Signing Off

If you asked a teacher what their ideal classroom looked like they would all vary, but there would probably be some common themes between them. I think they probably would include things such as  having students who are motivated to learn, being able to provide lessons and follow up activities that meets the students at their individual learning level, having time to assist all students, and making class interesting to the students. Somewhere covering outcomes might even be mentioned. This may seem like a tall order to some people, even people in the education system, but I would make a bet that if you asked my class if this was possible we would answer with a resounding YES! The best part is that it can also be accomplished for less money then what the schools and boards are currently spending on pricey software programs and archaic technology. I am not saying that the technology they are buying is not good, although some of it really is, but most of what they are purchasing could be replaced with a portable apple product.

If we wanted this ideal classroom to be a reality, which it is in some areas of the country already, then we need to invest in portable devices, wireless access in the schools, and training for teachers on the devices. The possibilities of how an iPad or iPod can be used to benefit students with multiple needs and abilities was demonstrated in our last class through various case studies. The apple products were used with someone as young as grade 1 up to a 31 year old and in varying capacities. They were used to assist with communication, task completion, relaxation, curriculum assessments, and behaviour reinforcement. Many of the case studies were also presented using the iPad through Power Point, Prezi, and Pictello.   
 
I have come to the end of another Assistive Technology course and have heard and discovered even more reasons why the apple products need to placed in the schools. I have heard very few reasons why they should not be implemented into the schools. I have also heard of schools where they have access to these great products and the differences they are making, but why is there a discrepancy? why do not all schools have the same access to technology or wireless internet? Why are we denying students access to a classroom where they are motivated to use the technology, where they can accomplish more in less time, and where there is a universal design for learning capability? For the most part many students have the beginning of this classroom in their pocket everyday.

Does it not say something about the iPad when a group of 20 or so teachers take their first assistive technology class in the summer of 2012 and a handful of them have an iPad; by the time they end their second assistive technology class in the Spring or 2013 only a handful of them don't have an iPad? And the best part, many of these teachers allowed their students to use their personal iPads in their classrooms because they see the immense benefits it can have on student learning. One day all schools and boards will realize the same thing, hopefully it happens sooner rather then later. I can not wait to teach in a classroom where all students have access to a mobile device!  

Dollar Store AT

Over the Easter weekend I went to visit my Grandfather who has Macular Degeneration and therefore has significant vision challenges. He and his wife continue to live on their own with minimal support. I found it interesting to talk to him and hear about the different issues and challenges he faces on a daily basis around the house. I thought I would see what could be found at the Dollar Store to assist him with some of these concerns.

Issue 1: Using the Microwave
My grandfather is unable to see the numbers on the microwave keypad. The keypad is smooth without anything on the keypad that someone would physically know what key their finger was on.
Solution: Number Stickers. At the dollar store you can get stickers that have letters and numbers in the package, sometimes they can be made out of felt or rhinestones. placing these on the keys would allow him to identify what  number he is pressing. He would also need a shape sticker for the cook, start and cancel button. This solution will not allow him to make gourmet meals in the microwave but would allow him to heat up left overs or pop some popcorn.

Issue 2: Finding the Zipper on his Coat
He has the muscle and movement capability of zippering his coat but he takes a while to find the zipper pull. He will locate it and then loose it in his grip.
Solution: At the dollar store you can get numerous ideas for creating a larger more visual zipper pull. Some ideas I found were key chains or even pipe cleaners. 





Issue 3: Identifying the House Key
He still lives on his own (his wife lives with him but with medical issues as well) and has numerous keys for the house. He has a front door, back door, and shed key that all look the same.
Solution: I noticed this solution on pinterest as part of a life hack and discovered that the Dollar store sells many different nail polish colors as well as paint. The three different keys could be painted different colors so he was better able to identify what key was the correct one without having to try them all before finding the right one.



Issues the I did not find solutions for at the Dollar Store

• He has a talking watch that speaks the time to him every hour, or he can press a button that will tell him the time. He doesn't have such a thing for his remote control. He always leaves his tv on channel 8 so when he turns it on his counts up or counts down from channel 8 to get to the one he wants. A talking remote that would tell him what channel he was on would be greatly beneficial.
• He has pots and pans that have clear see through lids. He still likes to cook and can use the knobs on the stove. He went to make eggs the other morning and ended up cracking the egg and pouring it on the lid because he didn't realize that the lid was on. I am sure there is a solution at the dollar store, I just didn't see one when I was there.      

Perhaps you don't know anyone who has vision difficulties and therefore you don't feel this post applies to you. I would say to take the idea that not all assistive technology is expensive. Take a trip to the Dollar Store with a problem or challenge and an open mind and you might be surprised how many issues can be solved or made easier by thinking outside the box.

AT for People with Visual Impairments

Myself along with three other classmates created a separate blog to discuss different options for individuals with visual impairments in terms of assistive technology. Check it out at this link: http://at4viandb.blogspot.ca/  

AT in the Kitchen

As part of our class today we had to look into different low tech tools available to assist people with various tasks. I found this video below on you tube that goes through a tour of a kitchen that is accessible. Some of the items in the kitchen would not be considered low tech and could be very expensive to implement, but some are low tech and would not cost a lot to implement. Many learning centers in the schools have kitchens and this video would be great to watch to see what could be implemented in those kitchens to make them more accessible to the students in the learning center.

Here are three other videos that my classmates found that are interesting. Make sure you check out the last video on Cool Life Hacks. There are some amazing ideas in here for everyone. I would be surprised if someone watched it and didn't learn a new trick.

Video 1: UDL Kitchen Gadgets

 

Video 2: Assistive Tech for Writing

 Video 3: Life Hacks

Ruben R. Puentedura

Ruben R. Puentedura has a blog at this address that discusses his theories and vision of technology in education.

http://hippasus.com/rrpweblog/

He lists the benefits of using technology in education as affordable and mobile. Devices no longer have to be attached to a desk or a wall and stationary in one spot for students to use them. Nor do they have to be transported just from home to school. Students can use their devices any where in the world and transform their education from just occurring in two locations, home and school to occurring anywhere! the world can become a learning zone. 


He has also developed an SAMR theory that looks at how technology can be used in the classroom. The SAMR stands for the following:

Substitution: When teachers are still assigning the same task but using different technology to acheive the task. This use of technology doesn't impact student outcomes significantly.

Augmentation: When using the technology enhances how students are carrying out the task but task is the same.

Modification: When using technology allows students and teachers to reach goals that they couldn't before. The heart of the task remains the same but important parts of the task is modified so students can now meet goals they couldn't before. There is a significant improvement in student outcomes

Redefinition: When old tasks are replaced with new tasks that they couldn't do without technology. Students are teachers reach into new areas that they couldn't before. There is a dramatic improvement in student outcomes and students who are failing are now successful.

In terms of the school I currently work at, we are smack dab in the middle of the Substitution way of using technology. None of the tasks have changed, we still expect the same outcome from the students but sometimes the students have the option of using technology to accomplish this task, sometimes they don't. Much of being stuck at this level is due to the uncomfortableness that our administration feels in regards to technology, another is the lack of technology (which probably some what stems from the first point), there is a lack of teacher knowledge, and there is a lack of technology support. When a device at the school breaks or something needs to be looked at, it can take an extremely long time before it is fixed or updated.  I can not blame where I am at in my classroom with technology implementation entirely on my school. I could be taking more steps to move along the SAMR implementation of technology.

Ruben also suggests 5 categories for looking at how technology can be used in the classroom and to assist teachers in determining what category fits their specific purpose. 

Social: Using Blogs, wiki's, flikr, you tube etc.
Mobile: Devices are mobile so making the information relevant to where they are in the world
Visualization: Allowing the students to go from abstract to concrete. Using maps, time lines, diagrams, etc.
Story Telling: Allowing students to bring together text, image, audio, video. Students will be able to make better and more sense out of information.
Educational Gaming: A way for students to win. Students become interested, intrigued, and motivated to win the game by discovering the learning.

"I DO" QR codes

I thought I would share one of the cards that was put into my wedding invitations. I only recently discovered QR codes this past summer and I coincidentally sent out the save the date cards for my upcoming wedding at the same time. I received numerous complaints from guest that they couldn't get the wedding website on the save the date card to work. Much of the information guests need is on the website so I thought for the wedding invitation I would create a QR code to help them locate our wedding website. Here is is!

Now the only thing that remains to be seen is whether the people who couldn't get on the website will actually be able to figure out what a QR code is.....

 

Pic Collage

Diving Deeper in Pic Collage

In the summer course I fell in love with Pic collage for personal uses. I created scrapbook pictures, facebook profiles pictures, and pictures to print off and decorate my classroom. Today myself and Lacey put on our scuba gear and dove as deep as we could to discover as many ways as possible to use this app in the classroom. We thought about UDL, classroom organization, curriculum support, etc. 
Here are a few things my classmates and Lacey and I came up with:

- Visual schedule

- Introduction to students to the school

- Introduce yourself activity

- Labeling diagrams

- ordering numbers smallest to largest or vice versa

- placing numbers on a numberline

- graphic organizers

  

 Placing coordinates on a graph

 

   

Solving Equations with virtual manipulatives














Labeling a cell

             

                                               Classifying Different shapes

                       

 Biography

Classroom Management for groups or stations

                                     
 Placing numbers on a number line.