Final Reflection

What aspects of this course did you find most beneficial?
     I found from this course the most beneficial parts were those that were hands on activities.  The hands on activities we did on the current issues and learned to use can be used beyond the realm of issues in educational technology.  I enjoyed participating in the Collective Intelligence Google Drive assignment as well as creating the Virtual Field Trip and the Google Site the most.  I also somewhat enjoyed learning how to use Twitter (except the contacting other schools in another country assignment choice).  I had an account before but never made myself learn how to use it.  I still find it confusing and do not use every day, but I have found some neat physical education activities.  I also enjoyed learning how to use a blog to post our information in which we have a resource to return to in the future!

What aspects of this course did you find did not meet your needs?  Please make suggestions regarding how your needs might be met. 
     In this course I felt that all activities met my needs to learn and understand current issues in educational technology.  I did not enjoy reading many of the articles.  Many of the articles were long and drawn out.  I did enjoy looking at the website articles though because it is more than just looking at a PDF with tiny font that were dull and tedious to read (sorry).

What topics in this course were most interesting to you?
     I enjoyed the topics of BYOD, Collective Intelligence, Blended Learning, and trouble shooting.  I think I enjoyed these topics the best because they were more hands on activities that went along with the topic.  I enjoyed BYOD because our school has implemented a BYOD policy this year.  The trouble shooting activity was great because it also gave great resources for issues we may have with technology and have the resources to help trouble shoot them.

What topics in this course were least helpful/interesting?
     I thought the least helpful/interesting topics were the Cultural Diversity and the Twitter assignment choice of contacting someone from another country.  I first started with this and contacted several different schools in which never responded until 2 weeks after the fact so it was pointless and a waste of time for the assignment in my case.  I then had to rush and create a virtual field trip since I never heard back from anyone, which turned out pretty neat though I thought.  It ended up being one of my favorite parts of this class.  I loved creating the website and learning more on a country that I knew from my Aunt and Uncles foreign exchange student.

How did your knowledge of issues in educational technology evolve over the semester?  Did you have an “Aha” moments?
     My knowledge of issues in educational technology evolved over the semester.  I wouldn’t say I learned as much as I could because of the way we were presented the information.  I’m not one that enjoys reading a bunch of PDF articles and then summarize them.  I learned more from the hands on activities that we did.  However, I have a blog now that has the information learned that I can refer back to when necessary!

     I would say my “Aha” moment was about blended learning.  With researching more on this topic and especially looking into how it would work for physical education.  I think it would be neat to incorporate blended learning into my physical education program which I have the knowledge and resources on how to do this.

Any other thoughts you want to share…
    Overall, to be honest, I thought in the beginning this was going to be the longest course due to all the reading.  The reading was definitely not my favorite part.  I wouldn’t say it was my favorite course because I don’t learn the best by just reading and summarizing, I learn more by doing hands on activities.  I feel that if there were more hands on activities each week, it would make this class a bit more fun and not so tedious because of the amount of reading.  Just my thoughts.

Blended Learning - Professional Development Workshop

Below is a link to my Blended Learning Professional Development Workshop Google Site

https://sites.google.com/site/blendedlearning575/

Activity #13

Web Anywhere

Web Anywhere was initially released in 2008.  Web Anywhere allows everyone, especially visually impaired individuals to view and browse the web from any computer.  It is really easy to access from anywhere (expect at my school – it’s blocked) since it is web-based in which no program or software needs to be downloaded.

Advantages of Web Anywhere include:

• Free to use
• No software download required
• Works on any device that is web-enabled
• No special permissions required
• Fast start up
• Beta version – large font on what it is reading at the top.

Disadvantages of Web Anywhere include:

• The commands were difficult to remember.
• The speech is very hard to understand.
• Can’t help with word processing or other computer tasks.

When I went to my blog I noticed it changed my apostrophes (‘) into three dots (...).  When it was reading it to me it was very hard to understand.  I felt that this would be the most challenging part if someone was blind and couldn’t see somewhat of what was going on.  I guess you would get used to it eventually.  Once I switched to the Beta version, I felt it was much easier to understand what was going on because it highlighted what was being said and I could follow along with it as it was displayed in large font at the top of the screen.  This would be useful for someone who is visually impaired to be able to see and hear the text.  I felt the commands were difficult to remember until I decided to take a picture of the screen on my phone so I could have them in front of me while I navigated around the pages.  Until the commands were memorized, it would be difficult to use but by using it often you would learn them and then it would be relatively simple to use.  As for accessing my blog with impaired vision, I would recommend the Beta version as you can follow along with what is being read.  I feel that the visitor wouldn’t have any issues accessing it and having everything read aloud to them, getting past the difficulty of understanding the voice.  In the future, I feel that this website, if unblocked at the school, could be used along with headphones to benefit our first grade student who is visually impaired.  The Beta version would allow this student to follow along with what is being read on the screen.  I say this in the future because of the commands needed to be learned and when researching different websites would take place.  Overall, once I figured it out, it was relatively easy to use.

Reflective Post #13

Assistive Technology

The website gives an outline of Assistive Technology (AT) that are computer-related.  Assistive technology can be very simple or very complex.  It defines Assistive Technology as “any device or system that helps to improve the functional capacity of people with disabilities”.  It is usually divided into three categories which are low-, medium-, and high tech.  Example of low-tech would include a non-electronic devise such as a stand for a laptop.  Medium-tech would be devices that are more complicated such as a mouse or keyboard.  High-tech is a more “sophisticated communication and computer control systems”.  These would include things that would need training and support that are designed for those with little communication or functioning abilities.

The website also includes information that explains different tools of AT and applications that are available.  The tools and applications in which AT is outlined include keyboards, mouse, voice recognition, touch screens, switches and scanning, on-screen keyboards, visual, hearing and speech impairment.

Assistive Technology: Tools that Help with Learning

This article talks about how important it is to know what AT is to be able to use the correct tools for the student that is in need.  This website defines assistive technology (AT) as “any device, piece of equipment or system that helps a person with a disability work around his challenges so he can learn, communicate or simply function better”.  This website also gives a list of AT tools.  Those on an IEP, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires the team on which AT is needed for the child.  It also states that the “school district is responsible for choosing and purchasing the technology” along with training the staff and child on how to use it.  However, those students on 504’s, the schools aren’t required to purchase or train the teachers/child on how to use it but should “consider it as an accommodation”.  The article talks about how it is important to know that AT doesn’t cure learning and attention or make up for ineffective teaching but is to assist in the child’s learning.

Reflection

I thought the Assistive Technology was an interesting read.  I really looked into the visual impairment section.  We have a first grader who is visually impaired in which I have been working with in the computer lab during my practicum experience.  We have a keyboard that has a larger font for the keys and is also colored yellow.  I know the text enlargement is used for this child to be able to see the screen.  The text-to-speech option would also be good to know, possibly in the future for this student.  Once I clicked on the different tools and applications, and read all of the different uses for each, it is a good resource to have.  I thought it was neat how many different ways to access and use just the keyboard for those with disabilities.  Just like in physical education class, you have to adapt to the different learners along with disabilities in all other classes as well and this website gives great AT resources!

The second article, Assistive Technology: Tools that Help with Learning, is a good resource for parents.  It breaks down into sections that explains it all in simple terms to understand.  I think it is important for everyone to understand what AT is and understand how the various AT can help assist their child’s/students learning.  I like how it explained more about AT within the lines of IDEA with IEP and 504’s.  Overall, I enjoyed learning more about AT with both websites and will keep them bookmarked for the future.