Two Best Readings

We had the opportunity to read many good chapters this semester.  Two of the chapters stand out as being very influential for incorporating technology in the field of Library Science.  First, I enjoyed reading Chapter 6 in Technology in the School Library by Odin Jurkowski (2006).  This chapter, entitled School Library Websites, discusses how media specialists can incorporate a website as a means of information for their students.  One of the main advantages is how quickly librarians can give updates on resources and materials.  Students and teachers can access information about the library from any location with the Internet, not just within the four walls of the library.

Jurkowski (2006) suggests that when beginning a website, be sure to have goals in mind.  It is recommended to include links to specific teachers, the library catalog, databases, local sites of interest, and your contact information.  It is also important to choose the software used to create and update the website.  It is critical that the librarian chooses what can be easily maintained and updated.  Considerations must be made if it will be hosted on the district’s website or an outside host.  Further, the website should have a design that is aesthetically pleasing, combining fonts, colors, and graphics.  It should be easy for patrons to navigate and locate information including younger children. 

I maintain a website for my second grade class and plan to continue this if I ever work in a school library position.  This chapter is a wealth of information for how to get started and what to include on a school library website.

The second chapter I read that I felt was valuable was Chapter 7, Online Social Networking by Brian S. Mathews located in the book, Library 2.0 and Beyond: Innovative Technologies and Tomorrow’s User, edited by Nancy Courtney (2007).  Online social networking has simply exploded in the past few years and it is important to include these technologies with students.  They are already familiar with many social networks such as blogs, MySpace, and Facebook.  Introducing the social networks into a library’s curriculum will appeal to young patrons.  “Social networking websites enable libraries to enter the social sphere of these younger patrons and to present a modern image,” (Mathews, 2007).  The library can be highlighted through photos, blogs, and online tours.  I think that it is so important to take advantage of social networks to increase the library’s exposure and enhance access to information. 

Jurkowski, O.L. (2006). Technology and the school library: A 


     comprehensive guide for media specialists and other 


     educators. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

Mathews, B. S. (2007). Online social networking. In N. Courtney (Ed.),  

   

     Library 2.0 and beyond: Innovative technologies and tomorrow’s 

     user (pp. 75-89). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Assistive Technology-Module 5

The Discovering Assistive Technology was very informative and I learned many new things about Assistive Technology products.  I especially liked learning about the software called the iCommunicator.  Having a deaf child in my second grade classroom last year was a tremendous experience and I learned so much about people living with a disability.  I know that my students benefited from having that child in my class as well.  We could see first hand how this child lived each day and overcame the challenges she faced.  Here is a link to a CD called Sound Hearing.  This CD and booklet really helped my students to understand what hearing was like for this child.  Examples are provided of a person reading a sentence with hearing, some hearing loss, and severe hearing loss.  I asked my students to imagine if that is what they heard everyday, all day, and how difficult that must be.  This CD truly opened their eyes to what their fellow classmate experienced with her hearing loss.

I absolutely plan to recommend this tutorial to other colleagues because it is important for all educators to understand what is available in the area of Assistive Technology.  I enjoyed reading the list of books on Library Thing and plan to read several books from the list.  I purchased many books with deaf characters and about sign language for my classroom when I had a deaf students because it was important to me to read about this disability and because I knew my students would benefit from them as well.

Thank you for a wonderful tutorial on Assistive Technology!

Assistive Technology-Module 4

Shelley White, injured in September 2001 by a powered parachuting accident, acquired a C5 spinal cord injury.  She is a learning support teacher at my school and gave a presentation to my class.  Shelley wrote a book about her accident called, New Opportunities, about a porcupine named Spiney that had an accident resulting in a spinal cord injury.  She gives school visits to teach children about having a disability and how it doesn't have to hold a person back.  You can visit her website and learn how this teacher decided to use her disability to teach children.  She truly is an inspiration to both children and

adults.

       

I took the quiz relating to people with disabilities and did very well with it.  I feel that my knowledge and attitude is appropriate for a teacher and I have good etiquette when talking to people that have a disability.  I was not surprised by the results and correct answers given in the quiz.  

When doing a web search on Assistive Technology I found five websites that had useful knowledge.

http://www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?109

Access IT, The National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education, University of Washington

This website provides the reader with a definition of Assistive Technology and over 160 articles about accessible information such as web pages, instructional software, and telecommunications and office equipment.

http://www.abledata.com/

AbleData is a website that gives the reader information about assistive technology products and equipment.  They do not sell the actual products, but help people locate the companies that do sell the products.  There are over 36,000 products listed, resource listings, and a library of publications about assistive technology.

http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html

This website was created as a guide for families learning about Assistive Technology.  There is a definition of AT provided as well as a guide to making AT decisions and funding for AT.  There are links to Advocating for Assistive Technology, examples, and may articles that families can explore.

http://www.wati.org/

Wisconsin CESA Districts

This website provides a lending library, free publications, classroom materials, and learning opportunities for Assistive Technology.  The free materials are outstanding and discuss topics such as AT for Communication, AT for Computer Access, AT for Reading, AT for Recreation and Leisure, as well as materials for those who read Spanish as their main language.

http://www.abilityhub.com/

This informational website provides the user with Computer Access Solutions for the blind, deaf, and those with learning disabilities.  Ability Hub provides consulting, evaluation, and training in Assistive Technology products and devices.  There is a plethora of information about mouse and keyboard alternatives, speech recognition software, and links to related searches.

Assistive Technology-Module 3

Software Company Price Features         Inspiration Inspiration     Software, Inc. $69.00 for one license,          $895.00 for 20 licenses Concept Maps,    KWL, Charts,        Tree Diagrams Kurzweil         3000 Kurzweil     Educational    Systems,       Cambium        Learning  Technologies Learn Station    $395,      Professional BW $1095,   Professional     Color $1495, Learning Lab     Pack BW $1995, Learning Lab     Pack Color $2695 The program           will read text             for the student,       rate of reading       and voice can be adjusted, Definitions can be heard for vocabulary,      Scanner   compatability Windows Demos Microsoft Cost of       purchasing a PC Windows Touch, Magnifier, Accelerators,        Ease of Access Center InfoEyes Mid-Illinois         Talking Book      Center Free Question and      answer service        for people with         visual       impairments Software Good Bad       Inspiration Helps students       with learning      through visuals, training resources for teachers Costly to buy  licenses for many computers Kurzweil 3000 Extra support for students who struggle with reading, writing, and study skills, training for     teachers Specific    Make/Model of scanners        required for    teachers to add    their material Windows Demos Text read aloud, text enlarged, adjust magnifier, control without a keyboard or      mouse Not available for MacBook InfoEyes iVocalize Software  is utilized, tips are provided for both the user and the communicator Scheduling is required for use

______________________________________________
I can implement assistive technology in my school through various means.  Simple items such as pencil grippers or using a piece of paper to allow students to focus on one question at a time will help learners.  More extensive items can be used with children who have special needs.  An FM System is used by a student that was in my class last year so that she can hear her teachers with special hearing aides.  The  Occupational Therapist at my school uses a special putty for students to build up the strength in their hands.  In the library, magnifiers could be used for students who have visual difficulty.  There are endless ways to implement assistive technology and it is exciting that we live in a world where this technology is available!!

Assistive Technology-Module 2

Hardware Selection

Population

The Assistive Technology hardware selected is for students in an elementary school who are hard of hearing.  These students wear hearing aides and have sign language interpreters with them for every class they attend. 

Hardware

The hardware choice selected is a Personal FM System.  This technology allows a student to wear special hearing aides while the teacher wears a microphone.  The teacher’s voice is transmitted to the hearing aides and amplified so that the student can hear what is being said.  The voice is transmitted at a constant level regardless of the distance between the teacher and student and background noise is diminished.  There is an auxiliary input that allows the FM system to be plugged into any audio source.  The cost is $609.00-$775 depending on the model selected.  It can be purchased through EnableMart at the following link: http://www.enablemart.com/Catalog/Amplification-Systems/Motiva-Personal-FM-System. 

The FM transmitter is easy to use and does not require much training.  There is an On/Off switch and there is a mute button for when the teacher wants to speak, but does not want the student to hear what is being said. The transmitter needs to be charged at the end of each school day.  Further, the student should switch from his or her regular hearing aides to the special hearing aides that come with the system.

Needs Assessment

The purpose of this technology is to enhance the teacher’s voice for the hard of hearing student.  It is a sturdy piece of hardware, mobile, and it can be used in a variety of situations within the school setting.  Students can learn both academics and social skills more effectively when they have the ability to hear.  This technology would not take the place of a sign language interpreter, but rather increase the understanding and comprehension of school activities.  A certified audiologist would evaluate and monitor the student as well as help fix the FM System if any technical issues arise.

The Personal FM System would be used during all instructional time during the school day.  The student would put the special hearing aides in as soon as he or she arrives to school and then give the microphone to the classroom teacher.  The FM system would then be used during classroom instruction time.  The teacher would have to be cognizant of when lessons transition from whole group instruction to small group instruction or individual help.  The FM System has a mute button that should be utilized when the instruction is not directed at the hard of hearing student, so that he or she can concentrate on tasks.  This system is extremely sensitive allowing the student to even hear a whisper by the teacher.  The FM System is very portable and would follow the student to all instructional classes such as Library, Music, Art, and Physical Education so that the instruction is amplified.  It would also be taken to Computer class and plugged directly into the computer so that sounds from the computer could be heard.      

The use of this technology would greatly help the hard of hearing student and he or she would feel appreciative that there is this kind of technology available.  Use of the sign language interpreter is important, but the FM System can allow the student to feel more independence in school.  The interpreter is always a little behind from what the teacher is saying and the hard of hearing student can feel behind from the rest of the class.  The FM System allows the student to comprehend what the teacher is saying in real time.  The interpreter and the FM System can work together to make sure that the hard of hearing student has access to all of the instruction occurring in every lesson.

                                                                                                

Assistive Technology-Module 2

Assistive Technology Solutions
There are a plethora of solutions for assistive technology and a great number of devices that can help our special needs students.  As I browsed through the products on EnableMart I found several that would be useful accommodations for students at my school.  The Ergonomic Keyboards and Mice would be appropriate for our students who visit our Occupational Therapist for strength and coordination training.  The Desktop Video Magnifiers would be helpful for those students with low vision.  Finally, the Go Talk One message device would be a benefit for our Autistic students as they can hear the names for common objects.


Simple Accommodations in Three Situations
If I had to implement a simple accommodation to assist my students with processing or attention deficits I would provide them with copies of notes for my lessons so that they do not need to take notes, but could focus on what I was saying.  These students need to focus on the speaker, and would not be able to keep up if note taking were required.  For students that have an Occupational or Physical Therapist, a pencil gripper and thicker pencil could be provided.  These students struggle with handwriting, and this would be a simple way to enhance their writing tool.  Finally, for the deaf or hard of hearing students at my school I could make sure to reduce the background noise as much as possible, place these students in the front of the room, and make sure that all videos are closed captioned.  

Helpful Website and Assistive Technology Hardware

Watching the YouTube link about Leigh-Anne Tompkins was very eye opening.  She was born with a lack of oxygen, which led to cerebral palsy, but that disability did not stop her from graduating magna cum laude in Fine Arts.  She uses Assistive Technology to operate her computer and she even started her own company.  A software program provided her voice for the video and a track ball for her foot allowed her to create pictures on the computer.  It was absolutely amazing to see how far this woman had come and what she has already accomplished in her life!

I think that it is wonderful that there are so many Assistive Technology options for people with disabilities.  I know that there are many things I take for granted in my life and I didn't even realize the scope of what is available for people with disabilities.  It is so important for all students to have the same learning opportunities and AT hardware can provide that to them!

  

Assistive Technology-Module 1

We have now moved into another area of study--Assistive Technology.  It is so interesting to read about and listen to people with disabilities and how they can overcome their struggles to live their lives everyday. I had a deaf child in my second grade class last year and was face to face with the challenges that arise just from daily living.  She opened my eyes to the possibilities that are out there and the determination that is required to experience life to the fullest.

The National Federation of the Blind's website is filled with programs to learn about Braille.  If I were introducing this to my students, I would love to get the Braille is Beautiful program because it is a hands-on program that teaches students an understanding toward blind people and that Braille can be fun.

I am sure that I would approach having a blind student in my room the same way I approached having a deaf student in my room.  I bought a bunch of books from Amazon about deaf children and books that had deaf children as main characters so that I could share them with my hearing students.  I also taught the rest of my class sign language whenever possible so that they could share in what was happening between the interpreter and the deaf student.  I would want my students to understand what it is like to be blind and to have an appreciation of what life is like with that disability.

I was glad to be introduced to the National Center for Learning Disabilities website and link for teachers.  As a second grade teacher, every year I am faced with a student (if not more) that has a learning disability.  This website will give me wonderful strategies to try out as well as different ways to reach the student.