Journal 8- Adaptive Technology

Tools for Communication

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC for short) is considered all forms of communication, excluding oral speech, that are used to communicate the feelings of a person. These feelings include wants, needs, thoughts and ideas. A few examples of AAC are writing, making facial expressions, drawing pictures, or communication aid tools. AAC is used most often by those whose hearing or oral speech is impaired, (asha.org).

No tech tool to aid in the communication process: American Sign Language

American Sign Language is a tool used often both in and outside of the classroom in order to assist special needs students with communication. As a student of American Sign Language, I have seen this tool used nearly every day for two years, and it has proven to have a high success rate. American Sign Language is most often used to enhance communication for deaf or hard of hearing people. It is a language that combines gestures, hand movements and signs, and also facial expressions. This language can be used as a tool for children and adults who have the ability to fully move their hands and arms, and "have adequate fine-motor coordination skills to make fine-grained production distinctions between hand shapes,"(asha.org). With American Sign Languages comes an entire alphabet, and a specific movement, gesture, or hand shape for nearly every word in the dictionary. This language includes grammar so one is able to form complete and comprehensible sentences to anyone who understands the language. ASL can be extremely effective in aiding students who cannot use oral speech, and also who are hearing impaired.

High tech tool to aid in the communication process: ChooseIT Literacy

ChooseIT Literacy is an application that can be easily downloaded to any Apple product to assist special needs students in the communication process. With the help of this application, students can enhance their listening skills, letters, sounds, alphabet, every day words, and more. This high tech device assists students in their literacy skills. It is also available in the form of a CD if an Apple device is not available in the household. Many activities are included in this device, and it is based on a positive reinforcement strategy. This device helps students in communicating how they feel, what they think, or ideas they may have. It also aids in their listening skills, if they are not hearing impaired.

Tools for Accessibility

An input device is any piece of hardware equipment that can provide data and information to a computer. Without input devices, a computer would simply be a screen with no mouse or keyboard. Through use of input devices, a person is able to send a signal and a command to the computer.

Hardware option to assist with accessibility: Loop/Ring Mouse

Input devices such as a keyboard or a mouse are often difficult for special needs students to use because their hands and fingers often slip off. A simple loop has been added to a laptop size mouse in order to assist special needs students in computer accessibility. This input device is a regular mouse, but has an added loop or ring to keep the "clicker finger" in place, which prevents fingers from slipping due to dexterity issues. This hardware device would be helpful in any classroom with students who need assistance in using a mouse for more simple accessibility to the computer.

Software option to assist with accessibility: Click-N-Type Virtual Keyboard

The Click-N-Type Virtual Keyboard is a software used to provide computer accessibility to even those who cannot physically use a keyboard to type. The on screen keyboard can be used by anyone who can control a mouse, touch screen, trackball, joystick, etc. Any program on the computer can be used with this virtual keyboard, so students would be able to more easily type an assignment, project, or essay. This software is also free, so it is extremely accessible for anyone who may be in need of keyboard assistance.

Other useful resources:
Amber
David
Jenny

Journal 7: My Personal Learning Network

1. PLN is an acronym for Personal Learning Network, as one can note from the title of this post. The main goal behind having a PLN is to find people to learn from, connect with, share with, etc. Most of the people in one's PLN have similar interests such as teaching a particular subject, or researching a broad topic. A PLN can be created through many websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Diigo, LinkedIn, Skype, Blogspot, Pinterest, and nearly any other social networking site in existence. As a student working to become a teacher, I benefit most from having a PLN because I can interact with and learn from current teachers. I have already had several teachers from CSUSM contact me and extend an offer for help if I need any in the future. I am also able to connect with students who are on the same path as I am in order to form a support system while working our way through the credential program. When I do become a teacher, I will benefit from having a PLN because I will be able to exchange ideas and information with other teachers. I will be able to reach out to other high school educators if I have any questions, need any help, or desire feedback on a particular lesson plan.

2. The majority of the people I am following on Twitter are in my PLN because of my ED422 class. I will always have the opportunity to connect with my fellow students as we are all on the path to becoming teachers. In my PLN on Twitter, I also have several teachers suggested by my current ED422 professor, Professor Heil. Most of these teachers are at my current college, CSUSM. I am also following several student teachers, also recommended by Professor Heil, who are involved in the single subject English program. My education chat on Twitter was quite a hectic experience, but I also was able to add people who's insights I agreed with and privileged to my PLN. Since my laptop at home crashed about a year ago, and EdChat met on Tuesday March 27th at 9:00am, I had to participate in the chat on my iPhone. Although this technique sufficed and I was able to actively follow and contribute, next time I will be on a laptop or desktop so I have a larger screen to follow along with the chat. Going into this chat, I had knowledge that it was a popular chat and would be fast paced. A few times I got lost and trying to catch up only made it worse. I noticed there was one person who continually would post the topic of the chat, which was helpful for the latecomers. This particular topic was about the idea of using coaches/specialists in the classroom instead of observers. Many people spoke about the differences, or if they were the same. Everyone had ideas, opinions and questions about this particular subject. I only asked one question, (because I was slightly intimated by the pace of the chat) and it was about how one would find the coaches/specialists, and how much more money people would be forking out. The question was retweeted, and one person said we would extend out into our own communities. It was nice knowing that I could add something to the chat and not be disregarded.

3. Diigo is a social bookmarking website which allows users to bookmark, tag, and share websites, journals, articles, blogs, etc. It is an essential tool for current and future educators alike. Not only am I able to connect with other individuals, but I have full access to infinite websites with information that could help me in my future. I currently am following educators who I found off other educators' Diigo (such as Professor Heil), and also a few students in my ED422 class. One website I tagged PLN is about students complaining that they are bored in the classroom. The writer of this article looks for ideas to help prevent boredom, and also asks teachers to question why the student may be bored. It will be a useful tool when I have my own students and classroom. I also tagged "This Week in Education" which is a website containing current news and events in education. The last website tag is a blog that also has current educational news, but since it is a blog and is written by a blogger, not a newscaster, the posts contain some comedic relief.

4. For the digital discussion forum, I joined the Educators PLN, which is a "personal learning network for educators." This website has a forum where people can post questions, ideas, articles, etc, and receive feedback from any other member of the community. It also has videos, events, and blogs all regarding education. The blogpost I reviewed is about standardized testing and is called "The World 'Because Of' Standardized Testing! (A Little Teacher Humor). Since I have just started researching the cons of these tests in the past few years, I found myself cracking up at this post. It contains four jokes about how standardized testing is negatively affecting students' education and knowledge.