Role of Information Technology in Education.flv

Responses to presentations

1rst presentation- New Apps for Learning Disabilities
I thought that the book creator was a great app to invest in. I'm not familiar with this app and actually I'm quite new to the Ipad devices. I've had Ipods and Nanos before but just recently got an Ipad. I've had tablets and playbooks for the past few years and it is nice to know that this app will not only be limited to the Ipad and will be available for androids this year :) I will definitely be downloading the free version to try it out, and with the low cost of $4.99 I'm sure it would be a future purchase.

2nd Presentation- Top Free Apps in Special Education
It doesn't get any better than being free! I enjoyed this presentation for many reasons, not only because every app was free, I enjoyed the the different categories that they sorted the apps into, it makes it very easy to choose which app is useful for you and your students. I downloaded pocket pond onto my Ipad, I thought this app was the neatest thing ever! I feel like such an amateur when it comes to the Ipad and its many apps, I wish that I had bought one years ago, however it is better late than never!

3rd presentation -Apps that Enhance Performance of Individuals with Extreme Autism 
I enjoyed this presentation for a variety of reasons, one of which I feel may be the most prominent is the fact that my younger cousin has been recently been diagnosed with Autism, I had thought he was autistic for a year or 2, however his parents were unaware, then in denial, and now have accepted his diagnoses and are working to understand Autism and their son.  I was very excited to tell my aunt about the great apps that i learned about in this presentation and thought the app called Dusty D Dawg Has Feelings too would be a great one to share with her son. 

4th presentation- Learning About Apps to Support Students with Learning Disabilities
I thought the quote used in this presentation was an excellent choice. After watching the few videos in this course it has become very evident how important technology has become to people living with disabilities.  I've always known how important technological devices were in education, however I have seen these devices in a whole new light and do hope that we get our Ipads working as soon as possible. I was able to relate to Jeremy when he mentioned the fact that his school has many devices, however has difficulty with access and ability to use these devices to support students with their learning. Technology can be an awesome thing, however it needs to be accessible to be awesome!

5th Presentation - Executive Function (my group)
I was glad that our group chose this topic, it was one that I enjoyed learning about as I did not have much prior knowledge of executive functioning. I didn't realize how easily one can mistaken forgetfulness for problems with executive function or blame them for being disorganized and careless instead of realizing there in an underlying reason for being this way. Technology certainly can make the lives of someone who has problems with executive functioning, the app Take a Chill seems like it would be a great app to use to help students keep themselves focused and the paper shredder would win over many students with its great sound effects. 

6th presentation- Exciting New Apps for LD 
The video that Dawn shared in this presentation was quite the eye opener, it was great to view learning disabilities from a student's perspective. As an educator I do my best to understand the my students, to acknowledge their strengths, recognize their difficulties and work with them to reach success, however sometimes we just might not be as understanding or helpful as we think we are trying to be. Each child is different, they can not be a fit into the same mold, so what works for one may most definitely not work for another. I love the app IwordQ, it would be an awesome addition to help students who are struggling readers and writers, the speech recognition would be so useful as well along with the speech feedback feature. The app is definitely one I will be purchasing. 

7th Presentation- New Apps for Learning Disabilities

 I found the byod policy should be in all schools, the benefits by far outweigh any issues that may arise. As mentioned they can be used for note taking, calculators, thesaurus, independent reading (great idea!!!) as well as provide immediate access to tools they personally need such as audio books, dragon dictation etc. The group also mentioned that boys have become more involved in reading, as a mother of 2 boys who are not as interested in reading as I encourage them to be, feel that this is wonderful! The free online sites are great to use in the classroom, I use Starfall and decided to check out the other two; Tumblebooks and Red Rocket Readers. The cost seems to be okay considering the great resource they would be as well as how useful they would be in the classroom.  

Understanding Assistive Technology Loan Libraries: Simply Said

Understanding Assistive Technology: Simply Said

This video was completely mind blowing, it makes me feel so sad for all those people who are not given the opportunity to communicate and who are silenced in their bodies. This opportunity should be given to everyone who is non-verbal, however in reality the opportunity is not available for everyone, having the resources and support available is just not a reality for many, however with this new evidence maybe doors will now begin to open for those who are not able to communicate verbally. I haven't had many opportunities to work with students who are non-verbal, however I do have a cousin who doesn't speak much, she hasn't been medically diagnosed, my aunt said they believe she has cerebral palsy. This video would astonish my aunt, I plan on sharing it with her and hope that we can begin taking steps to provide this opportunity for my cousin, who has lived in her silenced body for many years. 

Five-Minute Film Festival: The Power of Assistive Technology | Edutopia

Five-Minute Film Festival: The Power of Assistive Technology | Edutopia

Of the many ways that technology enhances our lives, one compelling example is assistive technology (AT) -- tools to help people with learning or motor disabilities complete everyday tasks. In schools, assistive tech can mean the difference between a student falling behind or being able to successfully work alongside other kids in an inclusion model. Check out Edutopia curator Ashley Cronin's new roundup on assistive technology for a comprehensive list of resources; to accompany that, I wanted to share some amazing videos I've found about how technology can empower kids with special needs.

Video Playlist: The Power of Assistive Technology

Watch the player below to see the whole playlist, or view it on YouTube.

4 Tips to Build Student Confidence

4 Tips to Build Student Confidence

APRIL 2, 2014

Photo credit: Thinkstock

For many students, the process of learning new material can feel like swimming in an ocean with fish moving in many different directions. Additionally, the information itself can feel like fish swimming in the minds of students -- overwhelming them, causing anxiety, uncertainty and even fear. They can feel as if what they're trying to learn has no order, especially when context is lacking.

Layering assessment on top of it all can create a maelstrom of stress.

How can we help students feel in control, confident and willing to approach learning new material? How can we help them feel poised for success on assessments and confident with new material?

1. Say It Out Loud

When students encounter material for the first time, it is helpful if they can talk it out with a peer or teacher. This might be in the form of dealing with a vocabulary word, a scientific concept, a math problem, or a verb tense in a world language. The verbal processing that takes place in conversation with a trusted peer or teacher settles the learner, provides an opportunity to try out the language associated with the new topic, and arms him or her with confidence. Through trial, error and immediate feedback, the student now feels more confident setting out on his or her own to tackle the topic.

2. Brain Dump

After learning new material for a set period of time, have students do a brain dump on a blank piece of paper. This serves the purpose of helping the student realize that learning and knowledge acquisition have been happening. It helps to raise student confidence and is also a useful approach for the teacher to receive feedback and see where gaps exist. Consider using this valuable approach with students as soon as they receive an assessment, before attempting to answer any questions. For some students, holding the information inside their head can cause anxiety and confusion. Taking a deep breath, dumping the information on a blank page, and seeing what it looks like prepares the student for success on the assessment. This brain dump then serves as a study guide.

3. Not All in a Straight Line

For many students, learning is not linear. On an assessment, one of the keys to remember is that the first question might not be the best place to start. Sometimes, a student will look at the first question on an assessment and panic, thinking he or she knows nothing. That can derail the rest of the assessment. Instead, students should take a holistic approach, spend some time scanning the entire assessment, and look for a positive entry point where they feel most confident. Similarly, as teachers consider the entry point for learning new material, recognizing that each child may have a different entry point is important, so being multi-modal is critical.

4. Be Visual or Musical

The artist and the musician live inside each student, and tapping into that creative side can unleash the student to learn and acquire knowledge. I can still recall the scene from the 1970s sitcom Happy Days when the musically talented character, Potsie, is trying to study for his biology test. The information is overwhelming him, and he doesn't know where to begin -- until he realizes that putting the vocabulary in the form of a song will help him master the material. Potsie soars from that point on as a student, and the viewer feels his newfound confidence. His teacher can't believe that he actually learned the material, so Potsie proves him wrong by performing the song, "Pump Your Blood."

As educators, we cannot underestimate the sense of being at a loss that some students feel at the outset of a new unit, and even more on assessments that require them to demonstrate mastery.

What strategies have you come up with that help instill confidence in students learning new material and showing mastery on assessments?