Assistive Technology

This is an article I found on YouTube that gives a little more detailed explanation as to what Assistive Technology is, as well as the different types of assistive technology.

High-tech devices help kids with disabilities

Technology strikes Again! I chose to read this article because last year the principal at my school had a group of twelve teachers go down to our A.B.A classrooms and observe how the teachers in those classrooms use the technology discussed in the reading. Students in the class were using computerized tablets to communicate with the teachers and aides in the room. I found the technology to be very effective and extremely cool. The communication between the child and teacher became incredibly easier, allowing the teacher to spend more time instructing rather than just trying to communicate.

As a strong advocate for the implementation of technology in education, Assistive Technology in my opinion is a way of technology doing its job to differentiate in the classroom. With the use of smart boards taking over our regular education classrooms, it is time to create and apply new technologies to our special education and applied behavior analysis classrooms. Although such technologies are incredibly expensive the ability to communicate in a more efficient way is priceless to a child’s development. While observing and interacting with the students in the classroom I was able to see the many different forms of technologies the teachers used. From a simple clip board with pictures printed off a computer and attached with Velcro to the use of computerized tablets every use of technology made their daily routines easier. If you get the opportunity to observe in a classroom that uses these technologies I would recommend doing it, it is incredible the benefits technology can bring.

Teens' Bold Blogs Alarm Schools

    The article Teens' Bold Blogs Alarm Schools is a very interesting topic that all schools need to address immediately. The article discusses' how some blog sites such as face book.com, my space.com, and xanga.com have given students the opportunity to share pictures, thoughts, and even up to the minute locations. What the article highlights is that schools are now viewing these blogs and are concerned for their students safety, as well as academic and professional careers. Because most parents were not born during the digital era, the majority are unaware that their children are sharing information about themselves everyday. I completely agree with the article and are concerned for how some of these blog sites can affect a persons professional career. An inappropriate picture, or comment can now cost you a job or even admittance into a college or university. Students need to be educated on both the positive as well as the negative aspects of blogging. I'm sure most younger bloggers don't even think about the impact a post can have on their future. By offering even a short thirty minute course to students identifying scenarios that have impacted peoples lives from blogging can give them the knowledge to think before they post.
    As for the safety of the students, this is beginning to become an area I am very concerned about. Friends of mine have begun using a feature on facebook that allows them to check in at a particular location when they are there. I don't understand why people do that, and feel like it practically places a target on you. I'm sure students use this feature as well, and agree that this really is a feature that students parents need to be aware of. It is one thing for a grown adult to post where they are at a particular time of the day, but children are unable to protect themselves if they should be targeted by bullies, sexual predators, or others who can harm them.
    I think that the digital era is a very delicate situation. Indeed I agree that students should be using social technologies to engage in conversation and learn from others, but students and parents must then be educated on potential risks when using these social network technologies. Due to these risks I believe that students in the state should be required to take part in at least a 30 minute demonstration that examines the potential health risks of sharing particular information about themselves. I also believe that it is necessary to host classes and seminars for parents at night so that they can be educated on this important topic, and can begin to monitor what type of information is being shared.