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Journal 4: One size never fits all

NETS 5

One of their publications was Learning and Leading with Technology, this publication has many articles on technology in the classroom, I read, summarized and actively thought about the articles on twitter, internet usage, augmented reality and the future of technology in the classroom. By actively thinking about the article and strategies I tried to imagine how I would use it in my classroom. I posted my reflection on the article on my blog to share and gain insight from others within my network. Becoming a member of iste.com and reading as well as reflecting on articles on technology in the classroom helps keep me a life long learner. I am up to date on current research and practice, i make regular and effective use of digital journal articles to help support student learning.

Courduff, J. (2011). One size never fits all: tech integration for special needs. Learning and leading with technology, 38(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-june-july-2011.aspx

We use to see the size tag one size fits all on various articles of clothing. People come in all sizes theirs is always someone too big or too small, clothing manufacturers no longer use one size fits all, but have been using one size fits most size tag. In education, specifically special education, one size never fits all. What can work for one student may not work for other students. But it is important to try, implementing various strategies to help aid and guide student learning. The article describes an innovated way of training teachers on technology and its uses. Instead of number of years for training, it is tiers. Instead of time based trainings, it is knowledge based trainings. What the teacher knows and how it is integrated into the classroom denotes the teacher’s technology tier level. The article also writes about success stories for students with mild to moderate disabilities using technology appropriately. Students with reading and writing deficiencies use technology to become more motivated to write, to present, to read.

Q1: Do you think the tier structure of trainings to be a good switch from the traditional time based structure?

Yes, I believe learning and moving on to the next level based on what you know is important. With time based trainings you never know how much you really know. Using tiered based you move on based on how much you know and have done, not how long you’ve sat through a lecture.

Q2: What are some ways technology can help in the special education classroom?

I believe technology can be used to help students communicate, organize and stay motivated. Students can work for computer time, or use the compute as a way to assist in their every day lives.

Journal 3: Abracadabra it's Augmented Reality

NETS 5


One of their publications was Learning and Leading with Technology, this publication has many articles on technology in the classroom, I read, summarized and actively thought about the articles on twitter, internet usage, augmented reality and the future of technology in the classroom. By actively thinking about the article and strategies I tried to imagine how I would use it in my classroom. I posted my reflection on the article on my blog to share and gain insight from others within my network. Becoming a member of iste.com and reading as well as reflecting on articles on technology in the classroom helps keep me a life long learner. I am up to date on current research and practice, i make regular and effective use of digital journal articles to help support student learning.


Rapheal, R. (2011). Abracadabra—it's augmented reality!. Learning and leading with technology,38(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-june-july-2011.aspx

The article describes what augmented reality is, how it has been implemented and how everyone has seen it. This technology when seen through a device such as a computer screen puts a layer of information into the real world. The author cites examples of augmented reality in TV and amusement parks of the first down line for football games, the ads behind home plate for baseball games and the ghosts riding with you at Disneyland during the haunted mansion ride. Augmented reality is already in use for leisure, there are few uses for education at the moment. There are some books with augmented reality symbols and various items in education. Most of the uses right now are for story telling and creativity. The direction of the use of augmented reality in education is unclear, the possibilities are great, however it is still new and using it successfully still needs to be realized.

Q1: How would I use augmented reality in the classroom?

I teach in a moderate to severe special education setting. The students have deficits in communication and social skills. Often times when a behavior occurs it takes a lot of reinforcement to get the student to calm down. Using computers and augmented reality I can create a break area or quiet zone for the student. The student can be immerse in a augmented reality with calming items to help him be more at ease until he is back on track.

Q2: What uses of augmented reality do you see in the classroom?

I see augmented reality as a tool to help motivate students to try new things. It can aid in story telling and creating a safe zone for students. He can provide a different way to access information and research; a more visual approach.

Technology Self Assessment: School 2.0

Reflection results for NETS-T Module: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

1. I I design and customize technology-enriched learning experiences that enable students to demonstrate mastery of specific content and/or technology standards as well as engage students in developing research questions about real-world issues or problems, proposing and evaluating multiple creative solutions, and presenting a report to an audience, either face-to-face or virtually, for feedback.

Too Cool for School? No Way! Using the TPACK framework: You can have your hot tools.

Punja Mishra and Matthew Koehler

This article from School 2.0’s website highlights technology. Cleverly defining technology to different groups of people. To students technology could mean Bluetooth and iPods/iPads. To those born in the 70/80’s websites and laptop computers can be considered technology. With the advent of various types of technology, the article explains how to use various types of technology appropriately in the classroom. The article explains to use technology not just as a tool but apart of a teacher’s lesson in the classroom. The author introduces the TPACK frame work and defines it as teachers coordinating content, technology and pedagogy into teaching. The author brings up a few examples of the TPACK framwork; using of twitter, visual search engines and DJ software to teach different types of content in the classroom. The use of DJ software to teach math was the most interesting because it incorporates music as well as technology. Defining how music is orchestrated, how songs and symphonies are made up of well composed beats at regular intervals/fractions. Having students “make beats” have fun and learn fractions at the same time. Overall the article was very informative and gave a good introductory insight on how to repurpose technology for the classroom.

Journal 2: Join the flock!

NETS 5


One of their publications was Learning and Leading with Technology, this publication has many articles on technology in the classroom, I read, summarized and actively thought about the articles on twitter, internet usage, augmented reality and the future of technology in the classroom. By actively thinking about the article and strategies I tried to imagine how I would use it in my classroom. I posted my reflection on the article on my blog to share and gain insight from others within my network. Becoming a member of iste.com and reading as well as reflecting on articles on technology in the classroom helps keep me a life long learner. I am up to date on current research and practice, i make regular and effective use of digital journal articles to help support student learning.


Ferguson, H. (2010). Join the flock!. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-june-july- 2011.aspx

The Internet has helped to bring people all over the world together. It has been used to find a soul mate, reconnect with lost friends, find various items from the past, buy completely random items from all over the world, and stalk ex-girlfriends and/or boyfriends. The Internet is a huge resource with unlimited uses. Finding the proper use for an educator is one of the points in the article. The author describes how twitter can benefit educators. How a teacher can use twitter to make it work for his professional career. The author states that twitter can help create a personal learning network, an online community of professionals from all over the world with different levels of experience discussing and sharing ideas. The use of twitter’s technology can help filter relevant information and make it accessible to the educator. The article defines twitter terms, discusses best practices, how to’s and guides the reader towards a personal learning network of educators on twitter.

Q1. How will I use twitter to further my learning?

I will use twitter as a way to gather information from other special education teachers. Having already tried using the hashtag #spedchat, I have gained a little insight from special education teachers from all around and seen the resources available. I have been able to get new ideas and learning materials for my classroom through #spedchat.

Q2. How can I contribute to my peers through twitter?

If I read an article that I like or see conferences on education in my area, I can tweet that information, hashtag it education, or special ed. If there is an online discussion on a topic I am knowledgeable in I can join in and provide information. Helping to brand myself and get myself out in the web in a positive light rather than silly pictures and videos of me.

Journal 1: 100 things that make me happy

1. My Fiancee Leslie Liebelt

2. My mom

3. My dad

4. My sister

5. My dog

6. My grandma

7. My grandpa

8. My uncles

9. My aunts

10. My Culture and Heritage

11. My Patience

12. My friend Loc

13. My friend Sung

14. My friend Michael

15. My friend Steve

16. My friend Vo

17. My friend Brent

(friends 12-17 are my groosmans =))

18. My friend John

19. My friend Vivian

20. The rest of my friends

21. Seeing my dad's smile when he saw me graduate with a MA hood

22. My dad's smile when he showed me his old hometown in Vietnam and the house he grew up in

23. The place where I proposed to my fiancee (Balboa Island,Newport Beach)

24. My Fiancee's smile

25. My Fiancee's laugh

26. My Camera lens 24-70 2.8L

27. My Camera Canon 7d

28. My phone

29. My desktop computer

30. My laptop

31. My home

32. My job

33. Toilet Training a 16 year old

34. Teaching a 15 year old functional communication

35. Giving a 19 year old the opportunity to have a meaningful adult life

36. Writing and completing my thesis

37. Graduating with a MA in Education in June 2011

38. My Weber Gas bbq Grill

39. My car

40. My Heiniken Beer tender

41. Heiniken Beer

42. Happy hour

43. Happy hour with friends

44. Harry Potter

45. Pho

46. Korean BBQ

47. Kirin

48. Slaters 50/50

49. Nachos

50. a good burger

51. Spam

52. Rice

53. Looking like i'm 12

54. Dressing like i'm 12

55. Sometimes acting like i'm 12

56. The syfy channel

57. My mancave

58. My alone time

59. In N out

60. Hong Kong Style Chow Mein

61. Ninjas

62. The Simpsons

63. Creativity

64. Happy people

65. Good team work

66. The lakers

67. Mcdonalds Frenchfries

68. My child hood memories

69. G.I. Joe cartoon

70. Transformers Cartoon

71. Batman Beyond

72. Ducktales

73. Darkwing Duck

74. Tailspin

75. Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers

76. Garfield and friends

77. Tiesto

78. Daft Punk

79. Armin

80. Nike Air Force 1's

81. Nike Dunks

82. Venomenon

83. Silly tshirts

84. Cool hats

85. Colorful shoes

86. Adobe Photoshop

87. Adobe Illustrator

88. Adobe after effects

89. Thehundreds.com

90. The Chive

91. Cool backpacks

92. innovative designs

93. Legos

94. Making slideshows

95. Camp Pendleton Mudruns

96. Having friends over

97. Seeing happy parents

98. Hearing praise from parents

99. seeing old pictures

100. Knowing this is the last class i need to clear my credential... hopefully...

Drawn Thao

Drawn by Me

Hello World!

NETS 1

Available on my blog are my educational reflections on educational technology and class assignments. My interests are listed, embedded, posted within the blog and hyperlinked, a click-able reference to a document that the reader can directly follow, to help make information easily accessible. My class assignments are posted or embedded either as a blog post or a page. Each blog posting provide the reader with my insights, references and research available within the blog. I am modelling collaborative knowledge to students with the use of the blog. Students can see how my collaborative efforts with other teachers within my network, an interconnected group of teachers and educational specialists online, to create lesson plans, how I obtain information from various sources and as well as the amount of information and research I have available to them through the blog, a virtual world. Showing students the possibilities of collaboration through modeling my use of collaboration on the blog. I engage students through my blog by encouraging and sometimes requiring commenting on each blog and also by the use of GoogleForms, a web-based data gathering tool that allows the student to answer specific questions to help students reflect on any particular blog post or page.


Hello fellow classmates. My name is Thao To, I was born in Wichita, Kansas. I went to preschool and midway through kindergarten in Kansas. I moved to Orange, California and finished kindergarten at Prospect Elementary School. I stayed at Prospect up until 2nd grade. My family moved to Fountain Valley, CA after 2nd grade. I spent the rest of my elementary, middle school and High school years in Fountain Valley, going to Plavan, Masuda and Fountain Valley High School. My undergrad was at UCi where i majored in Psychology and minored in Education. I also got my multiple subject teaching credential at UCi. My teacher job search only led to substitute teaching and teacher aide positions. However, that gave me the opportunity to work with students with Autism and interested in teaching special needs students. I then began my search for a Special Education Program and Classroom. I found CSUM, went there CSUSM for my Level 1 and Level 2 Education Specialist Credential for Mild to Moderate and Moderate to Severe disabilities. This is my fourth year teaching in a moderate to severe classroom at a NPS in Orange County. I finished the Level 2 and MA coursework in June 2011 somehow I slipped through the cracks and was told that I did not complete a prerequisite for Level 2 as I was applying for my clear credential. Hence me being here now =).

I grew up with computers and was apart of the internet rise with American Online and Juno for my dialup services in HS first with a 28.8k and then with a blazing fast of a 56k modem. I partly paid for college through making websites and selling items on ebay. I had a geocities and angel fire website. I have used computers all through High school and College, recently switched over to mac 3 years ago. I competent in photoshop, ms word, and excel.

From reading the mission statement what speaks to me the most is the ongoing life learning and the student centered aspect of teaching. Having students learn through teachers who also want to keep on learning and perfecting their craft is amazing. Letting the student be your focus is something education should be about. Your students should be the focus and from that you incorporate whatever is appropriate to better his or her learning and understanding of the subject matter.