Full Magazine

HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 1
 


 


  How
 to
 Bring
 Education
 to
 the
 

  21st
 Century
 

 
 

 


 

 


 

 

 

Cassandra
 Whiteley-­‐Ross
 

Brigham
 Young
 University-­‐
 Idaho
 

April
 1st,
 2019
 

ED:
 243-­‐
 05
 Dr.
 Marshall
 


 
 

HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 2
 

 
 


 

 

 

 

 

How to Bring Education to the 21st Century

 

Cassandra
 Whiteley-­‐Ross
 

Brigham
 Young
 University-­‐
 Idaho
 


 April
 1st,
 2019
 

ED:
 243-­‐
 05
 Dr.
 Marshall

HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 3
 

 


 

TABLE
 OF
 CONTENTS
 


 
COVER
 PAGE
.   ...................................................................................................................
 #
 1
 
TITLE
 PAGE
.   .....................................................................................................................
 #
 2
 
TABLE
 OF
 CONTENTS .
 .........................................................................................................
 #
 3
 
AUTHOR
 PAGE
 .................................................................................................................
 #
 4
 
ABSTRACT
 .......................................................................................................................
 #
 5
 
HOW
 TO
 BEST
 APPLY
 MODERN
 TECHNOLOGY
 TO
 EVEN
 THE
 PLAYING
 FIELD
.   ...............................
 #
 6-­‐8
 
REFERENCES
 ....................................................................................................................
 #
 8
 
INTERVIEWS
.   ...............................................................................................................
 #
 9-­‐13
 
BACK
 PAGE .
  ...................................................................................................................
 #
 14
 


 


 
 

 

HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 4
 

 


 
ABOUT
 THE
 AUTHOR
 


 

Cassandra Whiteley-Ross is a young adult that is currently
attending Brigham Young University- Idaho.
  Being the second of six
children in her family, Whiteley-Ross is one of the first to be attending
college. She is a junior as of right now and is eager to graduate.
Whiteley-Ross is studying Special Education K-12 grade with an
emphasis in Elementary Curriculum.

From a young age Whiteley-Ross decided that she wanted to be
a special education teacher. This was a goal of hers starting in the third
grade despite her peers often dreaming of being in other career paths such as ballerinas, athletes, astronauts, or
actors. She knew her passion was helping others that were not always accepted by others.
The motivation she had for people who needed help stemmed from love for her brother that was only two years
younger. By the time Whiteley-Ross was four, her brother was already diagnosed as severely autistic. The two
of them were always inseparable and connected in a way that many other people could not understand. This life
experience has helped her to grow and understand what kind of teacher she would like to be one day.

Whiteley-Ross’s brother and the rest of her immediate family live in the suburbs outside of Portland
Oregon. This is where she spent most of her years growing up and discovering who she was. There were a few
years where they also lived in Chicago, Illinois. Being able to grow up in two very different cities allowed her
to grow and gain perspective on how people vary in lifestyle and culture.

Education has always been one of Whiteley-Ross’s main efforts in life. Alongside education, she has
had other interests as well. This includes the arts such as painting, dancing and music. Different forms of music
such as singing, listening and creating music are all passions of hers. She hopes to be able tie these into a well-
rounded education for her future students.

(327
 words)

HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 5
 


 
ABSTRACT
 

Today, schools face new challenges with teaching students with impairments, but everyday technology
is advancing further in ways that can help teachers overcome the learning gap and allow impaired students the
ability to learn and grow with their peers. Assistive technology can be extremely beneficial to impaired students
and teachers to aid in learning.

This technology by is most often not required to be expensive. Assistive technology can be any object
that helps a person learn, communicate, or live more normally or more comfortably. These can be simple tools
and softwares to help students read or write or more advanced tools and equipment to more specifically fit
certain students. In the case of schools and students this offers the opportunity for impaired students to learn and
participate in classes alongside peers and grow with them and even excel in learning.

When looking for assistive technology schools must keep certain things in consideration. They must find
the appropriate tools for the problem or application. Once found, teachers and students can find the most
compatible technology to use and then schools can work to find cost effective tools that the teachers can
implement effectively in the classroom setting. Once all these criteria are met students and teachers will have
the opportunity for the most success possible in the learning process of the student.

Schools and teachers must work closely with students and their parents in order to best find the
appropriate tools and technology to fit the student and aid them effectively. As all coordinate to find specific
technologies that work best with individual students, schools and teachers can implement this technology into
the classroom environment and allow impaired students to learn effectively and grow.

As schools continue to work with impaired students and make accommodations for them to help them
learn, we will hopefully be able to see impaired students learn and flourish as the world of education continues
to open to them.

(322 words)


 

 
 

HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 6
 


  HOW
 TO
 BEST
 APPLY
 MODERN
 TECHNOLOGY
 TO
 EVEN
 THE
 PLAYING
 FIELD
 

WHAT IS IT?
  learn how to use. Some examples include pencil

In a classroom setting, there are many grips or slanted surfaces for children who are still
different students with varying learning styles and
capabilities. A well-rounded teacher will do their working to develop their fine motor skills. Often a
best to adapt the classroom setting to accommodate
the children. Even if there are no children in the magnifying glass or braille text can be used for
classroom who have any form of impairment, this
can be a daunting task. students with visual impairments. Other low-tech

In recent years academic leaders have put AT include items such as chewy cords, ankle or
more emphasis on having students with varying
impairments included in general education classes other body braces, larger lined paper, and many
among their peers. This includes students with
visual, auditory, physical, cognitive, or other other items such as these to assist in difficult tasks
disabilities. In some cases students may have a
combination of impairments that can act as an for a student.
obstacle for them in the classroom.
There are also options for assistive
One way educators have found to help
minimize these obstacles for students is assistive technology that are considered to be more
technology. As Ghaleb says, “assistive Technology
is any device, software or equipment that can help advanced. This can vary in degree from somewhat
[a person] with learning and attention issues work
around their challenges” (Ghaleb, Alnahdi. 2017.) easy to use to more complicated technologies.
Assistive technology (AT) is any object that can be
used to aid a person with their ability to perform a These can range in price from hundreds to even
given task.
thousands of dollars. Some examples include:
There is a wide range of what is considered
assistive technology. There are many objects that wheelchairs, MP3 players, touchscreen devices and
are often looked over when considering AT.
Low-tech AT are objects that are very simplistic. It apps, word processors, prosthetic limbs, hearing
is the use of basic items to help students with tasks
that would be difficult to perform on their own. aids, text-to-speech software, and other electronic
They are often very inexpensive and can be easy to
devices that

can be seen

as helpful

for a person
 
who

struggles with a given task. (Thomson, A. 2018).

FINDING THE BEST FIT

When considering assistive technology for

your child or student, there are many factors to

consider. The three main domains to consider are

that the technology is appropriate for that given

task, cost effective, and appropriate for that child.

When these three aspects are met, they have found

what assistive technology is beneficial for that

HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 7
 

individual student. These are all aspects that are that child and their needs. This isn't to say that

talked about when the faculty meets and talks to a schools should never use more expensive, hyper-

parent or guardian in the meeting to create that specific tools, but that it should be avoided it is

student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP.) unnecessary. In this way schools can more

When considering AT for your student, it is appropriately aid impaired students and more

important to first look at the issues the student is efficiently use pre-existing technology and

having. Identify simple ways to help this student resources in the learning process as a whole.

overcome the obstacles they may be experiencing Once the child has had experience with the

(Cook, A. M., & Hussey, S. (2014). Make sure that assistive technology, it is easy to see if this is the

you are looking at tasks individually unless they are right fit for the student. There are many aspects to

very closely related. It is much easier to find simple consider when seeing if it is correct for this

fixes for a few tasks, than it is to find one piece of situation. When AT is overly complicated, students

technology that can will struggle for longer amounts of

perform all of the given The technology needs to be time due to having to deal with a

tasks. Not only will it take appropriate for that given steeper learning curve. This can
much more time to find task, cost effective, and often lead to discouragement for
such an item, but it also appropriate for that child. the student and lead to them giving
easily makes AT more up on it. Teachers can also become

expensive and complicated to learn than is frustrated when it continues to be an issue but they

necessary. feel as though it is the only option. In addition, there

Many times today schools already have pre- are some times that students will have no

existing technology that can be used to aid impaired motivation to use the AT, or only motivated to use

students to learn and participate. However, these it for recreational purposes. These are all signs that

technologies are often superfluous, expensive, or even though the assistive technology can be

used to cover a wide range of applications without appropriate for the problem, but not the specific

any real sort of specialization with individual person.

students. This can lead to forcing teachers to make One example to walk through this process

accommodations to the curriculum to fit within the would be for grips on writing utensils. If you have a

boundaries of the technology rather than the student in the 1st grade who struggles with fine

technology catering towards the curriculum and motor movement, a basic pencil grip can make it

aiding the learning process. Schools should look much easier to hold the pencil and have better

towards more inexpensive individualized and control when writing. But, you also have to consider

impairment specific technologies that will better that the class does not only use pencils. There are

allow the student to learn. It needs to be specific for many times when the class will have coloring or

  HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 8
 

writing activities. Will you confine this student to an option that will be more cost effective for the

only colored or lead pencils when other students are school without lessening the experience for the

painting? The answer is no. child. This will help reduce risk if there is a chance

Now, when looking for assistive technology of damage to the respective technology. Lastly, with

options, you find specialty grips for wider utensils giving this student experiences with the AT, he or

such as paints, and a set of paintbrushes that are she has quickly adapted to it. With this being a

made with ball shaped handles. Both of these would more basic device for assistive technology, it did

cost around $30 and you would have to be careful not take them much time to learn how to use it. The

that these do not get lost or misplaced. One way to issue was identified and accommodated in an

get creative would efficient and cost effective way because the teacher

be to make your was able to be creative with the use of the assistive

own grips. Tennis technology.

balls are a good Having an environment that is accessible for

size for the every student with or without disabilities will help a


  student to hold school grow in positive learning experiences.
onto, and if you (Thomson, A. 2018, June 05). When students grow

drill a hole through the center of it, it can be used to together, the school community grows together.

hold any given utensil. You would only need to drill Assistive technology that is applied correctly will

varying sized holes depending on the utensil that the allow for this growth to flourish and ensure that

grip is intended. students are not being left behind.

Doing this would be appropriate for the task (1251)

the child struggles with. In addition, you have made


 

 

 
REFERENCES:
 

 

Campbell, P. H., Milbourne, S., Dugan, L. M., & Wilcox, M. J. (2016). A Review of Evidence on Practices for Teaching Young

Children to Use Assistive Technology Devices. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 26(1), 3-13.

doi:10.1177/02711214060260010101

Cook, A. M., & Hussey, S. (2014, December 1). Assistive Technologies: Principles and Practice (2nd Edition). Retrieved March 2,
2019, from http://www.citeulike.org/group/5453/article/2858993

Cook, A. M., & Miller Polgar, J. (2015). Assistive Technologies: Principles and Practice (4th ed.). St Louis, MMO: Elsevier.

Ghaleb, Alnahdi. (2017) Assistive Technology in Special Educatio and the Universal Design for Learning. Saudi Arabia, Alkarj 11942

Thomson, A. (2018, June 05). Personalised learning starts to change teaching methods. Retrieved March 1, 2019, from
https://spectra.mhi.com/personalised-learning-starts-to-change-teaching-methods

HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 9
 


  INTERVIEWS
 
 

 

Sherry Whiteley-Ross, Mother for 23 years, Q. In your opinion, what is the importance of
parent volunteer for 20 years, Student Teacher introducing the arts through everyday academics?
for Special Education through Portland State
University. West Linn, Oregon. A. The arts are a very important part of education. It
teaches or allows children to be more creative
Q. What are the results you see when teachers through art, singing, band, orchestra or theater. It
cannot easily manage their classroom? helps the children become more well-rounded in
their education. It teaches children to think outside
A. Every year I have helped in teacher’s class who the box in problem-solving & decision-making
struggles with this, there has been the same skills. It helps them to learn to be more creative,
symptom. It can easily turn into chaos, which inventive & also helps with social skills.
diminishes a positive learning environment. It can
also cause the teacher to begin losing patience with Samuel Prete, Special Education Transition
the children. Teacher for Multnomah Education Service
District (MESD), Bachelors of Science in Special
Q. How have you turned your weaknesses into Education – Rehab Psychology from the
strengths when working with children? University of Wisconsin - Madison

A. Trying to get a child’s attention can be really Q. What are the results you see when teachers
difficult. I have learned how to help remedy this. cannot easily manage their classroom?
You have to learn what is best depending on your
audie When things start to get out of control, change A. Classroom management is the foundation of
your plan and start a new activity. Also, a short having a successful learning environment. It doesn’t
impromptu break can help get the wiggles out. matter how great of a teacher you are. If the
classroom is full of noise and distractions, no
Q. What is one piece of advice you would give to learning will take place. It’s important to form
teachers across the country? relationships and set clear expectations at the
beginning of the year. Mutual respect between the
A. Stay open to change or changing plans. All kids staff and students is pivotal for learning
are different, have different personalities and learn achievement. Another aspect of classroom
different ways. You will need to change things in management is having effective staff teamwork. In
the schedule or lesson plans according to the kids’ a special education classroom, there are usually
needs. multiple adult staff members in the room. A great
teacher will have great communication with all of
Q. What are some things you have seen in the the educational assistants and related service
classroom that are not conventional, but you would providers (Physical Therapist, Occupational
like to see more of? Therapist, Speech Language Pathologist) in order to
make sure all of the students are receiving the
A. Kids sit in different styles of desks or at tables support they need.
based on their needs - if they need a more structured
setting or if they need to be constantly moving or if Q. How have you personally turned your
they are more comfortable on the ground. Some sit weaknesses into strengths when working with
at higher tables on barstools, some sit at regular children?
desks, some sit at standard height tables while
sitting on a large ball and other kids sit on cushions A. I have realized over the years that no one has all
on the floor at low tables.

  HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 10
 

of the answers. Even adult professionals have Visual (spatial): You prefer using pictures, images,

weaknesses. Being open about these weaknesses and spatial understanding.

with my student’s allows me to have “real” Aural (auditory-musical): You prefer using sound
and music.
discussions with them. It opens the door for
conversations about having growth mindset and Verbal (linguistic): You prefer using words, both

how to overcome fear, adversity, and struggle. I in speech and writing.

don’t have to pretend to know everything.

Q. What is one piece of advice you would give to Physical (kinesthetic): You prefer using your
teachers across the country? body, hands and sense of touch.

A. This job isn’t easy. It gets more difficult every Logical (mathematical): You prefer using logic,
year with the surrounding politics of education. But reasoning and systems.
teaching is the job of creating opportunity for
others. A teacher can improve people’s lives and Social (interpersonal): You prefer to learn in
give students access to opportunities that they might groups or with other people.
have never imagined possible. There will always be
100 reasons to not be a teacher, but you should Solitary (intrapersonal): You prefer to work alone
always believe in even a single reason to be a and use self-study.
teacher. “A life is not important except in the
impact it has on other lives.” – Jackie Robinson Every student is going to learn differently. It is
important to touch on as many of these as possible
Q. What are a few things you have seen in the in a given lesson. Art is a great way to incorporate
classroom that are not conventional, but you would many of these intelligence domains into a lesson
like to see more of? that might not usually touch on them. Art is
overlooked as a tool for understanding. However, it
A. I would love to see more community building allows the most creative students to express
activities. So many teachers get caught up in themselves through a variety of lenses (dance,
statewide assessments and teaching by the book, music, pictures, etc.) in which they might not be
that they forget to teach students the importance of able to through a traditional report or test.
community and teamwork. Team building activities
can be a great way to work on a variety of important Natalie Weight: Graduated student of BYU-
skills that are never assessed on a test. When Idaho in English Education, 6th grade teacher.
students graduate from school, they will need these Madison School District
types of skills more than ever in their everyday life.
Also, learning to get along and form trusting Q. What are the results to see when teachers cannot
relationships with classmates creates a more easily manage their classroom?
comfortable and trusting learning environment.
A. It's more chaotic because the behavioral
Q. In your opinion, what is the importance of expectations are not clear. The students don't
introducing the arts through everyday academics? respect the teacher and the teacher is always
frustrated- trying to put a Band-Aid on the problems
A. All people have different strengths and instead of just stopping it altogether.
weakness. All students learn differently through a
variety of formats. Many times, the way a student Q. How have you personally turned your
learns best can correlate with their strengths and weaknesses into strengths when working with
interests. Nonetheless, intelligence looks different children?
in all of us. The “Multiple Intelligence Matrix”
breaks down intelligence into 7 different domains. A. I have when it comes to voicing my expectations
at the beginning of an activity/lesson. It goes so
much smoother because the students know what is
expected of them.

HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 11
 

Q. What is one piece of advice you would give to help with my ability to teach writing. Last year I

teachers across the country? wrote a grant to purchase picture books to use in

teaching the 6 traits. Although I still feel that

A. Don't be afraid to be firm with kids and never teaching writing is not a strength of mine, I am

forget to voice your expectations from the get go. more consistent in teaching writing and I have a list

of fun writing projects that are fun for me to teach

Q. What are a few things you have seen in the and it seems that the students enjoy them, too.

classroom that are not conventional, but you would

like to see more of? Q. What is one piece of advice you would give to

teachers across the country?

A. One thing that I have enjoyed seeing is having

the students get up and teach their peers. It helps A. Love your students. You never know what is

them get more comfortable in front of an audience going on at home for your students. Give them a

and help them learn in different ways. safe, loving environment at school. Sometimes it

gets overwhelming with the amount of

Q. In your opinion, what is the importance of responsibilities you have every day at school and

introducing the arts to every day academics? the rush to get it all done, but take time to talk to

A. I know music is good for the brain. And it just your students and really show them that you care

for them.

makes learning more fun for the kids. Having

someone talk at you all day is no fun. Q. What are a few things you have seen in the

Mrs. Ingram: 2nd grade teacher from Lincoln classroom that are not conventional, but you would
like to see more of?
Elementary – has bachelors and masters

A. Unconventional seating is one that I have seen.

Cammie Ingram, 2nd grade teacher, Madison Banana chairs, sitting on the floor, benches or

School District, Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s standing can be a good way to mix things up.

Degree in Literacy Allowing students opportunities to be out of their

assigned chair helps younger students not get

mentally burned out as quickly. This can be

Q. What are the results you see when teachers especially true for students who struggle with

cannot easily manage their classroom? attention.

A. When a teacher has a hard time managing the Q. In your opinion, what is the importance of
classroom, it is difficult to get the curriculum introducing the arts through everyday academics?
taught. So much time is spent in trying to control
the students that you lose a lot of instruction time. A. Sometimes it is hard to squeeze everything into a
Another result that can happen when a teacher has a school day so fitting arts in where you can, and into
hard time with classroom management is the lack of the curriculum that is already in place, is crucial so
respect between students and the teacher, and that students have a well-rounded education.
between students with other students.

Q. How have you personally turned your Holly Rubakc, Bolton Principal, West
weaknesses into strengths when working with Linn/Wilsonville School District, Bachelor’s
children? Degree in English Education and Master’s
Degree in Education Administration
A. Teaching writing has always been a weakness
for me. I realized early in my teaching career that I Q. What are the results you see when teachers
didn’t really enjoy teaching writing and it took a lot cannot easily manage their classroom?
of effort. Since I know that I just can’t skip writing,
I have taken many classes over the years to try to

  HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 12
 

A. When teachers cannot regulate their classroom It is our job to find ways to do this and it will make

well, ultimately it leads to a lack of respect. This this career so much more rewarding.

then is the root of the problem where many

symptoms can be experienced. Behavioral issues, Q. What are a few things you have seen in the

lower grades, emotional stress on the teacher, less classroom that are not conventional, but you would

masterful teaching takes place, are just a few of like to see more of?

them I see more often.

A. I really enjoy seeing teachers able to take

Q. How have you personally turned your students outside for positive learning experiences.

weaknesses into strengths when working with Classroom instruction is great, but learning about

children? the world around you can be done sometimes

outside the classroom. I love having teachers take

A. I struggled with how to handle stress when I was students outside, even still on school grounds, to

younger. When I started experiencing time in other give students a better appreciation for the outdoors.

teachers’ classrooms while getting my bachelors, I

had to learn how to cope with this stress more Q. In your opinion, what is the importance of

effectively; that way I could become a better introducing the arts through everyday academics?

teacher.

A. The arts are an important part of education. We

Q. What is one piece of advice you would give to try to raise money so that we are able to better

teachers across the country? support this form of learning in our school. It is

important for balanced learning and healthy brain

A. Education is meant to be enjoyable. Learning development. Also, the student, faculty, and parents

and teaching can both be fun when done correctly. all benefit from it and enjoy it

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HOW TO BRING EDUCATION TO THE 21ST CENTURY 13
 


 

 

 


 
 


 

“The
 mediocre
 teacher
 tells.
 

The
 good
 teacher
 explains.
 

The
 superior
 teacher
 demonstrates.
 

The
 great
 teacher
 inspires.”
 


 

-­‐
 William
 Arthur
 Ward