Assistive Technology

I have seen firsthand in my classroom how assistive technology can help a student succeed.  A student in my class, who has a mild form of autism, has benefited greatly from just a few little things I’ve done.  First, let’s take a look at just what assistive technology is and when it should be used.  Assistive technology is any device or service that helps a student perform more effectively in the general classroom.  Students with disabilities, from very mild to gifted students, can benefit from assistive technology.  Assistive technology should be used when the device or service helps a student in the classroom.  In my classroom, I have a student, with a mild form of autism, who has trouble with fine motor skills.  At the beginning of the year, he took his spelling test on the iPad where he did not have to write the words.  This allowed him to focus on actually spelling the words and not worrying about his handwriting.  Below, I am going to take a look at different disabilities students may have in a classroom and how to serve them better with assistive technology.

Students with mild cognitive disabilities can make great gains by using products that reinforce skills, have interactive capabilities, and even text to speech software.  Students with mild disabilities are considered to make up most of the student population with disabilities.  Teachers should become very familiar with assistive technology devices that can help these students.  Voice recognition software would help greatly with writing, and software involving drills, games, and tutorials can aid in math.  Fishdog.net has many apps that will support students with mild disabilities.  One device that can help students with mild disabilities is a Neo Writer.  Once a student types in a few letters of a word, it offers some suggestions to finish the word.  We all use something similar to this when typing on out iPads and iPhones. 

Students who suffer moderate to severe cognitive disabilities must have basic life skills in order to make sure they can take care of themselves, to the best of their ability, outside of school.  Various apps and websites than reinforce the basic life skills, such as time and money, are available.  Time, Money, and Fractions- On-Track App can help with these skills.  It is important for all students to learn these skills to function in the world!  Customized keyboards, such as the Intellikeys keyboard can be used to help these students operate a computer. 

There are many was to accommodate students with physical disabilities by using assistive technology.  Students with physical disabilities need to be able to access and use technology just as their regular peer would.  One device that can be used on a computer with students who have physical disabilities is a joy stick.  Joy sticks are easier to operate than a regular mouse and can benefit a student who has difficulty with motor movements.  Spectronics offers some great solutions for both hardware and software aids for students with physical disabilities. 

Students with sensory disabilities can also gain from using assistive technology.  Students with sensory disabilities have a disability related to hearing or seeing.  For students who are blind, screen readers is a software that is available that will read any text that appears on the screen.  For the deaf, students need aid in technology with audio feedback.  They also need help hearing the teacher talk!  FM amplification systems are being used as assistive listening devices that the teacher wears to amplify his or her voice.

At-risk students are not technically considered students with disabilities.  Sometimes, their low performance is compared with those students with disabilities.  The students who are considered “at-risk” can also benefit from assistive technology.  If students who are at-risk have trouble in written expression, a word process that will predict words, www.donjohnston.com, can be used.  Students can also use manipulative to help solve problems.

Another group of students that can benefit from assistive technology is the group with gifts and talents.  Gifted students need to be assisted in pace, process, passion, product, and peer. Assistive technology can help reach these goals.  For process, students can participate in distance learn from Destination Imagination, www.destinationimagination.org.  Students can use iPads, laptops, and other devices to help great products and share then with their peers in the classroom and around the world on sites like Edmodo!

Assistive technology can help all types of students.  Teachers need to make sure they give every student an equal opportunity to succeed and use assistive devices to help them.

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On Google Reader, I stubled across the Assistive Technology Blog that list assistive technology to help with students with different disabilities.  This blog post very frequently and would be a great resources for a teacher to visit when he/she needs new ideas for assitive technology!References

Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, A.H. (2010). Integrating educational technology into

teaching, 5th edition.  Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Social Bookmarking- Delicious

I will be the first to admit... I didn't keep up with my social book marking site all semester like I was supposed to. I've never used something like that... and didn't need it. First, it did not take me long AT ALL to add 50 bookmarks. Between sites I learned from Dr. R, my classmates, and ones I use already, I had over 50 before I knew it. I see the benefit of using a site like this, if I would just make myself use it!!

I wish I could organize it better-- by subject. I know I can tag it and do it that way, but I guess I wish I could have headings and those websites lister there. I may have to continue using this, it's a great resource! (How many times have we said "It's a great resource!" this term? - ha!) Here is the link to my delicious site!

Jennifer

Web 2.0

I was introduced to several new tools during this assignment! I must say, I enjoyed them very much!

For my assignment, I used the AL Third grade science course of study standard 13, Describe ways to sustain natural resources, including recycling, reusing, conserving, and protecting the environment.

I started out by making a bubbl concept map.  I made this one, but I would invlove my students in making one during the lesson.

 

We used this program earlier in the session.  I have used concept mapping software before, Inspiration.  I am very fond of this software!  I think it is more user friendly than bubble (or maybe I just haven't used bubble enough?)  However, it is not free! Bubble is, so I can hopefully learn to use it better!

Glogster is very interesting.  This was very user friendly.  I think it could be used in a paperless classroom in place of handouts.  Students could view the glogsters created by the teacher.  It would have notes, videos, websites, and videos about the topic.  Each child could go through with his/her device. 

I would use the glogster in my class as a digital handout. This would introduce the concept.  We could view it in class and go over what's on it.  When finished, I can post to my blog and e-mail to students and parents to study!  Here is the link to my glogster. 

I have used Animoto before and really enjoy it!  It is great for making slideshows with a little something extra.  The backgrouds, music, and ability to add captions make this a great tool to use.  I put together a quick video with pictures reminding students of the important concepts.  We would watch this at the end of the lesson for review.  Here is the link to my animoto.

For free choice, I chose to make 2 Voki's.  This is my FAVORITE!  Who doesn't love the "Talking Tom" videos that go around on Facebook.  This is a free way to make these and use in the classroom!  I am going to make one to encourage my students to do well on the ARMT+ next week!  I think they will love it!  I've embeded the two I made below!  This would be used as an engaging activity on day two of this unit!





On google reader, I stumbled across a blog called "Blogging About the Web 2.0 Connected Classroom."  This blog has some great posts about 2.0 resources that can be used in the classroom and how to use them!

My google reader review is a separate post!

Jennifer

Google Reader

Something I love to do is trying new websites, apps, games, software, anything realted to technology.  I was excited to try google reader, because I've never heard of it before!  I love the idea of google reader.  I think it's great that everything you want to follow is right there.  How awesome would this be if your class had blogs?  You would know immediately when it had been updated without going to the site.  This is the feature I love about google reader.

As neat at seeing updates all in one spot, I missed going to the blog.  Maybe it's the colorful backgroud and the formatting aligned correctly.  I don't know.  I didn't like actually reading the posts on google reader, though.  I would always click and go to the blog!

One of the blogs I followed this term was Seomra Ranga.  This blog has many different features.  Apps, blog, filmstrips, curriculum, and much more!  My favorite part was the apps!  Typically once a week, sometimes more, an app review would be posted for the primary grades.  Since we have iPads in my classroom, I really gained a lot from this.  There are SO many apps out there and well, they just are aren't great.  A big hit in my room this week, and a favorite posts was on Mystery Math Town App.  This app has students solve problems while working their way through a house and collecting fireflies.  The pictures on the wall talk- reminded us of Harry Potter- which is also a big hit in my room right now!  This app integrates math facts with a fun and engaging game!

Another blog I followed was Nerdy Book Club.  This blog has a post everday!  There are MANY people who contribute to this blog to make that possible.  I think my favorite thing about this blog was that there were so many book reviews.  As a future library media specialists, this is important that have a trusty source with book reviews.  I cannot read every book in the library; but I may have students ask questions!  If I have a great site to go to and read reviews, it will help a lot!

Overall, I enjoyed this assignemt and learning more through educational blogs!

Jennifer

There's an App for that! Week 6

I teach third grade and have three iPads in my classroom.  We use apps all the time during reading and math centers.  I chose to pick apps that can be used during math class for this blog.

1. Monster Squeeze

-Number Recognition (6 options 0-10, 5-15, 10-20, 15-25, 20-30, mixed)

-Can be a one or two player game

-The player(s) try to guess the number on the number line by clicking it. The game tells the player

if the number they picked is larger or smaller that the secret number.

-The player who picks the secret number is the winner.

-This game talks the players through it by giving great directions!

-Children can easily work on this by themselves.

We used the numberline for EVERYTHING in third grade.  This is great to start the year out to make sure students are familiar with it.  It can also be used with strugglers who are having a hard time with numbers.

2. Top-it Addition (0-10)

Adding; Greater than and less than

Can be a one or two player game

The player(s) each get two cards.

Each player then finds the sum of their cards.

After each player finds the sum,

they must figure out which sum is greater.

Players get points for correctly answering

their question and having the greater number.

 This app is great for anyone who needs practice with those basic math facts!!

3. Beat the Computer

Multiplication 0-10

One player game

-The player is given a multiplication fact with the objective of "beating the computer."

-Twenty seconds is given for each fact. Points are given based on how many seconds are left.

I use this app for multiplication practice for my third graders! The enjoy it!

 

4. Equivalent Fractions

Recognizing equivalent fractions

One Player Game

Players match equivalent fractions on cards using the pictures and the fractions.

                  A big, new skill in third grade is equivalent fractions.  This app helps students with that skill!

 

My Overall Review: All of these apps had great instructions, good feedback for wrong answers, and were engaging. I would recommend them all--get them when they are free.  McGraw-Hill puts these on sale for free all the time!

On google reader, I am following Seomra Ranga.  This site post apps that are useful in the primary grades.  I have enjoyed discovering new apps through this blog!

Jennifer

Instructional Software Week 5

Instructional software can provide an instuctional advantage for students.  Not only are students learning, but they are usually having fun because they enjoy working on the computer!  Every class in my school has computer time every week.  During this class, students work on some type of skill through instuctional software.  There are many different kinds of instructional software that can be used and we'll take a look at some examples of each.

Drill and Practice- I teach third grade.  In math, we learn multiplication! Students must become fluent with the multiplication facts before moving to fourth grade.  There are many websites and instruction software that can be used.  On free one is from the Resource Room.  This site had many different options for students to practice multiplication facts and gives them feedback on how they've done.  This resource could be used during math centers or computer lab time.

Tutorial- Tutorial Programs walk students through a lesson and actually teach them the concept.  A tutorial program we use at my school is Riverdeep.  This program allows me to assign modules to indivdual students or the class.  Riverdeep gives interactive instuction on the skill and allows for practice.  Students enjoy this program.  This program is used during computer lab, center,s and for RTI for reteaching. 

Simulation- In third grade, we study the human body.  During this science unit, we compare animal bones to human bones to see how they are similar.  One thing we do is dissect an owl pellet.  Most of the students really enjoy this; it is great to see them get into it so much!  To use during centers, or for those students who are absolutely terrified, we do have a virtual simulation of dissecting an owl pellet.  The website is here.  This is exactly what we do in class; dissect an owl pellet and but the bones back together!

Instructional games- Instructional games have many uses in the classroom.  It may be a quick one that can be done during a lesson on the SMART board, or it may be a longer on done for review of a test.  Instructional games are also used daily in my classroom on the computers during centers.  I use them for every subject!  On game we like to play is classroom Jeopardy.  This is not an online game.  We have the jeopardy classroom package.  Each child gets a controller and has an electronic scoreboard.  The game is displayed on  a screen.  It is played just like real jeopardy-- with daily doubles, final jeopardy, and everything!  Here is the website to learn more about it. 

Problem Solving- In order to succeed in the 21st century world, students need to become excellent problem solvers.  There are some great problem solving software games that can be used to help inhance this skill.  One is Mind Benders.  This game presents puzzles for students to solve.  There is a story to read and students must use their problem solving skills to get the answer!

Integrated Learning Systems- A perfect example of integrated learning systems software is the new program the state of Alabama purchased, Global Scholar. This software provides math and reading practice for students.  A test can be give three times a year to see how each student has grown.  You can look at each standard and see where a student needs more work.  More work in that area can be assigned and the student can work on it during centers or computer lab time.  This is a great resource the state of Alabama purchased for its teachers and should be used by all! 

While reading A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet on Googler Reader, I came across a great use of software for science teachers.  There is an interactive lesson that shows the effects of drugs on mice linked to this blog.  Mouse Party is the name of the software and would be great to use with high school students to show to effect of drugs! 


Jennifer

Week 4 Blog- Clickers in the Classroom

In my first blog, I mentioned how much I love using technology in my classroom!  I have and use a SMART Board, iPads, computers, and CPS clickers.  Today, my blog will be about using clickers in the classroom.

Once I began using clickers, my world was rocked- ha!  IMMEDIATE feedback was now avaliable!!  I could quickly see that I needed to reteach something, that we were ready to move on, or that I had a few that would need some form of intervention.  I have used them for many different things in my classroom.

Verbal Option- the verbal option is great for when you have a quick question to ask, want to take a poll, or have questions already in a SMART lesson or PowerPoint.  The question is either already on the board or you ask it verbally.  The results immediately pop up on the screen.  If it's a poll or "voting," students can see how everyone voted.  If it's a question, we can look at the different answers and discuss why someone put what they put.  Hopefully, we can talk about how everyone got it right and move on! =)

Testing Option- This option displays results on your computer, but you want to have your projector off.  You can type in the answers to a test and then as studnets are taking the test (or when they are finish) they put their answers in.  As soon as the child presses enter, you know if they got it right or now-- how cool is that?!  It also gives you the percentage of students who got each question right at the bottom.  This is very helpful in learning about what you may need to reteach!

Testing Option on Screen-- Want to save paper??  Type or import your ExamView test into CPS and the questions will appear on the screen!  Students can read the question and answer it with their clickers and you've never used any paper!!

There are some other options to use clickers as well, but those are the three I use/use most.  I may use them in a test, to review vocabulary, or to ask an exit question-- the possibilies are endless!! 

I found the blog, Technology in Elementary Education on GoogleReader, and the author stated how research has shown that student engagement is up when using clickers.  I have also found this to be true.  I know when every student has answered a question in class and get an answer from everyone.  I don't have to pick one child to say the answer out loud-- everyone is involved!  This blog also references the immediate feedback.  That must be my favorite feature- I can quickly tell who needs help and NO GRADING FOR ME!!!! Click here to go to the blog.

Watch a quick video on using clickers in the classroom.

I really enjoyed this video, but it had the embedding option disabled.  Watch it if you get a chance!

Here is another video: Do clickers help sutdents learn?



Here are two pictures of some of my students using clickers!

 

 

 

 

Jennifer