WOW! We just started and now we are done. After the first class I felt like my head was spinning from all the new information I had learned; I'm still feeling that way now. I have so much more knowledge about assistive technology for writing and reading.
Today we presented our case studies. Everyone took a different approach and this kept the presentations interesting. Even when we heard presentations about the same technology everyone used the program for different reasons.
My goal while presenting was to get some feedback on possible assistive technology that might work for my student. The technology I used, Dragon Naturally Speaking, was not suitable for my student so I wanted alternative suggestions. It was suggested that I might consider going the route of getting a keyguard. This was a great suggestion and I am anxious to talk to my AT Specialist about trying a keyguard with the student.
With the sun shining and class so close to being finished we needed really interesting presentations and everyone delivered. Thank you to everyone for the engaging presentations.
Happy "end of class" everyone! See you this summer.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
June 13th
Today we started by looking at the program Clicker5. I was pleasantly surprised that it is a user friendly program. Also, I initially thought that Clicker5 was developed for elementary students. As a junior high teacher I was happy to see we can use Clicker5 and it is age appropriate at the junior high level as well.
I am beginning a position at a different school next year and because it's so late in the school year I keep wishing I had my caseload for next year. I find it is motivating to use software when you can connect it to a student that might benefit from it. I really hope I retain a lot of the valuable information we are taught in class and think about it when learning my students' strengths and challenges.
Angela and I enjoyed creating a baby book and using the writing grid in Clicker5. When we started using the program I said I didn't think I would create books once I got back to the classroom. But after a short time of playing around in Clicker5 things moved along quickly. Angela gave me a good idea. It might be realistic to train one of the EPAs in the school on how to use Clicker5 then whenever they have time they could create activities.
ClozePro was a bit of a flop for me today. I was able to watch as we explored the software as a class but I was unable to load it onto my computer. I didn't have a password for administrative rights for my computer. I feel like I was able to see enough to be able to use the program independently in the future.
Today (Sunday) I started to put my final pieces of my assignment together. I am wishing we had a chance to use Dragon Naturally Speaking at some point throughout our class. I think it would have been a wiser choice for me to pick a program I felt I am more trained to use. Regardless, so far it seems to be a good fit for the student in my case study.
I am beginning a position at a different school next year and because it's so late in the school year I keep wishing I had my caseload for next year. I find it is motivating to use software when you can connect it to a student that might benefit from it. I really hope I retain a lot of the valuable information we are taught in class and think about it when learning my students' strengths and challenges.
Angela and I enjoyed creating a baby book and using the writing grid in Clicker5. When we started using the program I said I didn't think I would create books once I got back to the classroom. But after a short time of playing around in Clicker5 things moved along quickly. Angela gave me a good idea. It might be realistic to train one of the EPAs in the school on how to use Clicker5 then whenever they have time they could create activities.
ClozePro was a bit of a flop for me today. I was able to watch as we explored the software as a class but I was unable to load it onto my computer. I didn't have a password for administrative rights for my computer. I feel like I was able to see enough to be able to use the program independently in the future.
Today (Sunday) I started to put my final pieces of my assignment together. I am wishing we had a chance to use Dragon Naturally Speaking at some point throughout our class. I think it would have been a wiser choice for me to pick a program I felt I am more trained to use. Regardless, so far it seems to be a good fit for the student in my case study.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Today was another interesting day in class. We had the opportunity to share our Kurzweil presentations with each other. It was interesting to see how everyone was able to use the features in Kurzweil in a different way to meet the students' needs. Although my presentation seemed short (job fair had my mind occupied) our work shows that our group also enjoyed using features in ways that we felt best supported our student. On a side note, it was interesting to reflect on the discussion we had with Jolaine regarding assistive technology and access when teaching French. It certainly must be frustrating for her.
During the afternoon, I attended job fair (and picked up a 100% L.C. job :) ). I have since had the chance to read the chapter on Dilemmas, Challenges, and Opportunities. I was amazed by the percentages of assistive technology that is abandoned. We have talked frequently about training being an issue but I didn't consider the other factors such as mismatching the technology.
I also have the opportunity to work with Inspiration and WordQ. WOW! I missed a lot in a few hours. Inspiration was a little confusing to me at first. It seemed like a lot of information on one template was confusing. But after some videos and the tutorial I enjoyed playing around. The task analysis activity for Inspiration will not open on my computer at home so an update on that will come tomorrow.
I used Classroom Suite with one my students this week. He used it regularly at the beginning of the year but we strayed away from it for months. There is just so much software available it's easy to get sidetracked. I forgot about some of the great things Classroom Suite has to offer but now I am back to exploring it again.
Here's a copy of my Inspiration assignment.
During the afternoon, I attended job fair (and picked up a 100% L.C. job :) ). I have since had the chance to read the chapter on Dilemmas, Challenges, and Opportunities. I was amazed by the percentages of assistive technology that is abandoned. We have talked frequently about training being an issue but I didn't consider the other factors such as mismatching the technology.
I also have the opportunity to work with Inspiration and WordQ. WOW! I missed a lot in a few hours. Inspiration was a little confusing to me at first. It seemed like a lot of information on one template was confusing. But after some videos and the tutorial I enjoyed playing around. The task analysis activity for Inspiration will not open on my computer at home so an update on that will come tomorrow.
I used Classroom Suite with one my students this week. He used it regularly at the beginning of the year but we strayed away from it for months. There is just so much software available it's easy to get sidetracked. I forgot about some of the great things Classroom Suite has to offer but now I am back to exploring it again.
Here's a copy of my Inspiration assignment.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Reflection # 2 (Long weekend class)
Reflection of Asisstive Technology Video - provided by student services
I decided to reflect on the case studies in which I can make a connection from either a current student I have or a former student that has used or could benefit from the assistive technology.
The first case study focuses on portable keyboards. I like the idea that it doesn't have to be for a single student. I currently have a student that uses a writer but she doesn't like to take it to her regular classes because she is the only one that has one. This is so common amongst my junior high students. It has me thinking about the possibility of peer writer tutorials, refreshers, or integration into the class as a tool everyone has access to at times.
I relate the communication case study to a situation I am currently in. I have a student in my learning center who is deaf. When his interpreter is not there it was very difficult for him to communicate with anyone at school. In recent months we introduced him to Proloquo2go and it has really opened up our communication with the student. He is beginning to initiate conversations now. This is such an amazing change.
It was great to have an introduction to Clicker5 before we work on it in class this weekend. This is another program that I am excited to introduce to one of my students.
I have a non verbal student in my class and anytime I see a child being able to communicate with others through assistive technology I think of her. In the case study the teacher mentions that Kayla was frustrated a lot prior to being introduced to her assistive technology. The girl I work with is often upset but she doesn't currently have effective ways to communicate what is causing her anxiety or frustration. My hope is that we can find the proper assistive technology that would benefit her.
I decided to reflect on the case studies in which I can make a connection from either a current student I have or a former student that has used or could benefit from the assistive technology.
The first case study focuses on portable keyboards. I like the idea that it doesn't have to be for a single student. I currently have a student that uses a writer but she doesn't like to take it to her regular classes because she is the only one that has one. This is so common amongst my junior high students. It has me thinking about the possibility of peer writer tutorials, refreshers, or integration into the class as a tool everyone has access to at times.
I relate the communication case study to a situation I am currently in. I have a student in my learning center who is deaf. When his interpreter is not there it was very difficult for him to communicate with anyone at school. In recent months we introduced him to Proloquo2go and it has really opened up our communication with the student. He is beginning to initiate conversations now. This is such an amazing change.
It was great to have an introduction to Clicker5 before we work on it in class this weekend. This is another program that I am excited to introduce to one of my students.
I have a non verbal student in my class and anytime I see a child being able to communicate with others through assistive technology I think of her. In the case study the teacher mentions that Kayla was frustrated a lot prior to being introduced to her assistive technology. The girl I work with is often upset but she doesn't currently have effective ways to communicate what is causing her anxiety or frustration. My hope is that we can find the proper assistive technology that would benefit her.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010 Short Class, Long Weekend :)
Class this morning started with reviewing some Kurzweil features and introducing a few new features. I felt like I forgot how to use all of the features previously taught until we started working in our groups.
Last week I was able to get three of my grade nine students using Kurzweil again. After class last week I went to school and asked the group of students why they didn't use the program anymore and they told me they didn't know their usernames anymore and they forgot how to use Kurzweil. After a quick 30 minute tutorial all three students are using Kurzweil again in their regular classrooms. I felt guilty that me or any of their other teachers never took this initiative earlier in the year. I was shying away from the program because I had never used it. I was given PD last year on Kurzweil but because I didn't have any students that used it I forgot quickly how the program worked. It's great to be using it on a regular basis and have doors opened for students who were struggling so much to keep up with the cirriculum.
Our group project is coming along nice. It's hard not to get sidetracked and start playing around with certain features. We might have overused the sticky notes.
Last week I was able to get three of my grade nine students using Kurzweil again. After class last week I went to school and asked the group of students why they didn't use the program anymore and they told me they didn't know their usernames anymore and they forgot how to use Kurzweil. After a quick 30 minute tutorial all three students are using Kurzweil again in their regular classrooms. I felt guilty that me or any of their other teachers never took this initiative earlier in the year. I was shying away from the program because I had never used it. I was given PD last year on Kurzweil but because I didn't have any students that used it I forgot quickly how the program worked. It's great to be using it on a regular basis and have doors opened for students who were struggling so much to keep up with the cirriculum.
Our group project is coming along nice. It's hard not to get sidetracked and start playing around with certain features. We might have overused the sticky notes.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Bridges To Learning Conference
Good morning all,
It's 8:29 and here I sit with my morning tea locked in a bedroom hiding from my noisy toddler. It's been a challenge to sneak in here to watch but I think I'm hidden away now. This is actually a relaxing way to start a Saturday morning.
Okay, so it's 8:33 and nothing has happened. Did I get my time zones mixed up? I think I'll go refill the tea.
Tea is gone. It's 8:49 and I am thinking it doesn't start until 9:30. I think I'll go have breakfast and check back soon.
It's 9:25 and stuff is starting to happen.YAY! Maybe I should have read our email again and I would have known it starts now.
I use Proloquo with a student of mine and it is an amazing application. However, I feel like we are not using it to it's full potential. Listening to the information about Ryan gave me ideas about how to better use this program with my student. This student is hearing impaired and has suspected autism. we currently only have one I Pod at the school. It feels like one way communication The student will type something into proloquo then his interpreter has to sign a response to the student or he has to hand the I Pod to the person he is trying to communicate with. I never really considered the fact that with another I Pod available this could encourage him to use this more. Here is a quick video for anyone who hasn't seen Proloquo2go.
I love the I Call application. I never knew this existed. I can't wait to get to school Monday and check for this application.
Lucas is adorable. He must have some tired teachers at the end of the day. He looks like he has a ton of energy. I couldn't help but smile the whole time I was watching him. I can not believe the amount of applications that he uses that I think some of my students would benefit form. I feel like I need a half a dozen more I Pods for six of my other students. The I rewards are so exciting. What an easy and exciting application for a reward system for the students.
I am getting that same overwhelming feeling I had last Saturday. There is so much information and I feel like I want to implement so much in my classroom right now.
Mathew creating his own schedules and meal plans is just amazing. He is so independent and for a person that seems to be regiment in a schedule this allows flexibility.
I had no idea the Dragon Naturally Speaking application even existed. What an application for my Hearing Impaired student! This could make him so much more independent. If his interpreter is missing he seems so isolated. Getting this application is now my mission for this week. WOW! I think adding and implementing all of these applications is looking like a great idea for my AT project. I hope the AT department has their credit card out and ready :)
Thank you Barbara for an amazing presentation. It has been a new and exciting experience for me to sit at home in my pajamas and watch a conference live.
It's 8:29 and here I sit with my morning tea locked in a bedroom hiding from my noisy toddler. It's been a challenge to sneak in here to watch but I think I'm hidden away now. This is actually a relaxing way to start a Saturday morning.
Okay, so it's 8:33 and nothing has happened. Did I get my time zones mixed up? I think I'll go refill the tea.
Tea is gone. It's 8:49 and I am thinking it doesn't start until 9:30. I think I'll go have breakfast and check back soon.
It's 9:25 and stuff is starting to happen.YAY! Maybe I should have read our email again and I would have known it starts now.
I use Proloquo with a student of mine and it is an amazing application. However, I feel like we are not using it to it's full potential. Listening to the information about Ryan gave me ideas about how to better use this program with my student. This student is hearing impaired and has suspected autism. we currently only have one I Pod at the school. It feels like one way communication The student will type something into proloquo then his interpreter has to sign a response to the student or he has to hand the I Pod to the person he is trying to communicate with. I never really considered the fact that with another I Pod available this could encourage him to use this more. Here is a quick video for anyone who hasn't seen Proloquo2go.
I love the I Call application. I never knew this existed. I can't wait to get to school Monday and check for this application.
Lucas is adorable. He must have some tired teachers at the end of the day. He looks like he has a ton of energy. I couldn't help but smile the whole time I was watching him. I can not believe the amount of applications that he uses that I think some of my students would benefit form. I feel like I need a half a dozen more I Pods for six of my other students. The I rewards are so exciting. What an easy and exciting application for a reward system for the students.
I am getting that same overwhelming feeling I had last Saturday. There is so much information and I feel like I want to implement so much in my classroom right now.
Mathew creating his own schedules and meal plans is just amazing. He is so independent and for a person that seems to be regiment in a schedule this allows flexibility.
I had no idea the Dragon Naturally Speaking application even existed. What an application for my Hearing Impaired student! This could make him so much more independent. If his interpreter is missing he seems so isolated. Getting this application is now my mission for this week. WOW! I think adding and implementing all of these applications is looking like a great idea for my AT project. I hope the AT department has their credit card out and ready :)
Thank you Barbara for an amazing presentation. It has been a new and exciting experience for me to sit at home in my pajamas and watch a conference live.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
It is now Sunday, May 9, 2010. What a busy day yesterday was. So many new programs and resources and there was even a late night baby born. Congrats to the new grandmother. What a Mother's Day present!
I had to wait a day to start my blog because I had so much new information to retain I needed a day to process it all. I wish I had of video taped the class because I am sure there is no way to remember all of the great stuff we were introduced to. The following few paragraphs is my attempt to reflect on the highlights of yesterday. This is in no particular order.
Learning about the reading process was great. I teach reading to such a range of students and it helped me to understand just how much goes into taking the text form the page and making sense of it.
The youtube video "21 Century Education in New Brunswick" was such a powerful video. I had to watch it when I got home and I've already showed it to two other people. The video had the audience hooked in the first five seconds. All of us can relate to changes like no longer adjusting tracking on your VCR or putting film in to get developed. But other changes were things that have changed in front of me that I never thought about until now. One of these changes being the fact that a grade two student might be typing at 60 wpm or trying to remember the last time I used a pay phone. I kept thinking about our curriculum documents and how so many outcomes we currently teach are not necessary information students need to know. Are we as teachers and staff of HRSB adapting to these changes? I think we are not going near as fast as we need to.
Googame.com is now my new favorite website. I teach in a junior high learning center and initially I thought this might be to young for my students. I tried it with one student and he loved it. While he was on the website a few students watched him play some of the games. I now have a few other students working towards earning time on the website.
The aquarium application worked really well with a student of mine who has autism. We tallied types of fish and different colors of fish while he watched it. He was beginning to get overstimulated before I introduced the screen saver and it seemed to help him relax.
I also had a chance to work with Kurweil. It is somehow set as the default program on my computer to work on text documents so instead of changing it I have been brushing up my skills. What an amazing program. I have several grade nine students who are supposed to be using the program and they don't. Now that I feel more confident using it I can encourage the students.
I am wondering about a website that was mentioned to the class but I don't believe we explored it. it had something to do with UDL tools(?). I can't seem to find the website.
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