I am thrilled by the results of the survey that I gave my students. Their opinions of my class show that many feel that the material is accessible to them and that my classroom is a safe space. It also demonstrates the tools available to educators through Google–I gave my students a form and sent the responses to a spreadsheet, which I in turn could edit to include visuals and averages of the responses.
Stafford Wood
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Scratch Project
My students love sports, so I created a video inclusive to students with disabilities, showing that everyone can play sports together. I have always loved sports as a way to community-build, whether you’re on or off the field. This video represents my own personal background and also is relatable to my students while encouraging them to be kind and inclusive.
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Concept Map
This timeline shows how technology has always been a part of my life. I’ve taken computer science classes since middle school, I’ve always had my favorite hobby be video games, and I have always considered myself tech-savvy and a resource to my peers. I used Miro and tried to make it visually appealing and easy to understand.
Click for full size
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Multimedia assignment
This Moovly assignment serves as an introduction to Algebra I and shows how my students can succeed in my class. I included a quote that I say on Day One of all of my classes–that everyone can succeed in math! I make sure that my students know that I am available and there to support them.
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Cast.org: Universal Design for Learning
https://www.cast.org/impact/universal-design-for-learning-udl#.VfeGwuntZih
If a teacher has not previously heard of UDL, then this site is for them. Universal Design for Learning essentially captures the idea that by making information accessible for all students, it actually helps every student learn–not just the ones who might need to access information in a non-traditional way to understand it. This website can help educate teachers on the principle of UDL and how to implement strategies in their classroom.
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Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities
This overview can help educate teachers about how accommodations can even the playing field between students in their classroom and also helps to explain well the reasons why students might have accommodations. It is very important for teachers to be educated in assistive technology to ensure that they are reaching their students with disabilities.
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Google Help Center
The Google help center has quite a few tutorials and this is just one example, but they each can walk an educator through many of the tools available for free through Google Drive. Forms in particular are one of my favorite resources. They can be quite versatile in their usefulness in a classroom and offer plenty of chances for teachers to be creative in how it can benefit student learning.
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Girls Who Code
https://girlswhocode.com/about-us
I spent a lot of time at Cal Poly trying to boost the number of women in STEM. This resource offers valuable ways that teachers can encourage their students who historically have been discouraged from studying STEM subjects or entering STEM fields to do so.
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Clever
This resource is used throughout CCSD to provide district-approved resources. The search function allows students to find resources used both inside and outside of class and contains many valuable sites that a student might need to succeed in school.
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YouTube University
I regularly remind my students of “YouTube University” because nearly any content you could need can be summarized in short, easy to understand videos on this free and popular website. Popular videos with a lot of views can usually be trusted to have accurate information and these informative videos are often easier to watch than videos designed to be educational.
Maya Cervi, Educator 