Well, our first day of Assistive Technology is complete. Looking back on it, as it's been over a week since we first met, there are several key moments that stuck out for me.
1) I had previously seen the Ted Talk video on Banning the Average, and I always take away something different from it each time I watch. I appreciate notion of "designing to the edges". As educators, it's our job to make sure that we're not designing our lessons for the average student, because, as seen in the video, there's no such thing as 'average'. Our students are just like the pilots that were studied; they all have their own version of a jagged profile. This means, they have their strengths and their weaknesses. No two pilots fit the exact same mold, and no two students do either. It's important for us to remember that and to be sure that our lessons are designed to the edges! One fairly simple way for us to make our schools more inclusive is making our text books available digitally. This allows all students to access the information! It doesn't exclude those not reading at grade level, those who suffer from learning disabilities or physical disabilities. Through the use of various technology, it makes information accessible to all. Which leads me to...
2) The amount of assistive technology available nowadays is amazing! Even if we are just looking at Apple technology (ie - iPhones & iPads), the accessibility options that can be found are unreal. It takes all the information found online, which previously was inaccessible to those with a visual impairment, and makes it accessible. I knew that there were some options available, like voice-to-text and voiceover options, but I had no idea how in-depth the options went. Options such as: inverting colors to make reading easier for those with dyslexia or vision disorders, making the text larger, changing the button shapes, assistive touch, and touch accommodations, just to name a few! They can allow us to take the traditional paper handouts & digitalize them, making them editable, malleable and accessible for all.
3) Apps! The amount of apps that we looked at on the first day was a bit overwhelming. I feel as though I need some additional time to play with the apps in order to fully understand which ones can be used regularly in a classroom setting. That being said, the ones that I did have time to use in class were very fun & I could imagine how much fun my students would have using them.
Chomp - Naomi & I were given the opportunity to introduce one another using the Chomp app. It was fairly simple & straightforward to use. Neither of us were super technologically-inclined, but we figured out what worked and what didn't quite quickly. I think students would have a great time using this app in class, and could be a fun get-to-know-you activity at the beginning of the year.
Tellagami - I practiced with this app briefly during a break in our class, and it was a lot of fun to use. It is quite limited in the number of characters you can choose from, and so I don't know if I would use it in my classroom, as I teach in a multi-cultural school. That being said, it still is a fun app to use and I believe students would enjoy using it.
Showbie - The concept of Showbie is fascinating. I have used Google Classroom before, but I think I might prefer how Showbie works. It seems like a quick, easy way to communicate with a class, and to assign and organize work that comes in. I like how it is available in app-form, as well as through a desktop/laptop computer, as not all students would have access to an iPad/iPhone, but the majority of kids would have some type of computer at home.
All in all, it was a very interesting introduction to Assistive Tech., and I am looking forward to where we go from here!
Cheers!
I felt the same way about Showbie after our first class. I have used Google Classroom and frequently use Google Apps for Education, but I think Showbie is the easiest way to communicate with students and assign work. I like that you can download it as an app and it runs without any issues. Many students have cell phones today, so they could download the app and have it at their finger tips. Others are able to benefit from the desktop/laptop form, too.
ReplyDeleteI was impressed with Showbie and the multitude of apps we learned about in our first class!
I too was amazed by the amount of accessibility embedded into the Apple platform. I've always been an Apple devotee but now I'm more in love with them than ever! I find it gratifying that these options are available on their technologies from the get-go, there is no need to purchase a "special accessible iPad" the features are there for anyone and everyone. Combine that with the plethora of apps out there (once like you said, we determine which ones are the most appropriate to use) can transform those little devices into truly powerful machine that can do much more than play music and games!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Chris with regard to the ways that using technology would be able to change activities such as book reports. A few years ago I was able to observe a class who were using technology to create timelines of their lives…it was neat to see how engaged all the students were. It allowed students who struggled or had difficulty with composing a written piece of work the ability to participate fully and enjoy doing so. I think of students who are uncomfortable with speaking in front of a group being able to use the Tellagami and/or the Chomp app to use as their presentation format. Technology is providing opportunities for students of all ages to explore different venues of academic performance.
ReplyDeleteI agree that all the features of the apple products are great. It has been a few years since I spent a lot of time looking at all the features. I like that they are being modified and added to all the time. This course is giving me the opportunity to be guided through these features again and spend time exploring them while thinking about my students.
ReplyDeleteChris, as I'm reading your blog, I'm thinking about the ways that we can begin to use simple technology to "ban the average" in our classrooms! :)
ReplyDeleteThe Ted Talk video about the myth of average always makes me think about reading levels. As a elementary school resource teacher, expected reading levels for each grade are things that I deal with on a regular basis. While the overall message from the department of education is that teachers should be differentiating instruction and accommodating the differing learning needs of all students, they still insist that we place students into these inflexible boxes of expected reading levels. Often, we end up providing interventions to students who are "below grade level" simply because their brains are simply not ready for reading at that level. Those expected reading levels are based on the non-existent average, and yet we use them very rigidly to determine how well students are doing in reading. The use of assistive technology in the class adds an additional curve ball. The purpose of reading is to extract meaning from a text. If a student is able to do that with technology, then is it still appropriate to remediate reading instruction when students are not meeting the average?
ReplyDeleteThe myth of average video always gets me thinking about how we create our lessons. It seems that education is geared towards the average student. What is the average student, just because a student is a weaker reader that doesn't mean that they are a weak science student. But if you look at the science textbooks that have been designed they are for students that are decent readers. So every time in science class you are asking that student to read and answer questions you are texting their ability to read. We really need to start getting people that design textbooks and curriculum thinking about how there is no such thing as the average student.
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