Internet Safety Google Site

As a group project, I collaborated on creating a Cyber Safety Web Site using GOOGLE SITES. This site easily allows the user to navigate to the different topic areas (Cyber predators, Cyber Safety, plagiarism and piracy, Inappropriate content, identity safety, and social networks). 
  NETS 4;  advocate , model and teach safe, legal and ethical use of digital information and technology.

Journal Article 10: I Have Something to Say

Runyan, M. (2011). Learning & leading with technology. I Have Something To Say, 39(1),
Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-august-2011.aspx


This article was well tied in to the Journal 9 assignment, on Assistive technology.  The author Martha Runyan gives an excellent review of several IPAD application which are used for those students with varying degrees of communication disorders.  Proloquo2Go is able to link images to create sentences.   There is a keyboard with "Keyboard predication"  built in.  Runyan uses it during a social group time for students to use to answer questions.  The author also gave other examples such as Tap to Talk  for non-communicative students.  Dragon Diction is a speech to text program.  I Talk lite is a free application which students can record themselves reading or even dictate written assignments. 
Question 1:  Why is the IPAD a useful Assistive Technology tool?  
It is a portable devise with so many applications options.  It can be used for anything from  word processing (with speech to text adaptations) to social story boards (daily schedules in picture form).  It has so many capabilities (movies, music, games) that it is very enticing to the regular and special education students.  It is a tool that can be used to encourage these students to work together.  


Question 2:  What are the draw backs to using the IPAD?
  The price of an IPAD starts at $499.  The applications are fairly inexpensive (about $9 a piece).  The same applications can be put on several IPADs.  So the reality of having enough IPADs for each of your students is not impossible, it however is not likely.  There are many technology related grants, as well as special educations funds,&  private donors.  There is also the concern of students losing, breaking or having them stolen.  Having said this, there are many educators who have acquired IPADs and are successfully using them to inspire students to reach their goals.

Journal 9: Adaptive Technology

  Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) are the many methods of communication for those with restrictions or impairments in communicating.  These methods can range from the use of picture cards to the very technologically advanced speech generating devises.  

                                Communication

    A low tech method of communication devise would be anything which is not battery or electronically operated.  The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a widely used example of a low tech communication devise.  It is frequently used with Autism Spectrum Disorder students.  The idea is to teach the student to exchange a picture of a desired item with a care giver/educator.  Eventually adding more pictures and increasing communication as well as speech.  


  A high tech communication devise is anything requiring batteries/electrical input, usually has some storage and retrieval of electronic messaging.  An Example of a high tech devise would be the Essence VT Communication Device.  This is a hand held device which allows the user to use picture recognition, creating and storing text, computer access, has head pointing recognition(has sensors to detect the users head movements to communicate).       

Essence VT

                          Accessibility

  Accessibility, in terms of education,  is used to describe the degree in which special education students can access the regular education classroom.  As a special education teacher, and with inclusion being the model for most schools, this is our goal, to assist our students in access the regular classroom to their fullest potential.  There are many technological tools available to do this.  There are many software programs available.  Jabbla Software; Mind Express, allow teachers to create exercises or communication boards as well as the student to use in the classroom to produce sentences, which can be spoken aloud.  Mind Express has a built in eye tracking device, a picture library and word processing.  This program could allow student with communication difficulties to participate in the regular ed class room.

  The Hitch, hardware devise, plugs in to any PC or Mac.  It allows the user to simulate all mouse functions, use function keys, or navigate using one large button.  

An excellent combination of hard ware and software is the IPAD with applications from companies such as  Good Karma.  The offer apps for visual scheduling, communication and story boarding.  The IPAD can be transported by the student from class to class, there are so many applications which the student could use to access the curriculum and it is such a dynamic devise that would really engage the student as well as draw in the regular education student to encourage peer collaboration.  

http://isaac-online.org/en/aac/technology.html

Inspiration NETS.T

   
   Using the program Inspirations, I created a piece to link my work to each of the National Technology Standards.  There are two artifacts for each standard.  The performance indicators  explain how the work has met the standard.


  NETS 1 & 2, promote, supports and models creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.  Customizes and personalizes learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies and abilities using digital tools and resources.