Class 10 (last class)

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

In class this evening Allan, Anna and I finished up Assignment 2.

Here is my link to Assignment 2.

http://aakecosystems.blogspot.ca/

Dallas, Toni, and myself were picked to go into group 3 (deaf).  We found it very difficult to find 3 assistive technologies solely being used for people who are deaf.  Most searches performed would give you assistive technologies for the deaf or hard of hearing.  After asking Barbara for some clarification and great searching by Toni, Dallas and I we were able to find some assistive technologies for deaf students.

Check out our blog.

http://atforsupportingdeafness.blogspot.com/

Thank you everyone for a great class this year.  I really learned a lot about assistive technologies for students in the classroom.  If I ever find myself in a job that requires the use of assistive technology for students.

Class 9

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Allan, Anna, and I worked on our Assignment 2 during this class.  We were given a choice of Grade 2 - Life of a Frog or Grade 7 - Ecosystems.

We decided to work with Grade 7 Ecosystems since all of us were secondary educators.

Here is the blog that we created together.

https://webmail.stfx.ca/owa/redir.aspx?C=746cbee69c9c42d28524a218e0675b1f&URL=http%3a%2f%2faakecosystems.blogspot.ca%2f

Class 8

Wednesday, May 23^rd

This evening’s class focused on profiling videos from a documentary type film titled “Misunderstood Minds”.  These videos provided some great insight into the lives of students who have learning disabilities.  The video reinforces that a learning disability is a legitimate and significant disorder that deserves attention and recognition just like any other type of disability.  So often I think a learning disability is not viewed or perceived as a valid condition that can significantly affect one’s learning.

I do not have any experience teaching elementary grade levels but I would assume that many students with learning disabilities are diagnosed in these earlier grades.  I think training and professional development for teachers on how to recognize possible signs of learning disabilities and what to do if you suspect a learning disability would be invaluable. 

The following is a video on some possible signs of a student with a learning disability.

Class 7

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Understanding the Reading Process

This week we had a great discussion of the reading process. I learned a lot about the reading process from the slides presented from last week’s presentations. I also learned a lot from our discussion as we created the inspiration file about the reading process. I am having a problem with spacing on my blog the last few entries. As you can see from earlier entries this was not the case. I haven't changed anything. Any suggestions?

I finally figured it out.  I had it in HTML instead of Compose.

Thanks everyone.

Here is the reading process we created.  I took it from your blog Wanda.

Our group did a fantastic job creating the reading process.  Great job group!

Class 6

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

The Four Models of Assistive Technology Here is what I found when I researched the four models of assistive technology.

EDUCATION TECH POINTS Authors: Gayl Bower and Penny Reed This model offers a step by step procedure which is made from questions that need to be asked in order to make considerate decisions. It taps into what the situation currently is, what is could be, and what it should be.

THE SETT FRAMEWORK
Author: Joy Zabala

The Sett Models provides a framework built of questions pertaining to the student, the environment, the tasks, and the tools. It enables the user to strategically answer questions that will provide insight and guidance into discussions which will lead to decisions. The model offers questions to stimulate thought and consideration in the decision making process. The model emphasizes collaboration, communication, incorporation of different perspectives, important information, shared knowledge amongst the team, flexibility, and the process as being on-going.

UNIFYING FUNCTIONAL MODEL
Authors; Melichar and Blackhurst

This model provides a web of interrelated elements which guide the users to making appropriate and functional decisions. The model emphasizes the need to evaluate and get feedback on decisions made so improvements can be made. The model encourages the user to participate in the process frequently over time.

HATT MODEL
Authors: Cook and Hussey

The model argues that assistive technology services must focus on improving the individual’s performance. The key components of this model are the person with the disability, the performance activity, and the assistive technology itself. I have to apologize to everyone for missing class this week. I attended my academic awards ceremony at my school. I was part of the ceremony.

Class 5

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Hello everyone,

Great job on the presentations this last week adn of course the two presentations we had this week.

The first presentation (Anna, Dallas, and Stephanie) on Social Skills and Autism was a very informative session on apps designed for these learners.  Great job on this and I really enjoyed the presentation.  I really enjoyed the recommendations for using apps in our classrooms.  It was a great touch on the presentation.

The concluding presentation on apps for students with learning disabilities by Wanda, Dawn, and Leanne was very informative.  I really enjoyed the use of apps they presented.  I liked the use of all the iapps, ireader, ispeech, imovie, etc.  These are some great apps for students with learning disabilities.

We finished our class by doing research on four well known assistive technology models.  I would share what I found but that is for Wednesday's class...

Class 4

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Hello everyone,

I want to first thank everyone for their presentations during class 4.  There were some great presentations done by everyone. 

The first group (Allan, Farmoush, and Toni) that presented did a fantasic job of discussing classroom challenges for students with physical disabilities.  Your powerpoint presentation was excellent. Very thorough description of the apps for the IPad. 

The second group (Barbara, Nicole, and Jenna) presented communication disorders. I really enjoyed the knowledge gained from this presentation.  These are some ideas I will keep with me during my teaching if I am ever in the role of one of these teachers or as a parent.

The third group (Sherry, Lloyd and myself) presented apps for early learners.  I want to thank you for making this assignment one I enjoyed.  You were both great to work with.  I appreciate all of your time and energy that was put into making our presentation a success!

The last group of the evening (Setz, Mary Jo, and Karla) presented on severe autism.  This presentation gave me some great knowledge regarding autism and some intervention strategies and apps that can help when working with students with Autism.

This class went by very quickly. Before I knew it, it was 9 pm and we still had two presentations to go.  I looked forward to the two presentations the following week and they didn't disappoint.

Please see last week's blog for the information on early learners apps.

Class 3

April 18, 2012

We were able to work with our group members in class tonight.  It was a great opportunity for us to do some research during class time and collaborate with members of our group.  Sherry, Lloyd, and I used this time to figure out what each of us were going to do for the presentation.  I was also able to use this time to view the webinar.

Here is some of the information we gathered from our webinar.

Apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad can benefit these learners in a number of areas, including:

1.1. Language development

2.2. Development of basic concepts

3. Development of problem-solving skills

3.

4. Motor development
5. Early literacy development

5.

This was a great diagram one of our group members created for the different APPS that were described to us in the webinar for any of you out there that are interested in looking these APPS of for Early Learners.

Here are some great links for find these APPS on your devices...

1.Grasshopper Apps: http://www.grasshopperapps.com/

2.Kindergarten Apps: http://kindergarten.com/

-Updated apps are free for April in honour of Autism Awareness

3.Technolio Apps: http://www.technolio.com/

4.MyFirstApp: http://myfirstapp.com/MyFirstApp/Home.html

5.Innovative Mobile Apps (Check iTunes – Google search is problematic, leading to http://www.alligatorapps.com/all-apps/)

6.Duck Duck Moose Apps: http://www.duckduckmoosedesign.com/

7.Preschool University Apps: http://preschoolu.com/default.aspx

                                              (Welsford & Friskney, 2012)

This is were we located some of our APPS for our presentation.

When searching for you APPS our group members have found a criteria for finding good APPS.

•Number of available apps is overwhelming (just in case you hadn’t noticed)

•The selection of an app should be focused on the user/the child, and should be based on the following selection criteria:

1)

1. simplified screens and instructions (accessibility and intuitive use relative to interface design must be age or developmental stage appropriate - Michael Cohen Group, 2011, p. 5, 7)

2)

2. consistent placement of menus and control features

3)

3. graphics along with text (particularly important to support nonreaders and early readers)

4)

4. audio feedback

5)

5. ability to set pace and level of difficulty (without leveling frustration or boredom can occur - Michael Cohen Group, 2011, p. 5)

6)

6. appropriate and unambiguous feedback

7)

7. easy error correction

                                                                                                                  (Newton & Dell, 2011)

Here are some cool youtube links that Lloyd found for us for the presentation.

The first video was an 18 month old Ipad genius.

The second video was a 1 year old Ipad user.

There are some really awesome videos.  It is amazing what the Ipad is teaching this Early Learners.  Very exciting.

Class 2

April 11, 2012 - 6pm to 9pm

During the first hour...

We started the class by allowing people to set up their blogs. Our professor showed us a few cool ways to use our blogs.

I am looking for some apps on my IPod Touch in the app store for my group next week while people are learning how to set up their blogs.  I am only getting a few apps when I search early learners. 4 of which I have to pay for and 3 for free.  Unless StFX is paying for the apps I won’t be purchasing these apps.  haha.  I guess I am going to have to do a different search.

Here is my video I learned to show on my blog today when Barbara showed us in class.

I then learned how to put add a gadget with a fish feeder.  I also learned how to add important links as well.  This can be done using the design in the top right hand corner.  There are lots of different options that can be done.  I look forward to playing with them and finding some cool items for my blog.

I just found a calendar gadget that will display todays date.  I assume it will update itself and tomorrow it will be the 12th on the calendar.  I hate the fact that there is advertsing in there.  I did not know how to eliminate this.  Ah well!

I added in screen hunter link for people who want to take pictures of their screen.  I find it works really well if you only want a part of the screen and not the whole thing.  It greats a great jpeg for easy uploading.  Open it with paint if you want to edit it.  Very easy to do.

Class 1

Introduction 

Hello my name is Kenneth Porter from Albert Bridge, NS.  I teach at GBHS in Glace Bay, NS.  I teach Chem 11/12. I play sports and spend time with my wife. 

We searched for assistive tech definition.  I found mine at

http://www.apt.gc.ca/wat/wb11140e.asp?pid=260 

We then learned how to use wordle by coping words into the program.  This was found at www.wordle.net
 

We then used youtube to look for assistive technology, here is what I located

http://www.youtube.com/user/faronics?v=GPqyHTI3MqM&feature=pyv

We then had a break from 720-730.

We then went through the course syllabus together as a group.

Enjoyed the presentations

Great class, I am looking forward to next week.

Kenny P