Monday, October 22, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tap to Talk on the Nook Color
One thing that is very convenient for teachers is that many assistive technology applications are inexpensive or even free. Even smaller, sample versions can be helpful for teachers to try out the new technology before buying it and/or trying it in the classroom Tap to Talk offers a basic version for the Nook Color that I have downloaded to my reader. I thought it would be a good idea to make myself familiar with it, as I have worked with students who use it in the classroom. Below are two screen shots from my reader.
The application was available in the Nook App store. As you can see, it comes with a starter album, but there are more free albums available, as well as the option to make custom albums, using the teacher's choice of sounds and images. This way, the teacher can add images that are most meaningful to the student who will be using it.
I encourage anyone new to adaptive technology to give them a try whenever possible to make the introduction to the classroom as smooth as possible. I recommend checking out the website http://techinspecialed.com for descriptions and reviews of apps and programs that are out there.
The application was available in the Nook App store. As you can see, it comes with a starter album, but there are more free albums available, as well as the option to make custom albums, using the teacher's choice of sounds and images. This way, the teacher can add images that are most meaningful to the student who will be using it.
I encourage anyone new to adaptive technology to give them a try whenever possible to make the introduction to the classroom as smooth as possible. I recommend checking out the website http://techinspecialed.com for descriptions and reviews of apps and programs that are out there.
Introduction to Tap To Talk
Youtube can be a great resource when wanting to see how the available technologies work. The Assistive Technology Advocacy Center of DRNJ has put out several videos giving brief demonstrations of various adaptive technologies. Their video showing a quick overview of Tap To Talk is below, to give you a sample of their work.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Two-Page Paper
Technology in the Special Education Classroom
Technology is changing daily. Teachers
can use programs and tools to help design lesson plans, to keep track of
records, and to communicate with parents.
They are also finding ways to use technology to reach and teach children
in all classrooms, from word processing, to online math games, to teaching
children how to use the internet for research.
The Special Education classroom has especially benefitted from advances
in technology. Handheld devices, such as
tablet computers and iPads, have made it easier and cheaper to get technology
into the hands of special education students.
There are dozens of applications available for iPads, tablets and smart
phones, many of which are very inexpensive or even free. A child who has communication problems can
use speech synthesis software to “talk.”
Students with autism, who usually learn better visually, can use apps
that teach colors or numbers, or any number of other skills. Teachers can easily create videos or custom
books and lessons for students.
One website, http://techinspecialed.com/appy/iep.php,
has listed available applications sorted by the IEP goals that they help
address. This is especially helpful for
a teacher looking for suggestions on how to reach a particular child and help
them improve in their areas where they need improvement. It also highlights applications and programs
that are on sale, which can be very helpful.
In the past, the talking technology was expensive, but now with
relatively affordable tablets and software, it is easier to get tools to our
students.
A great development
with the internet is groups devoted to teaching topics. There are groups out there, like http://www.classroom20.com/group/technologyinspecialeducation, where
teachers can share resources, reviews, and strategies that have worked or not
worked for them. This to me is a very
useful resource on the web. Who better
to get advice from than other teachers about what works and what doesn’t? As a new teacher, I will be using groups like
this to get advice from more experienced teachers.
To summarize, advances in technology have
been very beneficial to teachers in general and special education teachers
especially. The prices and availability
of assistive technology directly benefits our students. Teachers have more resources than ever before
to plan and execute their lesson plans, to communicate with each other and with
parents, and to develop tools to use in the classroom. I plan to use technology as much and as often
as possible to help my students get the best education they can.
Bibliography
Education World, Inc. (n.d.). Special Education -
Assistive Technology. Retrieved September 10, 2012, from Education World:
http://www.educationworld.com/special_ed/assistive/index.shtml
Southard, C. (n.d.). The
Inclusion Revolution - Technology in Special Education. Retrieved
September 10, 2012, from Classroom 2.0:
http://www.classroom20.com/group/technologyinspecialeducation
Technology in (SPL)
Education. (n.d.). Recommended Apps by IEP Goal/Skill. Retrieved
September 10, 2012, from Technology in (SPL) Education:
http://techinspecialed.com/appy/index.php
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