Final Reflection for EDUC 331
My Technology Toolbox
My technology toolbox can be found on my education twitter page.
Assistive Technology
Assistive technology devices and services were first defined in federal law in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-476). Assistive technology devices are identified in the IDEA 2004 as:
Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.
Things like hearing aids, machines that turn words into braille, etc, are all considered assistive technology devices. Any device that helps students with disabilities and gives students the tools they need to learn can be considered an assistive technology device.
As a future educator, it is important for me to know about these devices because every individual student is unique. Knowing what tools are available and can be used will give me an advantage as an educator. It would be ineffectual for me to become an educator without knowing about these tools because when I have a student who has a special need, I need to be prepared to help them and if I can’t, they won’t be able to learn or gain anything from the classroom.
These resources may be difficult to access. Especially in poorer schools, students sometimes cannot access what they need in order to learn and grow. Increasing knowledge in educators about different assistive devices and how they can be used may lead to more funding for assistive technology and can invoke change in how much access there is already. Making educators aware of the issue and the solutions will help hundreds of students get the tools they need to succeed.
In this class, we have learned about many different pieces of technology and how to use them appropriately in the classroom. The technology we have learned about so far can be used by every student and is accessible for most students. Learning about assistive technology devices shows how the other technology we’ve learned about in class can be accessed by every student. When learning about these devices, it became clear how important it is to incorporate these devices among other pieces of technology in order to make technology accessible and easy to use for every student.
This week, I learned a lot about devices that can help students who have trouble communicating. Before the guest speaker came in, I wasn’t aware just how difficult it is for students to learn when they are unable to communicate. Listening to the guest speaker made me realize how essential it is to know how to help these students and what devices can make it possible.
Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.
Things like hearing aids, machines that turn words into braille, etc, are all considered assistive technology devices. Any device that helps students with disabilities and gives students the tools they need to learn can be considered an assistive technology device.
As a future educator, it is important for me to know about these devices because every individual student is unique. Knowing what tools are available and can be used will give me an advantage as an educator. It would be ineffectual for me to become an educator without knowing about these tools because when I have a student who has a special need, I need to be prepared to help them and if I can’t, they won’t be able to learn or gain anything from the classroom.
These resources may be difficult to access. Especially in poorer schools, students sometimes cannot access what they need in order to learn and grow. Increasing knowledge in educators about different assistive devices and how they can be used may lead to more funding for assistive technology and can invoke change in how much access there is already. Making educators aware of the issue and the solutions will help hundreds of students get the tools they need to succeed.
In this class, we have learned about many different pieces of technology and how to use them appropriately in the classroom. The technology we have learned about so far can be used by every student and is accessible for most students. Learning about assistive technology devices shows how the other technology we’ve learned about in class can be accessed by every student. When learning about these devices, it became clear how important it is to incorporate these devices among other pieces of technology in order to make technology accessible and easy to use for every student.
This week, I learned a lot about devices that can help students who have trouble communicating. Before the guest speaker came in, I wasn’t aware just how difficult it is for students to learn when they are unable to communicate. Listening to the guest speaker made me realize how essential it is to know how to help these students and what devices can make it possible.
Infograph about my Expectations for Personal Devices
I'm going to use this infograph in my classroom to display the rules for personal devices. Here is why I am using these specific rules:
1) Hearing your phone go off during class can create a huge distraction, especially because students won't be able to answer until after class. To keep students engaged in the lesson, and to keep their mind off of their phone, it's pertinent that phones are always kept on silent.
2) This rule just reminds students that although personal devices may be used in class, they should remain in the student's backpack or face down on the students desk until further instruction.
3) This is the only exception to rule number 2. As long as the device is not a distraction, it can be kept on the student's desk. However, it must remain face down. Having it in the student's vision may help them feel more at ease, and having it face down ensures the student will not end up being distracted by it.
4) I included this because as an artist, I use my phone on a daily basis in order to use references for my art. The only time students are allowed to use phones, unless otherwise told, is to find reference images for whatever art project they are currently working on in my class.
5) This rule is added so it's completely clear to students that under no circumstances are they allowed to use social media during my class periods.
At the end, I included a little explanation of what will happen if my students disregard the rules so they will know exactly what's expected of them, and be aware of the consequences.
During an interview, I would ask what the current standards for personal devices are in the school. It's important to understand what rules are already in place before implementing my own classroom rules.
1) Hearing your phone go off during class can create a huge distraction, especially because students won't be able to answer until after class. To keep students engaged in the lesson, and to keep their mind off of their phone, it's pertinent that phones are always kept on silent.
2) This rule just reminds students that although personal devices may be used in class, they should remain in the student's backpack or face down on the students desk until further instruction.
3) This is the only exception to rule number 2. As long as the device is not a distraction, it can be kept on the student's desk. However, it must remain face down. Having it in the student's vision may help them feel more at ease, and having it face down ensures the student will not end up being distracted by it.
4) I included this because as an artist, I use my phone on a daily basis in order to use references for my art. The only time students are allowed to use phones, unless otherwise told, is to find reference images for whatever art project they are currently working on in my class.
5) This rule is added so it's completely clear to students that under no circumstances are they allowed to use social media during my class periods.
At the end, I included a little explanation of what will happen if my students disregard the rules so they will know exactly what's expected of them, and be aware of the consequences.
During an interview, I would ask what the current standards for personal devices are in the school. It's important to understand what rules are already in place before implementing my own classroom rules.