This semester has really enlightened me in terms of the role that assistive technology (AT) plays in the classroom. Or rather the role that it can and should play. ED 615 here at Pace (Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities) has exposed me to an invaluable number of AT tools that are available to students with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, communication disorders, and hearing and visual challenges. It's time we as classroom teachers start to think about ways we can better reach these students and help them achieve their potential.
I was really excited when I came across this blog post from The Innovative Educator (Lisa Nielsen) that shares "25 Incredible Assistive Technologies." She begins with a strong introduction as to how the traditional, rigid classroom hinders the learning of students with learning disabilities. Continuing, Nielsen addresses how "as technology marches on, so do opportunities for academic success." She then gets the ball rolling by introducing 25 assistive technologies available, along with a brief overview of how each one works.
While I haven't had the opportunity to explore all of the AT tools she mentions, I have gotten to use some of them to see how they work and learn about the potential they have. Digital pens are absolutely incredible in the way that they audio record and digitally capture what the user has written. We played with the LiveScribe Pen last week in ED 615 and were amazed by what it could do. Phonetic spelling software has the ability to convert phonetic spelling into real words. The Internet offers a free download that does this as well (I forget the name of the website). Audiobooks are becoming increasingly popular in their use among all different learners. In addition to Kindle and Nook, many other software programs exist that bring literature to life. The blog post continues on with many other devices, so be sure to check it out:
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/09/25-incredible-assistive-technologies.html
This week in ED 615 we get to explore switches, keyboards, and alternative mice, among other things. I'm looking forward to continuing to learn about the potential AT has when the right tool is found and used correctly in the classroom.
Hi Mackenzie :)
ReplyDeleteI just HAD to comment on your blog, ESPECIALLY this post, because I also feel that ED 615 informs us of the many valuable AT tools out there. Before the class, I was unaware of the difference between educational technology and assistive technology. However, over the progressing weeks, I have come to realize the importance of AT for students; students both with and without learning disabilities (as we have been discussing this week). AT is a vital tool for ALL learners, if given the chance to use them. AT enables students to utilize technology to assist and strengthen their learning. I definitely agree that as classroom teachers, we need to start finding ways to implement AT to help students reach their full potential.
I started to browse some of the AT from Nielsen’s blog post- awesome stuff!