Kevin Duden

Use technology tools that enhance rather than hinder the learning process.

There is a big difference between a classroom-setting and the real world. Service Learning provides the students with real-world experience that also benefits others. When students see their work matters, they will likely become more motivated.

I guess rather than point or a letter grade, students could just write a short essay on what specifically they learned from their service.

I understand the concept even though it's not directly applicable to a prison school. The whole idea is to find something where they practice what they are studying or related things and give them the opportunity to do it for the benefit if others. 

This is not applicable to my situation teaching in a prison school, but I can see the value. I could potentially require some sort of service learning as part of one of my classes- life skills.

I was very happy this section addressed having a back-up plan. In the just the last two days, we had state-wide connectivity issues and a power surge that interrupted our work. In the past the same types of issues prevented me from showing a YouTube video that had a corresponding group activity attached to it. Without the video, there was a huge gap in my presentation.

I can see how technology can play into the various VARK learning preferences.

Since I have very limited technological resources in my situation, we have to sometimes improvise. For instance, using a human translator to assist a non-English speaking student or having another student read questions/answer on a test aloud to assist someone who has reading difficulties. 

Obviously planning the rollout is imperative. While not educational software, my institution recently rolled out a major software program. It was done very poorly. Not everyone had access to training areas in the system and the trainers seemed intent on showing us all the "bells and whistles" rather than focusing on what each of the individual positions would need to know. It was more of a "top-down" approach rather than an organic one. I found it very chaotic and stressful. Some of our educational technology has been slowly introduced, but so slowly that nobody knows how to use it or… >>>

Much of this does not apply to my situation working in a prison school where internet access is not allowed but it was interesting. One thing I can say for sure, is that we need to be careful when using YouTube because of those pop-up ads.  I've had to scramble to shut it down because there was an inappropriate ad playing.