Assistive Technologies
- Students with Cognitive Difficulties: Autism
- Strategy: Handheld devises. This could be anything from a PDA, iPod Touch, to an iPad. A great number of students with Autism like to be hands one and constanly need something in their hands. The student would be asked to complete tasks using these technologies. Say it is a test, instead of paper and pencil, a test could be created to be used with an iTouch and have the students be hands on.
- How it will increase student success: Through the use of handheld technology, student with autism would have the ability to have their work at their fingertips in a nice and organized way. Rich Shea points out, “Part of what is appealing about all handhelds -- Palms, BlackBerrys, mp3 players -- is the social cachet they bring with them. "As they take the handheld out and use it in class, other students ask them about it," Parsons says, "so they're considered cool for the first time in their lives." He goes on to write, “The Palm also offers a means of expression. Because it's something of a personal repository -- for lists, photos, favorite songs -- the logical next step, when it's connected to a keyboard, is to pour one's thoughts into the device. "Kids I could barely get to write a couple of sentences will write a couple of pages," Parsons reports. One student even wrote a novel.”(http://www.edutopia.org/autism-handheld-technology) The use of Handheld technology will allow the students to keep a detailed schedule so they can stay on the same timeline for their project.
- Students with Cognitive Difficulties: ADD or ADHD
- Strategy: For students having ADD or ADHD, the use of computers can drastically improve students success. The use of computers will allow students to not have to focus on how their hand writing looks or if they are spelling their words correctly. Additionally, if a student uses a speak-to-text program, this will take out the need to use the keyboard as well.
- How it will increase student success: The use of computers could increase student success because of the factors said above. Students will no longer need to focus on their handwriting or spelling. This will allow the student to focus, the best they can, on their content. This will allow the students to show off their work to the other students in class as well. This is a great way for students to be as successful as the other students in class. This will allow the student to complete their project in written form, on time.
- Students with Physical Difficulties: amputations or limb absences
- Strategy: Speak-to-type software. Students will be able to speak to type their work. They will not need to physically write their answers down.
- How it will increase student success: As stated for students with ADD, speak-to-type programs can be very valuable for students with either amputations or limb absences. Also, when other students see their work, this would allow them to realize that they are just like the rest as far as academics go, and it would give the student doing the work a self-esteem boost. This will allow the student to complete their project in written form.
- Students with Physical Difficulties: muscular dystrophy
- Strategy: eBooks. The use of eBook can be huge for students with muscular dystrophy. This will allow them to be able to read their books on a computer so they would not need to physically hold their books. This could be done through the use of a computer or an iPad, either of which would need to be close enough for the student to be able to read, or attached to their wheel chair if they have one. Additionally, if the eBook program is capabale it could read the book to them.
- How it will increase student success: Throught the use of the eBooks, the students would be able to read their research for their project. By doing this, these students can be just as knowledgeable about their topic as any other student.
- Students with Sensory Difficulties: Asperger’s Syndrome
- Strategy: Touch Screen. Some students with Asperger’s may not understand the relationship between the mouse and courser on the screen. Through the use of a touch screen, they would physically be able to touch what they want to do. This can also be done using any tablet PC, iTouch or iPad.
- How it will increase student success: Students will be able to do their work successfully with the use of Touch Screens. This will allow students to use their own hand to manipulate their project, and type their work. This will also, be a self-esteem boost for these students so they can show off their work.
- Students with Sensory Difficulties: Dyslexia
- Strategy: for many students with dyslexia, reading is a huge difficulty as well as writing. Through the use of eBooks and speak-to-type programs, this will allow them to get their work done successfully.
- How it will increase student success: Students will be able to do their work at the same pace as other students. The computer basically does all the physical work for the students, while the student can focus on the content. Students will be as successful as the other students.
- At-Risk Students): Low Economic Status
- Strategy: Motivational increase through use of technology. Many students who do not have much at home are blown away by the things they see at school. This can be a good thing but also a bad thing. Through the use of technology, the students may see this a fun project that will make them want to use technology more and more.
- How it will increase student success: Students will be able to use technology to their benefit and actually learn computer skills in the process. The students will be able to create things that they never though possible, this can be a very fun project for these students.
- At-Risk Students): ESL Students
- Strategy: Visual Aids, and Computer speech. Students who are ESL may have a difficult time reading the technical information that a project such as mine might require. Students will be allowed to look at a lot of pictures, and have the computer read the information to them.
- How it will increase student success: Granted not all the problems that an ESL student may face can be accomplished through technology, but it can help bridge the gap. Some ESL students may not be able to read the information themselves, but can understand the information audibly. They can be as successful in this project given the proper tools at hand.
- Gifted and Talented Students:
- Strategy: Create a web page. Students are encouraged to not only create the report that is asked, but to do so in web form. They would also be asked to place pictures and videos into the page to aid their understanding of the project.
- How it will increase student success: This will increase these students success, because they won’t simply get done with the project and sit there, they will be pushed to create something bigger and better. Students will feel like they not only did the project but learned other web skills as well. This will also allow them to create something that will be shared to many other students as well for years to come.
- Gifted and Talented Students:
- Strategy: Create a video presentation. This will allow the students to be as creative as they want to be. They could create a documentary, a news cast, interviews, stories...etc. They are able to have some fun, but of course will need to provide the given information as the rest of the students.
- How it will increase student success: This will allow the students to go above and beyond what is asked, while allowing the students to be creative. They will be able to showcase their work to the rest of the class and hopefully the other students will enjoy it as well. This will require involvement from other people and allow them to get in on the fun.