Assistive technology is a great way to make the classroom more inclusive. Assistive technology is used to help those with disabilities. These disabilities can be physical, communicative or something else. Assistive technologies are important to a classroom. Some student’s have disabilities that can inhibit their learning. Assistive technologies allow students to overcome these obstacles. Learning has to accessible to all students, including those with disabilities. Assistive technologies help to make education accessible to all students. Although, they can be expensive assistive technologies are a necessary tool for teachers to complete their mission of educating all students. In a perfect world all students will have everything they need to get through school.
One use of assistive technologies is Universal Design. This is combination of different methods to help accommodate a variety of different learners (http://www.cast.org/research/udl/index.html). It works off of the idea that all children learn in different ways, so teachers should teach in a variety of ways. This is a great method. Variety in education makes sure that every child is learning. Universal Design is a form of assistive technology, because it is used to make a classroom inclusive to all learners. Universal Design can be used for children with learning disabilities, students whose first language is not English, students with emotional and/or behavioral problems, students who just do not find the curriculum engaging and those with sensory and physical disabilities (http://www.cast.org/research/udl/index.html). Universal Design is a wonderful tool, but only one of many options teachers have opened to them.
Section 508 is Rehabilitation Act Recommendations (http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/act.htm). It deals with getting assistive technologies for those who need them. According to the law the federal government will help to get assistive technologies for those who need them (http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/act.htm). This helps to take the burden off the community to fund expensive technologies. Obvious tax dollars are going to this and the money issue is still there, but with the governments help schools will be more able to provide assistive technologies to their students. This is not the solution to all problems, but it has been a step in the right direction.
There are many different types of technologies that can make a classroom more inclusive. LOMAC is a device for someone who does not have use of his or her hands, but does have muscle function in the neck region. A headset with a laser pointer is put on the person’s head. The person can type using this headset. The person points to the letter or action it wants the keyboard to take on a keyboard and then confirms the action. What the laser points to appear on the screen. The only problem with this technology is that it is very time consuming. For students that do not have use of their hands it is great for typing papers. An aid tech should still be employed, however, to take notes for the student, because the class cannot be slowed down enough for the student to take notes with just the LOMAC alone. Another wonderful assistive technology is Hip Talk 4. This is a communication device. If a student is mute that student can program key phrases that he or she may need to use during the day. This will help the student communicate with someone who does not know sign language. The child’s teacher should still learn sign language, because the device can only record four different sayings. It is helpful when the teacher and student are still in the learning process. Assistive technology can be less complicated and help learning disorders as well as those with physical handicaps. A fraction stack, which shows how many of a certain fraction it takes to make a whole, is a wonderful manipulative for a student who is struggling in math and has trouble going from concrete to abstract ideas. One more form of assistive technology is Braille embossers. They print out what is typed on a computer in Braille (http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/types.aspx). This is helpful to students with a visual impairment. The teacher can give out the same handout to all students. One will be printed in Braille and handed out as if it was no different than the rest. These are just some of the assistive technologies that are out there to help teachers accommodate their students.
Assistive technologies are a wonderful tool. It is amazing how many are out there. They are not just for those with physical disabilities. There are ones for learning disabilities and many others as well. Every school should provide these to their teachers.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Blog C
Assistive technology is a great way to make the classroom more inclusive. Assistive technology is used to help those with disabilities. These disabilities can be physical, communicative or something else. Assistive technologies are important to a classroom. Some student’s have disabilities that can inhibit their learning. Assistive technologies allow students to overcome these obstacles. Learning has to accessible to all students, including those with disabilities. Assistive technologies help to make education accessible to all students. Although, they can be expensive assistive technologies are a necessary tool for teachers to complete their mission of educating all students. In a perfect world all students will have everything they need to get through school.
One use of assistive technologies is Universal Design. This is combination of different methods to help accommodate a variety of different learners (http://www.cast.org/research/udl/index.html). It works off of the idea that all children learn in different ways, so teachers should teach in a variety of ways. This is a great method. Variety in education makes sure that every child is learning. Universal Design is a form of assistive technology, because it is used to make a classroom inclusive to all learners. Universal Design can be used for children with learning disabilities, students whose first language is not English, students with emotional and/or behavioral problems, students who just do not find the curriculum engaging and those with sensory and physical disabilities (http://www.cast.org/research/udl/index.html). Universal Design is a wonderful tool, but only one of many options teachers have opened to them.
Section 508 is Rehabilitation Act Recommendations (http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/act.htm). It deals with getting assistive technologies for those who need them. According to the law the federal government will help to get assistive technologies for those who need them (http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/act.htm). This helps to take the burden off the community to fund expensive technologies. Obvious tax dollars are going to this and the money issue is still there, but with the governments help schools will be more able to provide assistive technologies to their students. This is not the solution to all problems, but it has been a step in the right direction.
There are many different types of technologies that can make a classroom more inclusive. LOMAC is a device for someone who does not have use of his or her hands, but does have muscle function in the neck region. A headset with a laser pointer is put on the person’s head. The person can type using this headset. The person points to the letter or action it wants the keyboard to take on a keyboard and then confirms the action. What the laser points to appear on the screen. The only problem with this technology is that it is very time consuming. For students that do not have use of their hands it is great for typing papers. An aid tech should still be employed, however, to take notes for the student, because the class cannot be slowed down enough for the student to take notes with just the LOMAC alone. Another wonderful assistive technology is Hip Talk 4. This is a communication device. If a student is mute that student can program key phrases that he or she may need to use during the day. This will help the student communicate with someone who does not know sign language. The child’s teacher should still learn sign language, because the device can only record four different sayings. It is helpful when the teacher and student are still in the learning process. Assistive technology can be less complicated and help learning disorders as well as those with physical handicaps. A fraction stack, which shows how many of a certain fraction it takes to make a whole, is a wonderful manipulative for a student who is struggling in math and has trouble going from concrete to abstract ideas. One more form of assistive technology is Braille embossers. They print out what is typed on a computer in Braille (http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/types.aspx). This is helpful to students with a visual impairment. The teacher can give out the same handout to all students. One will be printed in Braille and handed out as if it was no different than the rest. These are just some of the assistive technologies that are out there to help teachers accommodate their students.
Assistive technologies are a wonderful tool. It is amazing how many are out there. They are not just for those with physical disabilities. There are ones for learning disabilities and many others as well. Every school should provide these to their teachers.
One use of assistive technologies is Universal Design. This is combination of different methods to help accommodate a variety of different learners (http://www.cast.org/research/udl/index.html). It works off of the idea that all children learn in different ways, so teachers should teach in a variety of ways. This is a great method. Variety in education makes sure that every child is learning. Universal Design is a form of assistive technology, because it is used to make a classroom inclusive to all learners. Universal Design can be used for children with learning disabilities, students whose first language is not English, students with emotional and/or behavioral problems, students who just do not find the curriculum engaging and those with sensory and physical disabilities (http://www.cast.org/research/udl/index.html). Universal Design is a wonderful tool, but only one of many options teachers have opened to them.
Section 508 is Rehabilitation Act Recommendations (http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/act.htm). It deals with getting assistive technologies for those who need them. According to the law the federal government will help to get assistive technologies for those who need them (http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/act.htm). This helps to take the burden off the community to fund expensive technologies. Obvious tax dollars are going to this and the money issue is still there, but with the governments help schools will be more able to provide assistive technologies to their students. This is not the solution to all problems, but it has been a step in the right direction.
There are many different types of technologies that can make a classroom more inclusive. LOMAC is a device for someone who does not have use of his or her hands, but does have muscle function in the neck region. A headset with a laser pointer is put on the person’s head. The person can type using this headset. The person points to the letter or action it wants the keyboard to take on a keyboard and then confirms the action. What the laser points to appear on the screen. The only problem with this technology is that it is very time consuming. For students that do not have use of their hands it is great for typing papers. An aid tech should still be employed, however, to take notes for the student, because the class cannot be slowed down enough for the student to take notes with just the LOMAC alone. Another wonderful assistive technology is Hip Talk 4. This is a communication device. If a student is mute that student can program key phrases that he or she may need to use during the day. This will help the student communicate with someone who does not know sign language. The child’s teacher should still learn sign language, because the device can only record four different sayings. It is helpful when the teacher and student are still in the learning process. Assistive technology can be less complicated and help learning disorders as well as those with physical handicaps. A fraction stack, which shows how many of a certain fraction it takes to make a whole, is a wonderful manipulative for a student who is struggling in math and has trouble going from concrete to abstract ideas. One more form of assistive technology is Braille embossers. They print out what is typed on a computer in Braille (http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/types.aspx). This is helpful to students with a visual impairment. The teacher can give out the same handout to all students. One will be printed in Braille and handed out as if it was no different than the rest. These are just some of the assistive technologies that are out there to help teachers accommodate their students.
Assistive technologies are a wonderful tool. It is amazing how many are out there. They are not just for those with physical disabilities. There are ones for learning disabilities and many others as well. Every school should provide these to their teachers.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Science Unit
Idea 1: This assignment would be for third graders. They will learn about systems of the body. They will use this knowledge to draw an image in pixie and write a brief description. The students will put each of their pages together to make a book. I will photocopy the book and sent it home for parents to view. The parents will have to send back a comment on the book. If the parents do not give back comments the student will not be penalized. These comments are just to try to get parents that may be less inclined to view their children's work to look at it and maybe spend some time talking to their child about the child's school work.
Idea 2: Students will do a lesson on rocks and use Nvu to make web pages based on their learning. This is for third or fourth graders. Students will be split into groups. Each group will be given a different type of rock. They will be asked to find a picture of the rock and post it on the web page. They will be asked to find three facts about the rocks that they were assigned. They will put these three facts on their websites as well. The whole thing will be put together as one big class website.
Idea 3: I will do a lesson on animals. This will be for first graders. I will teach them about farm animals. I will do this by reading them a book. We will play Old MacDonald with some of the animals they have learned. The class will use garage band to compose a song in the style of Old MacDonald for the animals they have learned about.
Idea 4: Students will learn about Owls using chat and e-mail. I will teach them some things about Owls and they will dissect Owl pellets. They will then send an e-mail to an expert on Owls using my e-mail account. They will ask the expert questions and set up a time to chat with the person, so they can ask follow up questions as they think of them.
Idea 5: Students will learn about the four seasons. They will use inspiration to make a timeline of the seasons. They will do this by rotation of the earth. They will learn about the earth's rotation and use inspiration to get pictures of the earth in relation to the sun and how that effects the seasons.
I will use idea 1.
Idea 2: Students will do a lesson on rocks and use Nvu to make web pages based on their learning. This is for third or fourth graders. Students will be split into groups. Each group will be given a different type of rock. They will be asked to find a picture of the rock and post it on the web page. They will be asked to find three facts about the rocks that they were assigned. They will put these three facts on their websites as well. The whole thing will be put together as one big class website.
Idea 3: I will do a lesson on animals. This will be for first graders. I will teach them about farm animals. I will do this by reading them a book. We will play Old MacDonald with some of the animals they have learned. The class will use garage band to compose a song in the style of Old MacDonald for the animals they have learned about.
Idea 4: Students will learn about Owls using chat and e-mail. I will teach them some things about Owls and they will dissect Owl pellets. They will then send an e-mail to an expert on Owls using my e-mail account. They will ask the expert questions and set up a time to chat with the person, so they can ask follow up questions as they think of them.
Idea 5: Students will learn about the four seasons. They will use inspiration to make a timeline of the seasons. They will do this by rotation of the earth. They will learn about the earth's rotation and use inspiration to get pictures of the earth in relation to the sun and how that effects the seasons.
I will use idea 1.
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