Digital Citizenship

It is very important that students are using their knowledge of computers and internet safety in the classroom. In order to be safe, teachers should set guideline or give a presentation to the students so that they are not do things that they shouldn't be doing. Many years ago it wasn't as easy to have your identity stolen. However now at the touch of a button you will never be yourself again. Here is a presentation on information that high school students should be aware of when they are using the computer, whether at home or at school.
Digital Citizenship Link

Assistive Technology

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 More information regarding Technology can be found on Google Reader Click Here

Technology serves as an important part in the area of education. People use technology to decrease the amount of time it takes to complete a task. Some like to buy items needed on the internet rather than drive to the store, making it more convenient. There are several types of assistive technology devices that can benefits children within special education and typical developing students.

Students with mild disabilities, such as a speech impairment, typically have adequate cognitive abilities. These students mainly have some type of impairment that affects their education, but can function in the regular education environment. Some students may only receive special education service twice weekly for thirty minutes. These students may struggle in reading or math and may need an extra boost in the classroom or reinforcement. A student with a language impairment might benefit from the use of playing an online game for “WH questions.” (Virtual Speech Center, 2013). There are many online websites that have interactive games. Quia, an interactive website, is used for many reasons. Some colleges use it for their Spanish classes. A student with an articulation disorder can use an iPad. This hardware not only allows downloading different applications, but also allows the student to use the built camera. The camera gives these students a chance to see their oral motor movements to improve speech production (Quia, 2011).

Students with moderate to severe disabilities usually have significant educational impairments. These impairments can range from being able to communicate but not able to read to the inability to express wants and needs and nonverbal. Since there are a limited number of teachers, these students can benefit from online websites. A student with the complete inability to read but has some comprehension skill might benefit from YouTube. The student could watch a story and answer questions rather than read a story (YouTube, 2012). A severe student might use hardware such as, a picture exchange system (PECS). Working with the resource teacher, the children might be able to have some communication through the use of the PECS (Picture Exchange, 2011).

Some students suffer from physical disabilities. It might be a very mild impairment, but these students will typically receive some type of therapy such as physical therapy. Using a software program such as a Wii can be helpful for this type of student (Mickey, 2012). It gives a chance for the student to use their motor skills in a competitive way. The student might also use hardware such as a joystick on a wheel chair to maneuver around the classroom. The joystick allows the children to use minimal movement of extremities to move around in an area (Roblyer & Doering, 2012).

There are many children in schools with sensory disabilities. Some of the children have visual impairments. When a child is unable to use their full vision in the classroom, they may require outside help to reach their full potential. A student with partial blindness might use software such as a screen reader. This is a program that reads aloud information from the presented screen (Roblyer & Doering, 2012). Depending on the severity of the visual impairment, teachers might have to use Microsoft word to blow up the font for the student. The student can use hardware such as a braille machine to create their assignments. This allows the student to put down their pencil and use the machine to produce their classwork (Roblyer & Doering, 2012).

Teachers work together to identify students that are at-risk to prevent them for being referred for special education. Resource teachers can use software programs such as Earobics to reinforce skills from the classroom on a computer program. This program allows for students to start out at a low level and work their way up (Earobics, 2007). These students might also benefit from the use of an FM system. This is a pocket device that is worn by the student and the teacher wears a microphone. This helps to reduce the noise ratio in the classroom to improve listening and decrease distractions (Assistive Listening Devices, 2004).

            Student with gifted and talented abilities can benefit from many websites. Wikispaces is a site allows students to use their abilities to create an online interactive website (Differentiating Instruction for Gifted and Talented Students, 2013). These students have the capability of leaving the typical classroom and advance within the curriculum. Some may also be able to use the hardware of Robotics to bring to life the information they have learned in the classroom (Science Project, 2013).

References

Assistive listening devices. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.raisingdeafkids.org/help/tech/ald/

Differentiating instruction for gifted and talented students. (2013). Retrieved from http://burow5a01.wikispaces.com/Differentiating+Instruction+for+Gifted+and+Talented+Students

Earobics. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.earobics.com/

Mickey, L. (2012). Physical therapist turn to wii golf. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/health/physical-therapists-use-wii-golf-to-treat-patients.html?_r=0

Picture exchange communication system. (2011). Retrieved from http://autismspectrum.illinoisstate.edu/resources/factsheets/pictureexchange.shtml

Quia. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.quia.com/pages/havefun.html

Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, A.H. (2012). Integrating educational technology into teaching. 6th edition. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Science projects. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/projects/makearobot.html

Virtual speech center. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.virtualspeechcenter.com/Resources/wh_questions_app.aspx

YouTube. (2012). Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek7j3huAApc

For my Web 2.0 Resources, I chose the topic of measurement. I feel that this is a hard topic for some of my children. The glogster is a general overview of measurement and gives an overview of measurement. The voice thread and the Animoto contain video about items in the environment that can be measured using a ruler. I can use these videos in my classroom. The students can use them as a resource to check for understanding. I have found that the more technology you give to the students the more they are willing to learn.

Here are the links below:

 Glogster


Animoto

Voice Thread   Once it starts playing you have to click the right forward button to hear comments (this is the only video that I could get to load. I know it is the same as the other video but I added audio comments.

During the course we have used Google Reader. I have found that there is some informative information on the site. My favorite blog to read was Free Technology for Teachers. This site gave information about different technology in the classroom and how to use it within the curriculum.My favorite blog post was about student response systems and how they are used in the classroom. I like to hear information from others before I try and use the technology myself. Student response systems allow to check for understanding immediately. When the teacher is teaching, she can stop in the middle of the lesson and ask the students a question. Using an iClicker, the student will choose an answer and then it is recorded electronically for the teacher to review at a later time. Also, the teacher can give quizzes and/or tests, depending upon the type of questions being asked. It also saves paper and the students are less likely to cheat off of others. Once the answer is picked the students around each other don't have a list of answers to look at like a test answer sheet. I am excited to have been exposed to this blog. I have found it to become an asset in my classroom.

I also picked two other blogs to read from throughout the semester:
The National Institute of Health-Autism Spectrum Disorders-Click Here
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities- Click Here

Apps in the Classroom

Today’s society has changed in the way we do almost EVERYthing. We are now carrying our phones with us because we are able to use them for educational purposes.

“WH” Questions App- an application put out by Super Duper Publications, this app allow the student to answer who, what, when, where, and why questions using interactive cards; this can be played with the therapist or individually Click Here

Webber Photo Articulation Castle- an application created by Super Duper Publications, this app allows the therapist to gain spontaneous production from a student; the student can also use the app as practice and parents can download the app as well Click Here

Sentence Builder- an application sold in the Itunes store, an easy and fun way for a child to create sentence; they can be silly or typical sentence created by the student Click Here

Articulation Scenes- application provided by Smarty Ears, this application not only is a great way to practice speech sounds, but it allow the therapist to engage the student in conversation Click Here

You can also check this website by clicking below or searching it on Google Reader. It gives a variety of great application to be used in the classroom.
Click Here

Educational Software

As we are in the technology era, students enjoy "playing" with technology. Why not use this as a opportunity to integrate into our classroom? 

There are many different types of software that can be used when in the classroom. 

• Instructional software- is a type of media technology that teaches the student the information; this can also be used to go along with Response to Intervention
• Instructional Software 

• Drill and Practice- a game that allows a student to practice their skills and receive immediate feedback; this is a great idea to use in centers within the classroom
• Drill and Practice 

• Tutorial- this type of software gives a detailed overview of the instruction that is step by step; this software can be used when a child misses instruction and needs to learn/be taught information missed
• Tutorial 

• Simulation- software that allow a student to be in a real life situation and gives more realistic information making it an experience for the student; this can be used in a science classroom when students are learning about the systems in the body
• Simulation 

• Problem Solving- software instruction that requires students to use prior knowledge and experience to solve presented problems; this can be helpful for higher learners to keep them busy after they have finished their work
• Problem Solving

• Integrated Learning systems- system that incorporates instructional and tutorial type software that is designed to be interactive for the student; this is help for parents at home to help reinforce learning skill
• Integrated Learning System 

Although there are software programs that you can buy, but there are also website that you can create your own program. Google Reader has suggested this site Click Here