Blog for 3/18/2009

Which framework will you use, how will you use it, when, and why? 

I will use the Minnesota Form.  I will use it with a student that I am currently looking at a referral process for AT.  I want to have a complete picture before we start the actual referral and have the family understand why the AT referral is needed for their child.

I have his annual IEP coming up in a May.  I will start the process with my team and family so by the IEP we have a framework for the referral for next year.

I like the Minnesota Form because it is family friendly and very user friendly.  It puts the engima of Assistive Technology aside, and puts it in a way that makes sense to all who would use it.

Blog for 3/4/2009

What kind of "mark" will you leave on your students?

I want them to know that I expect the best from them and will help them reach their potential whatever that is.  My job is to help them find their wings.

Alongside my students, I work closely with parents.  I want to leave a mark on them as well as the teacher who looks for the potential in their child, an advocate for their child, and a helper/mentor in areas they need support in.

Blog for 2/18/2009

I can be a resource to others who have no tech or low tech accessibiity by showing them all the ways that they currently use no tech and low tech devices to help students.  From there, I can help them expand to using additional low tech or no tech items.  Once buy in is there, I could help with some items for a classroom with one computer to show how the low tech items can transfer to high tech and be another way of getting engagement with students.

Blog for 2/11/2009

Blog: How can you use different features in Word for student learning, develop informational literacy in your students, or for your own data management?

I will start using watermarks in all my monthly letters. I will start using speech to text in the classroom as I am writing out thoughts.   I like the aspects of being able to fiddle with word to do forms for more accurate data keeping. I am looking forward to google.sites to get all my classroom information in one setting for parents.

Notes for 2/11/09

Notes for 2/11/09

Sample on website (preschool) of UDL paper.  Check it out to confirm that you are doing it right.

Look at emulators: VMware is supposed to be the best.  Better than bootcamp to have both Mac/PC working.  Can do cut and paste better than bootcamp.

Accessibility tools for : PC version: speech to text (person has to be able to articulate well).  Go to start, control panel, go to speech folder, go to speech recognition.  Make sure you have a good headset. Can do text to speech as well.  Toolbar shows up on the the top of the computer.

Accessibilities options: sticky keys helps students to not press the letter multiple times. Look at all the accessibility options under the PC!!

WACOM tablets would be good for students with fine motor issues. (will draw on tablet and it goes into the computer)

MAC version: Go to apple, system preferences and universal access.  Speech to text is better in a  PC.  Look at notebook version for Word to help with speech to text notes.  It only works in notebook view, no other view.

How do we get students with special needs to "fill the gap" in technology when they are so far behind with students within this country, much less the 28% of the GATE students in China or India.

Look at more options in Microsoft Word for pictures in headers and footers as well as creating watermarks.

Blog for 2/4/2009

How can you use technology to support your teaching strategies and your students' learning?

1)text to speech pairing them with pictures (digital or otherwise) with Boardmaker.

2)Trying the sketchup designs to teach new concepts

3)Doing lesson plans on line to help incorporate more Universal Design of Learning

4)Try some interactive story boards on the touch screen at school.

5) I am looking at the ATTO website and see that I already use a lot of adaptations without thinking of them as assistive technology.  With new insight I will be able to adapt even more and write them more consistently on IEP's.

Notes for 2/4/09

2/4/09 Notes

UDL-Universal Design for Learning

ADA- Examples of ADA not really working, curb cuts not good for blind.  Lower shelves not good for tall people.

UDL-good for all students in your classroom.  Think about how you teach, your student's individual strengths and weaknesses, and their ability to use whatever they can to show that they understand the concept. 

CAST creators of Universal Design for Learning.

Your UDL paper is broken up in two parts: 1) the research found on UDL, 2) how UDL will apply to your classroom.  UDL is due on 2/18/09-2/24/09.  Double spaced, one page title, one page bibliography, One page abstract.  Upload it to TurnItIn.com

plagarism.org

national library of virtual manipulatives; good understanding of concepts

Ideas for themes of preschool and autism: week 13 virtual reality therapy

www.froguts.com dissect a frog online

www.storynory.com 

www.librivox.org  free audio books

www.bookshare.org

www.sd21.org/curriculum/lincoln

Text edit plus ( free for Mac's) will speak text as they are written

solo write out loud-speaks letter each time it is written

www.cepstral.com text to speech with natural voices to them.

QIAT listserv-ask the question how to change the voices from adult to children 

Cepstral may be able to download them into SDPro so there are more natural voices.