Diversity
As learners become more diverse in terms of race, color, ability, economic status, and culture, I believe it is incumbent upon all educational professionals to not just understand these differences, but to embrace them and address them intentionally in their practice in a way that promotes understanding, tolerance, and the belief that all students can be successful and reach their full potential as learners and human beings. In order to achieve this goal, educators should seek out knowledge about different cultures and plan to incorporate activities to promote tolerance in their classrooms. Additionally, the knowledge and skills needed to successfully differentiate learning activities for learners of varying ability levels is an essential skill for teachers and educational leaders.
During the Instructional Technology master’s degree program at KSU, I have had the chance to work with many different types of learners. The work I’ve done with special needs students has taught me how to facilitate learning with assistive technologies in the planning, implementation, and reflection phases. I’ve also grown in my knowledge of effective differentiation of instruction for gifted and special-needs learners. Global outreach to other classrooms through Twitter and Skype has helped me facilitate experiences that connect learners with people of other cultures as well. I will continue to focus on how to meet the needs of all learners, including those from traditionally underserved populations, as I continue my career as an educational professional.
Some of the things I’ve done to demonstrate this ability are:
During the Instructional Technology master’s degree program at KSU, I have had the chance to work with many different types of learners. The work I’ve done with special needs students has taught me how to facilitate learning with assistive technologies in the planning, implementation, and reflection phases. I’ve also grown in my knowledge of effective differentiation of instruction for gifted and special-needs learners. Global outreach to other classrooms through Twitter and Skype has helped me facilitate experiences that connect learners with people of other cultures as well. I will continue to focus on how to meet the needs of all learners, including those from traditionally underserved populations, as I continue my career as an educational professional.
Some of the things I’ve done to demonstrate this ability are:
- Participate in global chats on diversity topics on Twitter, such as #EduColor
- Facilitate a global learning project with a first grade class
- Advocate for equitable distribution of school-owned technology to meet students’ needs
- Collecting subgroup data and utilizing it as part of a data team for school improvement
- Assist with the planning and implementation of Assistive Technology devices with a visually-impaired student
- Conducted several professional learning sessions with teachers on how to use technology to effective differentiate instruction