Assistive Technology

Blog Post#1

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.

The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device.  (Authority 20 U.S.C. 1401(1))

Examples of Low Tech Devices

Low tech devices has no electronic components, they are relatively inexpensive, and easy to care. These include: pencil grips, post its, rug locks, and tactile rulers.

Examples of Mid Tech Devices

Mid tech devices are electronic in nature, they are usually fairly inexpensive, easy to use, and require less training to use. These include: calculators, spell checks, audio books, and voice recorders.

Examples of High Tech Devices

High tech devices are based on computer technology; they require more training to operate and are usually considerably expensive. These include: Augmentative and alternative communication devices, electric wheelchairs, Screen readers, and screen magnifiers

Resources for teachers/parents on Assistive Technology

The following are helpful resources for parents and teachers on assistive technology:

U.S. Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/edpicks.jhtml)
The Department of Education provides a list of resources pertaining to the needs of children with disabilities.

NICHCY (http://nichcy.org/families-community)
NICHCY serves the nation as a central source of information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children and youth. You’ll find easy-to-read articles on IDEA, the law authorizing early intervention services and special education, as well as researched-based information on effective practices, programs and services.

Child Development Institute (http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/)
Our website is designed to provide the information and tools parents need to understand their unique child/children and to enable them to help each child develop into the successful human being they were meant to be.

Through the Looking Glass (http://www.lookingglass.org/)
Through the Looking Glass (TLG) is a nationally-recognized center that has pioneered research, training and services for families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability or medical issue. Our mission is “To create, demonstrate and encourage non-pathological and empowering resources and model early intervention services for families with disability issues in parent or child which integrate expertise derived from personal disability experience and disability culture.”

PACER (http://www.pacer.org/)
The mission of PACER Center (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights) is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents. With assistance to individual families, workshops, materials for parents and professionals and leadership in securing a free and appropriate public education for all children, PACER’s work affects and encourages families in Minnesota and across the nation.

Parents Helping Parents (http://www.php.com/)
Parents Helping Parents (PHP) strives to improve the quality of life for any child with any special need of any age, through educating, supporting and training their primary caregivers.

E-Ready Special Education Information for Parents(http://www.pta.org/advocacy/content.cfm?ItemNumber=3713)
This page provides parents, as well as teachers, of children with disabilities with information on specific disabilities, a glossary of special education terms, and links to helpful resources.

AllExperts – Special Education(http://www.allexperts.com/cl2/636/education/Special-Education/)
This website allows parents to ask questions of AllExpert’s volunteer experts regarding all aspects of special education; questions and answers are available for search as well.

Easter Seals (http://www.easterseals.com)

How Teachers Can Use Traditional and Emerging Technologies into Their Classroom

Monday, November 15, 2015

The purpose of this blog is to explain how teachers can use traditional and emerging technologies in their classrooms to support teaching and learning  and how they should evaluate the use of the technology in the classroom.

Today’s youngsters were born in the age of the Internet so in order to connect with them, as a teacher, you must learn to speak their language and become conversant with the technology that comes so naturally to these students. Integrating technology means tapping into students’ interests and strengthening their technical skills, cater to the different intelligence, learning styles, and abilities all while providing enriching learning opportunities; therefore it is imperative that teachers use traditional and emerging technologies in their classrooms to support teaching and learning.

Traditional technologies include: 

•  Overhead projectors- This is typically used by teachers to display transparencies pertaining to content in different subject areas.
•  Scanners-Teachers often use a scanner to scan documents and images into the computer.
•  VCR- Used to play movies stored on videocassette tapes.
•  Multimedia cart with projector- laptop, speakers, and a projector to display educational materials and deliver presentations to their class.
•  PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) -These are primarily used by teachers and students to enter information in a calendar, maintain contact information and download files from a computer.
•  Desktop computers and laptop with internet access- Teachers use desktop computers and/or laptops to prepare classroom materials, students used them for research, word-processing, administrative tasks such as recording grades and attendance.

•  MP3 players- MP3 players are used to play mp3 files (e.g., podcasts and music).

• Smart board/interactive whiteboard technology- This is an interactive white board that is   used to replace the traditional whiteboard and allows users to control a computer using a pen, finger or other device.

•  CD-Rom and DVD-Rom drives- Both teachers and students use CD-ROM/DVD-ROM players to  read CDs and DVDs. The latter may contain educational software, classroom materials, music, and movies.

Emerging technologies include: 

WIFI TECHNOLOGY

WiFi (wireless fidelity) technology makes it possible for computer networks and handheld devices to connect to the Internet by using its wireless capabilities. This has increased teachers' flexibility in teaching and learning. Teachers and students can exit the classroom with their wireless laptops or handheld devices and connect to the Internet using public wireless networks.

WEB 2.0 TECHNOLOGIES

The term "Web 2.0 technologies" refers to technologies that facilitate new ways of collaborating and creating information online. Examples of Web 2.0 technologies include podcasts, wikis, blogs, social networking services, virtual reality environments, and photo-sharing websites.

•  Podcasts- Pod-casting or the broadcasting of audio files over the Internet. This enables teachers to record information for students and parents to access.. 

• Wikis- A wiki is a website that is written collaboratively by different individuals in the public; this assist students and students with information needed especially for research.

•  Blog- A blog is a type of website where an individual or organization can keep an online journal or share information, personal news and commentaries about different topics of interest, as well as pictures, video clips, and other materials. This is a great resource for teachers to use to inform parents of happenings in their classrooms.

 Social Networking Services

A social networking service is an online service that gathers communities of people with similar interests and/or activities and allows them to communicate via email and instant messaging.projects with other students around the world.

 Virtual Reality Environments

 A virtual reality environment is a Web-based 3-D environment that allows users to interact with the 3-D environment.

Photo-Sharing Websites

 A photo-sharing website is a website that allows people to maintain and share photos. 

Teachers must assess the impact of any technology introduced into the classroom, and they must do so effectively. By doing so, teachers are able to objectively identify the success or failure, also what areas to improve on.  

There are two types of evaluations that teachers can perform when evaluating the use of technology in their classroom, namely formative evaluations and summative evaluations.

Formative Evaluations

A formative evaluation is typically performed during the early implementation stages of technology. It asks questions related to the process of planning and implementation. 

For example, a formative evaluation may ask:

• Was the technology equipment that was ordered received on time?
• Is it necessary to provide training to teachers and students on how to use the technology?
• Which technology skills do teachers and students need to use the technology?
• Did teachers and students receive training on how to use the technology?
• Was the technology incorporated into the classroom?

Summative Evaluations

A summative evaluation, on the other hand, is performed to assess the impact of technology on teachers' and students' performance outcomes. Although some information in summative evaluations is collected during the early implementation stages of technology (e.g., baseline data and test scores), most of the information is collected after technology has been implemented in the classroom for a reasonable period of time. A summative evaluation asks questions related to performance outcomes. 

For example:

• Have teachers' and students' technology skills improved following training?
• Have teachers increased their use of technology in the classroom?
• Has technology improved teachers' instructional delivery?
• Has technology increased students' motivation?
• Has technology increased student engagement?
• Has technology increased students' performance?

Ms Ramson's 2nd Grade Class

Sunday, November 8, 2015

I Love My Kindergarteners!!!

Hello!   Welcome to Miss Ramson's Super Kindergarten Classroom, where Teaching and Learning is FUN!!!

 We are an enthusiastic group of people who care about each other and the world. We hope you enjoy reading, listening and watching what we do in our exciting classroom!

I am a graduate of the Florida Atlantic University where I pursued studies in Elementary Education. I'm an enthusiastic and committed teacher with natural ability to appreciate and inspire children. I try my best to have a balance of explicit teaching, inquiry, and activities/lessons based on students' interest in our class.  I work with the most amazing students, Kindergarteners!!  I am a creative teacher who love learning about the newest strategies and research based interventions! I believe in Franklin Benjamin's quote which states:

My student centered classroom

Therefore, our kindergarten classroom is student centered, students are involved in every aspect of the daily activities.I believe in student-centered, constructionist learning, where students are given responsibility for their own learning.
 We Maintain a classroom atmosphere of warmth and acceptance.The kids know they are loved and accepted, so they relax and learn. I Keep a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around me and my students  imitate my behavior, I also model the behaviors I want my students to adopt.

My Philosophy

I believe the fundamental goal of teaching is to foster learning. Learning is not something that is achieved while in school.  It goes on for the rest of one’s lifetime.  The purpose of learning is to gain the skills and tools necessary for one to not only meet but exceed expectations in an ever changing and globalized world.  Therefore, learning is the obtaining, refining and application of skills that are/will be useful in any area of practice, whether it be in the classroom or in the ‘real world.’  If this is the definition of learning, then the role of the teacher becomes clearly defined.  The responsibility of the teacher is to provide the opportunities for students to obtain, refine and apply these skills in a positive, risk-free environment. Therefore, teaching is the act of delivering the tools that will allow students to be successful, lifelong learners.  I believe in positivity. No matter what life throws at me, inside the classroom or out, I believe that attitudes are contagious and a positive attitude is always preferable to a negative attitude.

https://youtu.be/sQ7dS4xt08I

My Teaching Style         

               

Integrating technology and cooperative learning

Teacher-centered instruction has had its day! Effective teachers are increasingly using a student-centered approach. Cooperative learning sparks engagement in classrooms by encouraging interaction among the students themselves, my role as a  teacher is that  of a facilitator. This, in turn, leads to higher achievement, while promoting both team and class building. I believe that learning needs to be student centered and students need to be equal partners in the learning process; therefore, my role involves using my expertise to put the necessary resources in the hands of the students and ensure that my students are well equipped to find and evaluate the resources they need to answer their questions.  I also incorporate visual aids and much enrichment into my teaching, to allow the children to experience lessons through sight and touch.

Integrating technology in our lessons

 Today’s youngsters were born in the age of the Internet so in order to connect with these kids, as a teacher, I must learn to speak their language and become conversant with the technology that comes so naturally to the young. Integrating technology means tapping into students’ interests and strengthening their technical skills, all while providing enriching learning opportunities; therefore, I integrate technology in our daily lessons to enhance learning and also to facilitate the different learning styles that my students possess.

About our Classroom

My Students

Our classroom is a busy, child-centered learning environment.  It is stimulating, colorful and comfortable.  Our classroom is a community; our home away from home.

We function as a whole group, small groups and as individuals.  We are cooperative and collaborative.  We share our materials, our discoveries and our experiences.  We respect one another and ourselves.  

Sometimes our classroom is loud, sometimes our classroom is quiet.  Sometimes only the teacher is speaking and everyone is practicing their listening.  Sometimes the children are talking to one another and the teacher is facilitating. The students are a diverse set of energetic five year old, most of whom are being exposed to formal learning for the first time.

Lets Look at some of our Class Activities!!!!  

Today, we made masks using paper plates

Students' Work

Circle Time 

Whole Group Instruction

Whole group instruction, often called direct instruction, is the umbrella term used when a teacher is teaching the entire class something at the same time. This occurs through a variety of activities, such as read aloud and demonstration.





Small Group Instruction

Small group instruction is an effective way to differentiate instruction and meet the needs of our students.  It requires thorough planning and responds to informal and formal data collected from various sources, which help teachers construct a comprehensive profile on students’interests, abilities and challenges. Small group instruction allows a teacher to support and guide students on their instructional level. Small groups allow students develop relationships with their classmates. Students are given opportunities to discover commonalities, strengths and weakness as well as ways to help each other. The teacher has more time to meet the needs of her most challenging students who may require greater teacher guidance while giving her high achievers time to work independently at a pace that promotes active learning.

Individualized Instruction

Individualized instruction is a fancy name that I use for one-on-one instruction.  Each child is unique; have diverse learning styles, learn at different rates, and have diverse intellectual strengths therefore, individualized programs is one way of increasing students' success. This method is used since students have different academic abilities and may require individual assistance to learn a concept.   Individualized instruction  is mostly used for struggling students,  because this focused attention can often help these children catch up with their peers. Individualized instruction is now recognized as a crucial element of student-centered teaching that fosters real progress and achievement.

Parents are also welcomed and encouraged to volunteer in our classroom!