Monday, November 4, 2013

Chapter 10 Journal Blog

Promoting Success for All Students through Technology
 
 
1. How does assistive technology support efforts by teachers to reach all learners?
 
In any given classroom, students show different levels of learning and comprehension. Some may show difficulty with reading and writting due to language and culture, while others may have trouble with mathematics and science. Then comes specific students with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities that face their own barriers when it comes to learning. When assistive technology is correctly intergrated into the classroom, it gives students a chance to do certain tasks more quickly, easily, or independently. The flexibility of assistive technology allows a teacher to build tools and  materials that focus on the student's prime strengths and yet enhances their weaknesses. As an ESE teacher, I come to apply many of these assistive technologies that make it possible for me to communicate with my students that are not capable of speaking. I find it very relieving to have at least tools that can get me to understand and be able to transmit information to my students. Without any assistive technology around in classroom based settings things can be very difficult in every day to day learning and teaching.
 
 
2. Tech Tool 10.1 - Extra-Large and Online Calculators
 
There is a special calculator that has been enlarged into a greater proportion for easy access, as well as use. The CC16 "Extra-Large" calculator is a tool used to engage students. It brings all of the nessecary operations that all generic calculators have, such as; adding, subtracting, dividing, and multiplying. This calcualtor is also not as heavy as it might seem, which is another factor that comes to be suprising to students. To me, students learn with the eye, it may sound quite weird but if you look at it in a mathematical term, when a student sees a long equation, their instant though is "I can't do this" or "I don't want to do this". They are appealed by the eye, and this calculator does exactly that. I enjoy how it is easy for students to visually be able to see the calculators certain functions in a bigger way (literally). This is a new teaching tool that students are obviously going to want to use, just because of it's size and apperance. I personally would use this whenever I am doing a math-related lesson, my ESE students would be very intrigued by the fact that this "new" tool is something different to their eyes.
 
3. Summary
 
In chapter ten, the theory of computer technologies is expanded. Their are so many opportunities to use them in every day learning within education. Teachers can use them to meet students needs, whether a student is in a regular, or special ed classroom. These computer based technologys are useful for all types of learning styles. I think that promoting success for all students through technology is the best thing we, as educators, can do for our students. Integrating in what they are familiar with in their school experiences can help them tremendously.



Maloy, R. W. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.


1 comment:

  1. Glad that you have been able to directly connect the assistive technology tools to your own experiences in the special needs classrooms. It makes it more 'real'. :) Your observation about the engagement of students with the over-sized calculator is right on target! I can imagine those tools being not only helpful, but also very inviting.

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