MY JOURNEY!

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this blog and sharing my experiences with everyone! It has been a huge learning experience for me! I learned that assistive technology can be used for reading/writing and also for math. I learned about different Math pads and different tools like the electronic abacus. While looking back at previous posts, I can't believe how much I have learned.  When I first begun this blog, I didn't know any of the assistive technology devices and didn't know how to use them. Now, I know all different kinds and I even know where to get them. Pattan is an awesome website that I learned so much about. You can even rent devices to try out with students. How awesome! Thanks for reading my blog. I hope you learned a lot too!!

Implications of asstive technology needed in college

 

There are a few implications of assistive technology for the need in college for transition planning and implementation in high school. These implications make transition planning in high school especially important for students in special education who want to go on to college. IDEA mandates that transition planning needs to begin at 16. These will help students develop assistive technology skills for independence and self-advocacy skills. High schools need to make assistive technology a high priority for the students who need to use it in order to succeed.

 

Differences between rights and requirments of IDEA and ADA

There are differences between the rights and requirements of IDEA and ADA in higher education. Learning that the IDEA does not apply to higher education and that college students have a much greater responsibility if they are to receive accommodations is often a shock for students and their parents. The ADA  means that only those people who are able to meet the technical and academic qualifications for entry into a school, program, or activity.

University of Kentucky Assistive Technology

http://edsrc.coe.uky.edu/www/ukati/toolkit/index.html

 

I found this website to be very helpful as a future educator. It was very welcoming and described what to expect as shown below. Welcome to the Office of Field Experiences and School Collaboration. Our office processes field experience placement applications for university students at designated sites within our field network and coordinates collaborative initiatives with school partners locally and globally. The office also serves as regional headquarters for the Kentucky Teaching Internship Program as well as university headquarters for our overseas student teaching program. 

 

 

 

A augmenative communication system can be designed to meet the communication demands

Communication demands require the attention of augmentative communication. Providing new opportunities for communication for students who use low-tech communication devices does not need to entail time-consuming construction of communication boards.  The vocabulary on each of these communication boards matches the communication demands of each activity. Teachers can meet the communication system needs by meeting each students needs and following their individually designed plan.

 

Assistive Technology Model Operating Guidelines

http://www.otap-oregon.org/Pages/Default.aspx

The Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP) provides training, information, technical assistance and resources regarding the uses of technology for children with disabilities. OTAP services are available to anyone concerned with the needs of Oregon's children with disabilities from birth to age twenty-one. The program is sponsored by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).

This company provides trainings and webinars to help learn more about assistive technology. I would highly recommend this website because it provides helpful resources for all teachers.

 

The importance of the use of augmenative communication at home and the community

The development of a working relationship between school and home is so critical to the success of augmentative communication. Both of these environments reflect different and varied communication demands. They can be coordinated efforts that can significantly increase the likelihood of effective communication. It is strongly recommended that patterns of family functioning and cultural diversity be actively considered at the initial stages of development and throughout the implantation process. Parents are aware of the of the need of communication of conversation with their children to help facilitate their appropriate interactions with others.

Augmenative communication can be intergrated into a IEP

Augmentative communication can be used for all students. Teachers should be able to integrate this into the IEP. Teachers can integrate this into the IEP by adapting the curriculum in order to meet the needs of the learners into he classroom. Also, teachers need to write goals and objectives for augmentative communication users. Next, they should provide ongoing skill development in communication and determine students communication needs. Finally, training others in using augmentative communication system will be helpful for all students especially those with an IEP.

Teachers can overcome learner helplessness!

I have learned some new ways and strategies to help students overcome learner helplessness. First, teachers need to build a daily expectation of communication through specific activities such as choosing the activities during recess, picking a book to read, or identifying where to eat lunch. Also, provide powerful phrases on the device for students to reject or protest something. Next, provide for choice making whenever possible that requires the student to use his or her augmentative communication system. Finally, allow for natural consequences to occur and provide avenues for repair.

 

Activity #2

 

I found a lot of awesome math websites when typing in "web sites for teaching math" into Google.

I found brain pop and brain pop jr. After looking through these sites I found that they offer awesome videos along with class quizzes and after the lesson activities. Also, I found math.com and mathforteachers.com. Both of these sites offer student activities, class lessons, and tips for teaching. Next, I found insidemathematics.org. This site gives great teaching ideas and at home resources to use. Finally, my favorite site was pintrest.com. I have found many of my lesson plan ideas and teacher tips on this website. I would recommend all of these websites to future and current teachers!

VIDEO-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvkER-TrRo0

Activity #1

After exploring virtual manipulatives,  I found that an electric abacus appears in more then one of the grade levels. It is supported by Utah and Utah state university. This virtual manipulative can be integrated into a classroom to enhance student learning. This can be done individually, with small groups, or as a whole class activity. This could be for students with disabilities or just for students who learn best by visually seeing it and then being able to use kinetically to move the abacus. The abacus below is a standard one that could be used in schools for students who qualify for needing one.

Low-tech and High-tech adaptions for students with disabilites in math

Student's with disabilities need adaptions in math. Manipulative is an examples of a low-aid adaption. Also, Onion Mountain Technology makes fraction rubber bands, a manipulative number line, laminated addition and multiplication tables, and a special ruler that has multiple transparent overlays to help students understand the relationship between the different units of measure. Large calculators with oversized buttons are useful for students who lack fine motor control. Talking calculators can also be used for students with visual impairments. The coin abacus and coin-u-lator are designed to help teach basic money counting.