Reading (finally) the articles Barb provided reminded me of one of my favourite slogans that I think I made up: It's ALL technology. (OK, if I didn't invent, I imagine that someone will point that out to me soon, now that I've gone public.)
The articles brought out the struggle between providing "remedial" and "compensatory" strategies. Since my students are in Gr. 5, the time is coming for the powers that be (one of which I sorta am) to decide when we admit that some of them are not going to learn to read text. So the notion that compensatory technologies such as text-to-speech are still perceived as "cheating" intrigues me. And reminds me of my slogan: it's all technology.
A pencil. An eraser. A pencil sharpener. A doorknob. An elevator. A typewriter. A ruler. A flip charts. A white board. A white board marker. A car. A spoon.
As Wikipedia says: "Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function."
So all the above-mentioned items which most people use all the time with little awareness that they are using technology, let alone that they are "cheating." We all use technology. One person needs a doorknob in order to access a room; another needs a powered switch. It's all technology.
Friday, September 30, 2011
BTW
Anyone know how to make Blogspot come to terms with Canadian spellings? As in, the behaviour of my neighbours is colouring my perception of ploughmen. Four red dotted lines in that last sentence alone. Oddly enough, it also thinks that Blogspot is misspelled.
Also, what the heck does it think is wrong with assistive?
Also, what the heck does it think is wrong with assistive?
Time to explain the metaphor
The one about fog. See first entry.
In my classroom, I have two electrical outlets. No computers. One LCD projector suspended from the wall, connected to nothing. If it were connected to anything, it would have nothing on which to shine.
Also in my classroom: a diverse group of students, almost all achieving below grade level, with a wide range of behaviourial, social, attention and learning difficulties.
Behind the fog: watching the presentation that Barb showed us, seeing and hearing the variety of available assistive technologies, I can see vast possibilities for my students. As each example was introduced, I flashed to a student who could be matched beneficially with that technology. And wondered if that connection would ever be made. I wonder again why we have invited into our classrooms children who would not have even attended school decades ago, if we are not willing to provide appropriate hospitality.
Also behind the fog: notebooks are apparently "rolling" my way in October. Hoping for greater visibility. And a screen for my projector.
In my classroom, I have two electrical outlets. No computers. One LCD projector suspended from the wall, connected to nothing. If it were connected to anything, it would have nothing on which to shine.
Also in my classroom: a diverse group of students, almost all achieving below grade level, with a wide range of behaviourial, social, attention and learning difficulties.
Behind the fog: watching the presentation that Barb showed us, seeing and hearing the variety of available assistive technologies, I can see vast possibilities for my students. As each example was introduced, I flashed to a student who could be matched beneficially with that technology. And wondered if that connection would ever be made. I wonder again why we have invited into our classrooms children who would not have even attended school decades ago, if we are not willing to provide appropriate hospitality.
Also behind the fog: notebooks are apparently "rolling" my way in October. Hoping for greater visibility. And a screen for my projector.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
YouTube
Salman Khan talks about his free, online Khan Academy. I'm sure that there's a connection to assistive technology, but mostly I just wanted to post a TED lecture and this was the first one I found that looked related.
But seriously, folks. Imagine that you explain a concept on the blackboard to your students. You really don't want to think about what percentage of what you are saying and writing lodges permanently in those brains out there. Now imagine that your presentation has been recorded; each student has access to the video. They can pause you, think about what you just said, practise the examples, repeat you, repeat the difficult parts of you several times; they can watch for the first time the parts they missed when a bird flew by the window, their classmate passed them a note and they were busy noticing that your glasses were crooked.
Cool. But who is going to make all those videos--with what equipment? And who wants to be a permanent video star? Especially those of us who only wear make-up to school if we (I) happen to hit enough red lights on the way to work.
Well, Khan Academy has apparently made all those videos for you. It's new to me, but it looks to be worth checking out.
Reflection on the first class, September 24, 2011
The fog comes and goes.
We've been promised a beautiful view, and the potential is definitely there, but at one point this morning the windows were completely white. Now it's noonish, and the fog has faded enough so that I can see Citadel Hill.
The fog comes and goes.
A great metaphor for my brain, this course, my job and the weekend.
We've been promised a beautiful view, and the potential is definitely there, but at one point this morning the windows were completely white. Now it's noonish, and the fog has faded enough so that I can see Citadel Hill.
The fog comes and goes.
A great metaphor for my brain, this course, my job and the weekend.
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