Who's going to teach us?

As the amount of technology changes in schools many teachers are falling farther behind in their ability to properly instruct their students. Many states have technology standards that students must meet and master each school year. However, many teachers have not been properly trained in how to use the various forms of technology that their schools have to offer. In my school our "tech" spends most of his day fixing problems and trouble shooting other issues. There is little to no professional development in regards to the software and hardware that we have at our disposal. Many teachers only allow their students to use the software and hardware that they themselves feel comfortable with.
I guess I feel that if we want our students to benefit from all the resources that they have available, then the school system needs to develop training for the teachers so that they may also be successful using the technology.

Typing Skills?

So we all know the benefits of students using computers, the Internet, other technology, etc. But do we ever teach them how to type so that they can use technology more efficiently? Do we assume that they already know how to type? I guess I'm thinking more about elementary-aged students. I remember learning to type in a pilot program way back in second grade, but it only lasted another year or so. I get so excited to take my students into the computer lab for lessons, but then we never are able to finish because they typing part takes them so long. I watch them go from super excited with huge smiles to holding their heads in their hands out of frustration. When it takes them so long, they lose motivation and lose sight of the purpose of the lesson. This article provides an overview about why students should learn to type. Here are some interesting free, online games for learning to type. In the past my students have used Type to Learn software (not this new version), although we never seemed to have enough time to use it to its potential.
My questions to you are: Should primary-aged students be required to learn typing skills so that they can be proficient by the end of elementary school? Who should teach them: a computer teacher or the homeroom teacher? What programs should be used?

Assistive Technology Tools for the Classroom

The Individual with Disabilites Education Act (IDEA, 1997 20 USC Ch. 33 Sec 1401) defines assistive technology devices as "any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off a shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability." I have listed below some of the most common assistive technology tools available to classroom teachers to ensure that every student in the classroom has equal access and inclusion in the learning process. Some of these tools are considered "low" tech and some are "high" tech:

For Visual Disabilities:

1. Eyeglasses
2. Large Print Books
3. Audio Books
4. Braille Stylus
5. Braille Writer
6. Braille Printers
7. Speech output or feedback computers and
8. Screen Readers

For hearing disabilities:

1. Hearing Aids
2. Headphones (to keep listener on focused and on task)
3. TDD/TYY phone devices
4. Real time captioning
5.Assistive listening devices
6. Phonic ear
7. Vibrotactile switch
8. Communication boards

For Access:

1. Adapted common tools (like big pencils)
2. T bar to assist with typing
3. Adaptive mouse
4. Mouth stick to press keys on the keyboard
5. Switches
6. Head Pointers
7. Foot Pedals
8. Onscreen keyboards

These lists are not intended to include all of the wide range of assistive devices, but rather the show the wealth of tools that are available to classroom teachers to ensure inclusion of all students in the educational process. It also shows that while the use of many devices is prohibitive due to their cost, there may be other tools that can be used instead. Also many teachers have been able to modify or adapt other devices for use in the classroom. For more information on the wealth of assistive technology tools available to classroom teachers, see:

http://www.abledata.com/

Assistive Technology

It has been really interesting this week looking into assistive technology. It is amazing what is out there but wow how costly it is. The least restricitve environment is an awesome ideal but I would be interested to know if it is really monitored and how closely it is adhered to. What really made me think was the trouble I am having with Dreamweaver, and how I feel it is hindering my learning. This scenario is one that a special needs student could experience everyday. Although they may have been provided with assistive technology, if it is not presented in a manner that gels with their learning style or dextrous abilities, or comfort level then they will not enjoy using it and that will color their view of the class, subject material and may diminish their engagement and cause frustration for them. I guess what I concluded was that just because assistive technology is available, it is not necessarily a magic wand and a panacea to the special needs student's needs. We must not assume any subsequent performance shortfall is a result of inability or lack of application of effort. Our assumed solutions may be at the opposite end of the scale of least resistive environment from the one we intended.

Student use of social media and internet

I think teachers are fearful about inappropriate use of internet time with students free surfing during lessons, especially perhaps the older grades. At my place of work certain web sites are blocked, for example I cannot access my msn email from there. Certain images with a particular pixel count in specific colors are also blocked. Incoming or outgoing emails with certain words that are deemed inappropriate or unbusinesslike are also blocked. I am not sure who decides on those. I think we need to be brave, trust the students, set ground rules and introduce meaningful review mechanisms.

Web Accessibility OR Why Target Got Sued!

In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1998, to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to persons with disabilities. 29 USC Section 794 d. Section 508 was enacted to ensure that persons with disabilities have the same access to websites and other information and electronic technology as persons without disabilities. This law works in conjuction with the American Disabilities Act to ensure web accessiblity to persons with disabilities. In 2006, a blind California resident and the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) sued Target claiming that its website was not accessible using screen access technology. Screen access technology converts web pages, text and other information on the internet to braille or synthesized speech. Examples of screen acess technology are Jaws for Windows and Window Eyes. The lawsuit alleged that Target had not made their website accessible and that those using the website who had visual disabilities could not access the site to make purchases, redeem giftcards, find store locations and perform other functions the same way that sighted customers could. The lawsuit further alleged that Target's failure to make its website accessible to persons with visual disabilities violated among other things the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Target and NFB reached an agreement on behalf of a national class of "legally blind persons who have tried to access the Target website" requiring them to:

1. Take steps, in consultation with the NFB, to make its website accessible for persons with visual disabilities.
2. Make its website fully accessible to persons with visual disabilities by February, 2009, meaning that from that point on access its website would be the same for the visual impaired as it is for persons without visual impairments.
3. Pay damages in the amount of 6 mllion in damages to be shared by plaintiffs who submit valid claims from the California class and donate $20,000 in the name of the original plaintiff to establish a California Center for the Blind.

Social Media

As shown on the chart, today's students have a huge presence online. By incorporating social media and technology in the classroom, teachers can increase student motivation to learn and increase student interaction. The use of social media in the classroom immediately lends itself to student collaboration and cooperation. Also students are more apt to share their projects and writings through this avenue than through traditional ones. Students will be able to evaluate, share and make comments on their classmates post. They can also work in groups to create projects and content. Also by using social media, students can have greater access to the teacher or a classmate for feedback or assistance. While there are some risks involved with having students post online, teachers can reduce such risks by making sure they can review and approve student comments before they are posted online and also teachers can create blogs on sites such as kidblog.org that are more kid-friendly and safer than other blog sites. Given the number and ages of students who now have a presence online, it just makes good sense to incorporate these trends into classroom instruction.

Student Accountability

As I considered how to blogs with my students, a ton of ideas went running through my head. At the end of each lesson idea, I kept coming back to, "students will need to respond to all other students." (I have small groups, so this would be managable and appropritate for them) This made me realize that when students are blogging, in addition to being motivated, they are held accountable because others will see and need to respond to their posts. It's not like an assignment that gets lost in the "not done yet" side of their school folders. Students will want to read classmates' work and see the responses to their own. I think this is a great opportunity for students to experience and learn about accountability. I can only imagine the types of teachable moments that could arise. I also like that blogs make it easier for teachers to see who has posted, how many times, how often, and quickly get an overview of the quality of posts. Here is a teacher's blog entry about how she uses blogs with her middle school aged after school ESL progam. She provides links to the students' blogs - and they are very powerful. It appears that the students really opened up about their experiences and hopes for the future.

Weaving Dreams

Well, I have struggled this week with Dreamweaver...what horrible software that is - incredibly user unfriendly. I found my errors were due to a space in the page title...where does it tell you not to do that?
Anyway, maybe I thought, this is where blogs are helpful because there may be a Dreamweaver users blog somewhere that could have helped me. I think someone should collate software users blogs in a giant anthology of software user blogs.
If there was such a thing we could go there to find out if someone has previously blazed a trail through the mire.

Blogging

think blogging would be very benefitial in a math classroom. As a math resource teacher I see that many students and teachers have trouble expressing how math is used in the real world. In a math blog students could blog weekly on how the skills that they learned during the week would relate into real world applications. Teachers could also use the blog to give a real world problems or situations, students could then blog about how they would solve the problem and what math skills would be needed. In my state (MD) students need to be able to express there thinking using BCR's. Many students do not like answering these BCR's because teachers tend to focus on the writing aspect of it and students tend to loose interest. However, having students express there thinking in blogs for others to read would give these students the practice of expressing their ideas in a setting that is not the normal paper and pencil format.

PS - Thanks Jamie, I was wondering were it went last night. If I can't post a blog in the right place how can I expect my students to? Oh wait, they will be teaching me about blogging....LOL

Weird medium...

This is a weird medium - a cross between a journal, a soapbox, and a newsletter. I am not at all familiar with blogs or blogging but I have been searching for some cool ones and found the following:

www.whitehouse.gov/blog

www.elearnspace.org

http://www.inside.isb.ac.th/

Claire

Image from www.zazzle.com

Tagging

I recently read a post in the Cool Cat Teacher blog that gave 10 tips for effective blogging. Although I wrote about this article in the discussion last week, I decided to take one of those tips: tagging, and explain it in more detail. Tagging is commonly used in blogs, the poster creates a list of adjectives or keywords to describe, identify and/or to classify images or text within their post. The difference between regular classification and tagging is that the blogger creates the tag and uses it to identify how he or she wants their blog to be classified.

Webpages and blogs with identiacal tags will then be linked together, allowing users to search for similar content. If the blog iis made public, then the tag can act as a bookmark so that users can return to your content by searching for the keyword or tag or label placed on your blog. Of course, you want to make your tags relevant to the subject of your post, otherwise your post won't be very relevant for research purposes!

I've added a few tags at the bottom of my post. How would you tag it?


References:

http://www.webopedia.com/tagging
http://www.coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/10-habits-of-bloggers-that-win

Blogging Newbie

This was my first time setting up and using a blog.  For previous classes, we were supposed to post on one of the professor’s blogs, but we never got any feedback or a sense of how these really work.  Blogger made it very easy to set one up – a few clicks and we’re up and running.  I still don’t know what the “follower” title refers to.  Does this mean that new posts go into their RSS feed?  Using the blog seems to make communication within our group a lot easier.  Everything is all in one place—instead of having to click all around WebTycho.  Does that annoy anyone else?  I also want to learn about the differences between a blog and a wiki; the line between them is still a little blurry.  I found another blog post that has entertaining explanations of the two services (and these videos).

Hi Group 5

Jaime, thanks so much for everything you have done to get this going for us.

Claire

Design?

Do you like the background and layout of the page?  It's easy to change if you want a different color scheme.