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Using Assistive
Technologies in the Classroom
A WebQuest for teachers
and Lab Techs
Designed by
Richard Lippman
Darcy Markham
Leslee Briggs Keintzler
Introduction | Task
| Process | Evaluation
| Conclusion | Credits
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Introduction
Once upon a time
there was a little boy and a little girl who happened to be in the same
class at school. The little boy and girl had difficulties being successful.
The little girl had a hearing loss and although she could communicate with
her teacher using sign language, she had great difficulties communicating
with her classmates. The little boy too had problems. He had visual difficulties.
His classmates did not include him in many activities because of his disabilities.
The teacher wanted
to help these two students but was not sure what to do. As she observed
her students she found that both the little girl and the little boy were
attracted to the computers in the classroom. The little boy loved to listen
to the sounds of the talking books and games. He had difficulty moving
the mouse and seeing the screen. The little girl loved to type stories
on the computer and the other children enjoyed reading the stories.
The teacher wanted
to find a way that her children could participate in the classroom and
communicate with the other children. She then began her quest to see what
she could find to help her students.
The
Task
You have been
chosen to help the teacher find a solution to the childrens problem of
communication. Your will research existing assistive technologies that
will fit your schools present equipment. When you are done with your research
you will rejoin the other group members and compare notes and make a group
decision about which technologies to purchase,along with how to implement
the new program so that it may be effectively integrated,
including training
that will be necessary.
The Process
You will first
be placed into groups of 4. In your group, 1st brainstorm who will
work on which childís problem. Two should decide to research the boys problem
and the other two concentrate on the girls. You will research their
special kinds of disabilities and come up with a technological solution
for the teachers lab.
The Little Boy:
1. Go to the following websites
to find out information on visual disabilities.
Visual Disabilities:
http://www.gcccu.org/programs/swd/html/visual_disabilities.html
http://website.lineone.net/~starfive/FFBlind.html
http://ccollege.hccs.cc.tx.us/instru/dssc/visual.htm
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List at least three Visual Disabilities:
2. Disabilities and Individuals
with Disabilities Act. Read what the Law says
about Assistive Technology.
http://www.ideapractices.org/law/law/index.php
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What dies the law say regarding
Assistive Technologies for people with disabilities?
3. What are Assistive Technologies?
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for definitions.
http://www.ideapractices.org/resources/tam/index.html
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Write a definition of Assistive
Technologies:
4. What Assistive Technologies
are available to people with Visual Impairments?
http://cio.doe.gov/assistive/visual.html
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What are some of the Assistive
Technologies available for person's with Visual Disabilities?
5. Where do you find
the currently available Assistive Technologies?
http://www.rehabtool.com
http://www.blvd.com
http://www.closingthegap.com
http://www.ablenetinc.com/home.html
http://enablingdevices.com
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List some of the available devices
that you could use for the little boy:
6. How do you select
the most appropriate devices?
http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/library/ec/Parrette.htm
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Which devices do you think would
be most appropriate for the little boy?
7. How can you integrate
Assistive Technology into the existing curriculum?
http://www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed426517.html
http://www.asri.edu/cfsp/brochure/asstech.htm
http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html
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List some ways in which you could
integrate Assistive Technologies to help the little boy in your classroom?
Based on what you have learned
so far write a proposal for your administrator stating your rationale for
aquiring Assistive Technologies, which technologies do you think you should
purchase. How will you implement the new programs and technology so that
it may be effectively integrated? What type of training will be necessary
to use this program or technology? Take into account that although there
are funds available from the Resource Department, this is not an unlimited
budget.
Return to
Task
THE LITTLE GIRL
8.Now,
in order to help accommodate the little girl, write the definition of Deaf/Hearing
Impairments as well as Severe Speech and Physical Impairments because the
little girl might have problems with both:
9.There
are some teaching strategies ? go to this site and list at least 3 strategies:
Hearing
Impairments:
Special
Education Resources on the Internet for Hearing Impairments
10.One
of the major resources you will have with either of these students will
be through the family and parents of both these students.Prepare to show
them how you can help them out too by going to this support site and preparing
recommendations for them.
11.Now,
in order to provide accessibility for your students to the web, go to the
following sites and list the ways you can help them out:
12.With
a firm definition in hand, do some shopping for the latest assistive technologies
that will help the little girl.List what you could do in your classroom
to help the little girl out:
TECHNOLOGY
AND DISABILITIES
Companies
that specialize in technology for students with disabilities
Universities
with Special Education Resources
13.Just
to ensure that the little girl and boy will receive the help they need
in your classroom, go to this list of organizations that will provide assistance
to you as you start and maintain these assistive technologies.List 3.
Organizations
Based on what you have learned so
far, write a proposal for your administrator stating your rationale for
acquiring Assistive Technologies.Which technologies do you think you should
purchase? How will you implement the new programs and technology so that
it may be effectively integrated? What type of training will be necessary
for the staff and the students to use this program or technology? Take
into account that although there are funds available from the Resource
Department, this is not an unlimited budget.
Return to Task
Evaluation
Describe to the learners how
their performance will be evaluated. Specify whether there will be a common
grade for group work vs. individual grades.
|
Beginning
1 |
Developing
2 |
Accomplished
3 |
Exemplary
4 |
Score |
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Stated Objective
or Performance
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Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level
of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and
movement toward mastery of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level
of performance.
|
|
|
Stated Objective
or Performance
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level
of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and
movement toward mastery of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level
of performance.
|
|
|
Stated Objective
or Performance
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level
of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and
movement toward mastery of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level
of performance.
|
|
|
Stated Objective
or Performance
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level
of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and
movement toward mastery of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level
of performance.
|
|
|
Stated Objective
or Performance
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level
of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and
movement toward mastery of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.
|
Description
of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level
of performance.
|
|
Conclusion
Congratulations you have completed
your Quest and along the way found out information on how you can find,
purchase and utilize many different types of Assistive Technology in your
classroom.
As you go about your day teaching
the students in your classroom, think back to what you have learned. Are
there any technologies that you have discovered that could help your students
to become better readers, writers, etc.? Do you have students with disabilities
in your school who would benefit from the information you have learned?
If so pass it on, you could be giving a child the opportunity to grow and
learn in an environment that he or she now struggles to survive in.
Return to
Task
Credits &
References
Disability Graphics:
http://www.lareau.org/disgraph.html
Websites:
http://www.gcccu.org/programs/swd/html/visual_disabilities.html
http://website.lineone.net/~starfive/FFBlind.html
http://ccollege.hccs.cc.tx.us/instru/dssc/visual.htm
http://www.ideapractices.org/law/law/index.php
http://www.ideapractices.org/resources/tam/index.html
http://cio.doe.gov/assistive/visual.html
http://www.rehabtool.com
http://www.blvd.com
http://www.closingthegap.com
http://www.ablenetinc.com/home.html
http://enablingdevices.com
http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/library/ec/Parrette.htm
http://www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed426517.html
http://www.asri.edu/cfsp/brochure/asstech.htm
http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html
Last updated
on August 15, 1999. Based on
a template from The
WebQuest Page
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