Meaningful Online Learning

      Creating a meaningful online learning environment was one of my goals to begin last year.  I agree that this task must be taken in small increments to make the students, as well as the teacher, comfortable. Our first meaningful learning experience with sustainability was with the incorporation of Kidblog.  Kidblog allowed the students to reflect on classroom topics and projects as well as the opportunity for feedback from others (outside of their classroom).  Starting with a paragraph, and later incorporating pictures and other digital media, allowed the opportunity for extensions within the online tool.  Kidblog provided an essential component of writing for an authentic audience in our classroom.  It gives the students a purpose for writing.
   We also extended our online learning by the use of Spelling City.  This became a primary component in our spelling program.  It allowed for the use of practice, testing, and review on words through our spelling program. The program was tailored to meet their specific needs. It wasn't limited to everyone using the same words or the same game to practice their spelling.
      The last big tool we used for online learning was the use of Edmodo.  Edmodo provided the tool to incorporate essential characteristics needed in online learning such as collaborative experience, integration, sustainability,  as well as teacher involvement.  Students were able to connect with others across the world to create a multi media project through the Flat Classroom experience.  Students were able to generate dialogue, post pictures, post vokis, and participate in polls.  I would like to extend the online experience through the use of Edmodo.  There are so many other ways this tool can be used to extend the lifelong learning skills of the students.    I would like to use this in my reading groups to incorporate more accessibility to the UDL principles that are essential for diverse learners.
      I look forward to incorporating more opportunities of online learning into my classroom in the future.  Integrating the TPACK model as well as UDL principles will greatly affect my classroom structure as well as the impact of the learner. I cannot wait to see what the future brings..