilizing new knowledge. Having lesson plans that are diverse and utilize various different methodologies students will become more prepared by being able to see how various fields of study and profession interrelate in a modern society (Bottoms, Presson, Johnson 52-53). From the types of diversity that I have observed I have found that many students in a particular classroom may or may not have goals that point toward studying or utilizing the sciences on a regular basis. As a science teacher I have found it very engaging and motivating to relate scientific concepts to real world common situations, prior knowledge, and past experiences to the curriculum being discussed. From my experience I find that students become more interested in the material when they can relate it to observations of the natural world. I think that students will become empowered when finding logical explanations to processes that were once unfamiliar when they can build on their own knowledge to reach on target conclusions.
Teachers should always be learning the development of new technologies in
order to maximize educational efforts to diverse student populations As a Professional Teacher I realize the need for constant and continual education with technologies that are developing every day in our current modern world. There are diverse varieties of technologies that cater to diverse varieties of students and these have the ability to enhance the education in students with such disabilities as Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, and with students that are Gifted and Talented (Snowman 215). A teacher that has a continual knowledge of the developing technologies will always give the student with specific needs the best edge in comprehending the material and working toward their goals. Teachers that are constantly discovering new technologies also will find programs that may be beneficial in order to develop IEPs to me more effective as well in differentiation. Overall, knowing the technology makes teachers who study its different forms more flexible when the abilities of a student may seem not so. Technology has the ability to enhance information processing as well as communication for students in the classroom. Categories that technology enhances are in areas of tools for writing, tools for reading, tools for science and math, and tools for art and music. Basically, technology brings options and opportunities for students to become engaged with material while attaining higher level skills with such technologies that can be utilized in
later occupations such as in communications, creative project design, and
database maintenance (Snowman 209)
Teachers who promote self-acceptance and multiculturalism will create
environments suitable for students to feel comfortable to strive to high levels Many teachers today with a liberal arts backgrounds have great opportunities to expand on knowledge of various world cultures as well as foreign languages. I feel that the teachers that utilize multiculturism perspectives on a regular basis will be more effective in relating to students and creating a classroom environment that encourages self-acceptance and stability. Characteristics of a multicultural teacher include experience teaching various different cultures, clearly explaining goals and objective regardless of language barriers, and utilizing methods that enhance and reinforce selfacceptance and self esteem (Snowman 162). Student that are comfortable in the classroom will be comfortable giving feedback freely as well as asking questions that they have without being self conscious about it. This will allow a teacher to be able to more closely monitor diverse students in order to target areas that to be strengthened.
By utilizing proper feedback from students and from assessment
teachers can more effectively be aware of the students needs, moods and interests; create realistic expectations; and more properly align instruction with Standards, Goal, and Objectives (Snowman 153). Overall, multiculturalism inclined teachers will maximize the classroom environment not only for a few but for the majority creating a classroom that is cohesive and does not leave out students based on differences.
References Bottoms, G., Presson, A., Johnson, M., (1992) Making High Schools Work Through Integration of Academic and Vocational Education. Atlanta, GA. Southern Regional Board of Education.
Snowman, J., McCown, R., &Biehler, R (2009). Psychology Applied to
(Mathematical Modelling - Theory and Applications 10) C. Rocşoreanu, A. Georgescu, N. Giurgiţeanu (Auth.) - The FitzHugh-Nagumo Model - Bifurcation and Dynamics-Springer Netherlands (2000)