Disabled Bodies, Able Minds: Giving Voice, Movement, and Independence to the Physically Challenged. By Diane Curtis
The article is focused on assistive technology, and the fact that students who don’t have full mobility can still participate because of this assistive technology. The article gives examples of certain students who are benefiting from a district wide program called TACLE, which stands for Technology and Augmentative Communication for Learning Enhancement. These particular students are in a special-education class at Redwood Heights Elementary School in Oakland, Ca. They use speech generation devices to communicate, and the article cites one student who communicates with a computer using his eyebrows and another student who uses her cheek. The article also talks about DO-IT, which stands for Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology, an advocacy program for disabled students at Washington University. The article points out that through organizations like DO-IT there seems to now be more of an effort to see that disabled people be included in all activities. The article then gives the example of Lucas, who due to a birth defect has limited use of his arms and legs, but thanks to a joystick has been able to join the school band and be like everyone else. This assistive technology allows him to play the euphonium, and according to his mom has allowed him to stretch himself and her to feel like now she doesn’t always have to tell him no you can’t but rather just let him pursue whatever he is interested in.
Questions:
1. What may be the drawbacks of this kind of assistive technology?
The only real drawback to assistive technology I can see is that it may cost more than a school or district can afford. However, I am sure with grants and programs it is probably something that isn’t outside the realm of affordability. The major thing about this is that it is a necessity for those it benefits and ways to make it accessible for those people is crucial. The only minus I can see is that perhaps it isn’t in the hands of all the people that could benefit from it, and that needs to be fixed.
2. How does assistive technology benefit able bodied students, and not just the disabled students it directly benefits?
I think this assistive technology also benefits able bodied students because it gives them more interaction with disabled students and opens the lines of communication. This type of technology can allow for the able bodied students a better opportunity to interact and communicate, while also letting them realize that disabled students when given a way to communicate are a valuable and needed part of the school community.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Journal #8
Are Schools Inhibiting 21st Century Learning?
By Dave Nagel
In this article Dave Nagel focuses on the findings of the 2007 Speak Up survey released by Project Tomorrow. This survey polled 367,000 education stakeholders (which means parents, students, teachers and administrators) and is given to assess viewpoints on current issues in education. The results of the Speak Up survey are then shared with state and federal policy leaders. The article then talks about some of the survey’s findings in regards to technology and education, and shows some contrasting results on certain topics. For example, in regards to local schools doing a good job preparing students for jobs and careers of the future, 66 percent of administrators, 43 percent of parents, and 47 percent of teachers agreed. On the flip side 40 percent of middle and high school students felt that teachers are limiting their use of technology in schools and 45 percent also felt that school security practices were limiting their ability to use technology and take advantage of it. The article also discusses how educational gaming is something most students and teachers feel is a great way to learn and teach, but that currently only 11 percent of the teachers surveyed used educational gaming in their classrooms. The article also explains how students use of technology is often far ahead of their teachers and that mobile technology is a way that needs to be utilized in regards to education.
Questions:
1. What is a way I can benefit from knowing about this survey?
I think for me the best bit of knowledge I can take out of the survey is what the students are saying they want, and what gets in their way. The survey allows me to see what some of the roadblocks are and also what are the things they like. Educational gaming is a good example of this, because from the survey I can tell that is a way that students feel they can learn effectively.
2. How can a school allow students more access to technology?
I think based on the article this can be done by having knowledgeable staff and teachers in the field of technology. In order to take some of the restraints off the students the teachers need to have knowledge of the technology so they can feel comfortable letting the kids explore. We also have to be aware that this field is constantly changing and needs to be more of a focus.
By Dave Nagel
In this article Dave Nagel focuses on the findings of the 2007 Speak Up survey released by Project Tomorrow. This survey polled 367,000 education stakeholders (which means parents, students, teachers and administrators) and is given to assess viewpoints on current issues in education. The results of the Speak Up survey are then shared with state and federal policy leaders. The article then talks about some of the survey’s findings in regards to technology and education, and shows some contrasting results on certain topics. For example, in regards to local schools doing a good job preparing students for jobs and careers of the future, 66 percent of administrators, 43 percent of parents, and 47 percent of teachers agreed. On the flip side 40 percent of middle and high school students felt that teachers are limiting their use of technology in schools and 45 percent also felt that school security practices were limiting their ability to use technology and take advantage of it. The article also discusses how educational gaming is something most students and teachers feel is a great way to learn and teach, but that currently only 11 percent of the teachers surveyed used educational gaming in their classrooms. The article also explains how students use of technology is often far ahead of their teachers and that mobile technology is a way that needs to be utilized in regards to education.
Questions:
1. What is a way I can benefit from knowing about this survey?
I think for me the best bit of knowledge I can take out of the survey is what the students are saying they want, and what gets in their way. The survey allows me to see what some of the roadblocks are and also what are the things they like. Educational gaming is a good example of this, because from the survey I can tell that is a way that students feel they can learn effectively.
2. How can a school allow students more access to technology?
I think based on the article this can be done by having knowledgeable staff and teachers in the field of technology. In order to take some of the restraints off the students the teachers need to have knowledge of the technology so they can feel comfortable letting the kids explore. We also have to be aware that this field is constantly changing and needs to be more of a focus.
Journal #7
Envisioning the Future of Education.
By Mark Van’t Hooft
This article by Mark Van’t Hooft deals with how technology impacts education, and how it is changing the way students learn. The article also touches on how there is a concept now of learning while mobile. The neat thing about the “learning while mobile” concept is that kids are getting in touch with environments and information that would not be accessible to them in any other form. Learning while mobile according to the article lets students and teachers also have more interactions and conversations than would take place in a traditional classroom. The article also brings up the fact that the way people learn now and the way formal education teaches are very much on opposite ends of the spectrum. The idea being that more and more knowledge is being found in areas outside of schools and that people are learning in different ways than before.
Questions:
1. What is the major drawback of learning while mobile?
The biggest negative aspect of learning while mobile is the participation gap. Not everyone can access what others have access to, so it may be up to the schools or government to try and make sure everyone can have access and learn in all the ways the more privileged members of society can.
2. Is there ways to make learning while mobile accessible to everyone?
I think the article points out that best way to combat this aspect is to be creative and look for ways to get everyone involved. The idea is that we can find technologies or programs that everyone can be able to use.
By Mark Van’t Hooft
This article by Mark Van’t Hooft deals with how technology impacts education, and how it is changing the way students learn. The article also touches on how there is a concept now of learning while mobile. The neat thing about the “learning while mobile” concept is that kids are getting in touch with environments and information that would not be accessible to them in any other form. Learning while mobile according to the article lets students and teachers also have more interactions and conversations than would take place in a traditional classroom. The article also brings up the fact that the way people learn now and the way formal education teaches are very much on opposite ends of the spectrum. The idea being that more and more knowledge is being found in areas outside of schools and that people are learning in different ways than before.
Questions:
1. What is the major drawback of learning while mobile?
The biggest negative aspect of learning while mobile is the participation gap. Not everyone can access what others have access to, so it may be up to the schools or government to try and make sure everyone can have access and learn in all the ways the more privileged members of society can.
2. Is there ways to make learning while mobile accessible to everyone?
I think the article points out that best way to combat this aspect is to be creative and look for ways to get everyone involved. The idea is that we can find technologies or programs that everyone can be able to use.
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