Topic #11: Assistive Technology

I have loved learning about Assistive Technology. I think that there are a lot of great items for students with disabilities. My first year teaching at my current school, we had a student that had to use an FM system for hearing. We used this as an "administrative tool" saying that we were being recorded for missing students or for the administrators so that she was deemed a privileged student, instead of one with a disability. Currently this year, we have another student using an AlphaSmart Machine. This machine allows students to type in material and can be printed for input and output.



http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html

Great resource for families and teachers to use to help their students. It is a well-laid out website that has a lot of information. It is not a site that would work for everyone. I know that for some people, straight text would not be beneficial, but for me, this site allowed me to recognize just the basics of assistive technology. There is a great chart that shows how to use AT in computer programs.



This site also allows for a teacher to see the process of how an IEP would be made for a child with disabilities. This is key to any teacher that will have to in the future go through an IEP process in which they are uncertain of what it all means.



The best part of this website is that it allows for a documentation to be pulled out of it and see what needs to be modified. It allows for programs to be evaluated and how to identify the best use within your students.



The information is basic and straight to the point, it is not like the websites that was shown on our blackboard, but I love it because of the information.

http://www.abilityhub.com/

http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm



This is a basic site that gives information on different aspects of Assistive Technology.

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/list/assist01.htm

http://www.rehabtool.com/at.html


My other website that I loved was rehabtool.com. This site is broken down into each different aspects into what is needed for different categories. I believe that the site could have more information that would allow more information to be used. While the site looks great, it doesn't give as much information that is needed.

http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/education/at.html

This is an informative website that allows for the reader to gain knowledge to multiple different websites and articles. For me, it isn't always about the websites, but articles that I can read to make me a better teacher, especially when it comes to topics that are new to my understanding.

One of the articles on this site, provides tips on how to become an informed consumer of such technology, offers a parent's perspective on assistive technology, examines federal legislation, discusses effective use of technology with young children and how to integrate technology into a student's IEP, and suggests a process for funding technology. The article concludes with a list of readings and organizations that offer additional information on assistive technology.

Another article allows for the uses of how to use AT and the ways to benefit from it most into the classroom. The best part of this website is that it allows you know what the articles state before reading them in their entirety.

Topic #10: Tech Skills

When I began this class, I felt very confident about my tech skills. In Irving ISD we are fortunate enough to have a great technology program. I have attended multiple classes on integrating technology into my classroom and on different items that can be added. I think that I have a great handle on Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Publisher. I also have a good grasp of the Internet and how to navigate in a way to find resources. I also have a wonderful MTT on my campus that does Technology Wednesdays and helps me learn how to use software better. So far this year, we have covered: Blackboard, GradeSpeed, Audacity, our district curriculum, and QuickChecks (an online testing program that our district bought).

The Atomic Learning and Self-Assessments in the book have been very eye opening. I love Atomic Learning and think that this would be a great resource for our district to have. I think that since our high school students are given laptops, that Atomic Learning would help them figure out what they need to know without the teacher having to explain every step of the process. Yet, at the same time, it would allow for remediation and for students to be able to learn more than what is available to them as well. The Self-Assessments in the book have been interesting, because when I read, I read for big picture, and I feel like the assessments are very detailed orientated.

Since the beginning of this class, I have learned more about databases. This is where I have really chosen not to use because I didn't know how to. I have also learned a lot of information about the software that is available to students. The one that I would love the most at this time in my life would be a test generator because I would then be able to easily make different forms of the test. I think the skills that I have learned have allowed me to be a teacher that thinks more towards my students point of view. While I might understand how to use a lot of the tools in Microsoft Office, my students don't and I have been able to see how to help them more!