In my completion of the assignment 7465 Current Trends, I demonstrated an understanding of SLEI standard 4, which includes designing and delivering professional learning, and contributing to a shared vision of teaching and learning that leads to school improvement by exploring the use of virtual reality for academic purposes in a modern school setting. In this assignment, I explored the possible academic utilizations for virtual reality, weighing its pros and cons with respect to the augmentation of current teaching methods, in an attempt to push forward towards student engagement and interest with respect to a multitude of subjects. I feel that my efforts to substantiate a respectable use of VR technology reiterate SLEI standard 4, in that it demonstrates a forward-thinking assessment of technology in respect to the needs of students and teachers in an ongoing determination of reasonable solutions to student interest and academic involvement from said students. Despite the lack of interest in VR, an effort was made to explore its use in academia. I feel that the use of VR technology would be very beneficial to diverse student populations, in that students from less advantageous financial backgrounds would be able to take virtual field trips to museums, historic attractions, etc., without the need of considerable accommodations.

Positive Learning Environment

Concerning SLEI standard 7, my assignment MEDT 7451 Facilities Floor Plan Assignment demonstrates my understanding of the components of this standard, in that a current assessment of an elementary school Media Center was taken, and components of the current facility were evaluated for a more conducive environment to learning. As pointed out in the standard, a well-managed, safe, and welcoming environment is essential for students, in that it creates a learning environment one looks forward to visiting. In my assessment, the current floor plan demonstrated a lackluster demonstration in terms of flow and aesthetics, and I proposed a more fung-shei environment, with a better open area and more color. In my modifications, I transformed the underutilized regions in the current design with centrally placed palette desks for conversation pieces. In addition, the inclusion of bean bag couches is notable, as it encourages students to find their reading materials and enjoy the atmosphere alongside friends for a pleasant respite from class.

In completing the assignment MEDT7455 Collection Analysis, I demonstrated an understanding of SLEI standard 8, in that I analyzed the content of a Middle School Media Center in a section of books, and denoted whether or not I would weed or keep the books. As per SLEI standard 8, I was keenly interested in whether the books were relevant, as many were older. In the section I analyzed, many of the books were scientific, with many about animals. Regarding the interests of diverse populations, I felt that interest in animals is a universal trait and that middle school students enjoy stories about them. With respect to the overall spirit of SLEI standard 8, a continued analysis of materials available in the library must be current for the most part, and technological advancements render books even a few years old out of date, which is a major consideration when restocking weeded materials. I feel that this assignment gave me a better understanding of appropriate materials to keep in a Media Center that will benefit a diverse student population. The importance of inclusion cannot be understated, and the beneficial nature of accessible materials for all students is paramount to the continued success of students from all backgrounds.