"Assistive Technology for the Classroom"

Landmark College Institute for Research and Training has put together an excellent primer on the subject of Assistive Technology in education.  Contributers for this particular article include Ben Mitchell, Janie Duncan, Elizabeth Burns, Ellen Engstrom, and Christine Arieta.

The article begins by defining Assistive Technology as:

"any item, piece of equipment, or product that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities."

With advances in educational theory, reliance on lectures and textbooks has been diminished, with the focus instead centering on constructivist models.  Assistive technology makes it possible to offer this type of learning to all students.   This is particularly true (at this time) for reading assistance.  Assistive technology is NOT a replacement for a teaching, nor is it a guarantee of success.

Despite the effectiveness of Assistive Technology, there are some barriers to its widespread adoption:

• Teacher and Student Attitudes.  Both students and teachers may view this as an "easy way out."  
• Demands of Technology.  It can be expensive, dynamic and maintenance intensive to implement an Assistive Technology solution.
• Access.  Not everyone has access to the technology.
• Training.  To quote directly from the article, "If the student is not supported in learning to use the technology, the results may be worse than having no access to technology at all."

The article also has suggestions for successful integration of Assistive Technology into the classroom (emphasis on student introductions) and into the curriculum.  This includes some evaluations of different methods and even types of Assistive Technology.

This article is definitely aimed at readers who are already convinced that they need Assistive Technology in some form.  There is little in this article to help a novice understand situations in which they might want to consider the use of Assistive Technology, and in fact, as per the bullet list above, they present some compelling arguments to avoid the use of Assistive Technology.

Overall, however, if a reader has decided they need to use Technology in their classroom, this article has some good suggestions and ideas for turning that desire into a reality.

 

Math Teacher internet resources

In my first year of teaching, I have found three internet resources to be particularly helpful while teaching Math as a K-12 teacher:

• http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/math/
• http://aaamath.com
• http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm

The first is a site where you can make up your own math worksheets.  As a primary teaching tool, it's great for elementary kids.  As a "mad math" minute review tool for older students, it also works really well.  I find they need the review, particularly in decimals and fractions.

The second site is wonderfully organized.  If a student is having problems in a particular area, it's easy to find topical practice on this site.  It is also interactive with the teaching and assessing, which allows the student to move through as they progress in their knowledge.  This may be my favorite site for students who can motivate themselves, as they are not needlessly held back waiting for teacher approval to move forward.

The third site is great fun.  It is full of games for all kinds of math up to the pre-algebra level.  If the students are playing a game, they hardly notice they are learning at the same time.  Easy engagement.  It's amazing how they think of time on this site as a "reward" for doing their "schoolwork."