Module 2

This module covered the topics of different types of learners and their needs, the different types of language learners experienced in education, and the effects of culture and diversity inside of the classroom. All of these topics are important because they not only affect the classroom itself, but it also imperative as an effective educator to at least be familiar with your students' learning, language, and cultural needs in order to effectively understand them as an individual, and in turn, effectively educate them as your student.

While Chapter 4 discusses multiple different types of gauging student achievement and intelligence such as IQ tests, standardized tests, and others, I found the Flynn Effect to be particularly interesting because it is a tangible example of mankind's intelligence improving over time. Since the 90's, 20 different industrialized nations have posted improved scores on IQ tests and every 10 years the average IQ score increased by 10 points. (Woolfolk p. 128) I found this to be particularly interesting not only for the achievement in itself, but also because I would like to know why this is happening. Obviously, the world is improving in many different ways that can contribute to the improvement of overall intelligent and while the texts lists some reasons such as improved healthcare, increasing literacy rates, and smaller family size. (p. 128) I also think that overall improvement on the education system as a whole as well as the earlier access to technology on average may have an impact on overall intelligence but obviously formal research is needed to prove these speculations.

Chapter 5 discusses the many aspects of bilingualism and how it can affect students and the classroom experience. While I was unaware of the notion that people thought that bilingualism may hinder the students, which in my opinion is totally ridiculous to begin with, I found it amazing that the book detailed the specific cognitive benefits from being bilingual. For example as the text states, "higher degrees of bilingualism are correlated with increased cognitive abilities in such areas as concept formation, creativity, theory of mind, cognitive flexibility, attention and executive functioning, and understanding that printed words are symbols for language." (Woolfolk p. 180) Typically I assumed being bilingual is not only a benefit in social and job setting by being a marketable skill, but the text specifically listing the cognitive benefits was particularly interesting to me because it supports my preconceived notion that being bilingual is beneficial, but it is also interesting that the text explain specifically why and how being bilingual is beneficial to students.

Chapter 6 discusses culture and diversity and how it affects not only the students at school, but their home-life as well. While I have discussed this issue in other education classes, I enjoyed the statistics that this text provided regarding socioeconomic status and the students that fall into various categories of SES. One issues I think will be effecting us as future teachers is the steady increase in homelessness in the student population, and as the text states this is more common than many expect. "In 2011-2012 there were more than 1 million homeless students, a 24% increase over the number in 2009." (Woolfolk p. 215) I think this issues is incredibly important to us as future educators because we need to be aware of the student population we are serving and homeless is significantly more prevalent than I expected and I will need to be aware of the trend in order to better serve my future students.