That Which Only Makes Us StrongerIn light of how fast technology has advanced, there are those that see it as more of a hindrance in the line of education. However, there have been great strides in assistive technology that benefits students, who are unable to receive a traditional education like others.
Assistive technology is a selection of tools, programs, and items that allow students to participate in lessons if they are unable to ask questions, ask for help, or interact traditionally within the classroom. These can vary from Velcro books with words to fancier tablet speaking apps with predesignated words or the ability to type their own words. It is hard to say what type of classroom I will have, but there will always be the chance I have a student that requires something to help them. Although, now that I know about these resources, it will be easier for me to integrate them for the student to use. It is better to know about them now rather than trying to find them later where a student needs them right away. I can, also, prepare my classroom by having some forms of assistive technology available to use until they get what they really need. That way they can participate in the class while we work out something that would fit their exact needs. In order to access these kinds of resources, it would be best to think outside of the box on how to access them. It would likely be the best choice to provide what I can at first, and then see what the people that specialize in the field of assistive technology think would work better. These would be: teachers in the special education program, district providers, and possibly a personal assistant if the student has one. Since I only had a crash course in the benefits of assistive technology, I do not feel that I am as qualified as others are to provide specialized technology for students that need it. They have a right to a better education, and I will do what I can to aid them, but the better choice is to support them with what I can while someone can get the best tool for the job. So far, assistive technology plays
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In light of the way technology plays a role in the classroom, it garners questions about whether it is actually useful or something that can be used as a resource.
Part of this, also, comes from how teachers can take the initiative to create their own guidelines covering the use of technology. The plan I have in my classroom is to have a short blurb in a syllabus backed up with a prop that has not been made yet. The blurb will read something like "Use technology (phones, tablets, laptops, iPods) within reason for the class or the "ban-hammer" will be used". Those of us that are already up to our eyes in digital communities will likely know about this mythical tool used among moderators and admins of chats, forums, and websites. For those that don't know, a ban-hammer is the tool that moderators and admins use to bring down judgement for the misuse or misconduct on their site. My plan to mitigate the improper use of technology in classrooms is to create a prop that I will call a ban-hammer that I can use to tap a student's device to let them know they are off task. This will go up to three taps before they are no longer allowed to use it, if it is interfering with their classwork. Should it be during free time, after a project, then they will likely have the option of doing other classwork or a silent activity of their choosing. For future thoughts on what I could ask during interviews for a teaching job, I would probably ask about the policies they have been working with in terms of personal devices and their usage in classrooms. |
Joel SchreinerBorn on December 17th, 1996, Joel Schreiner entered the Electronic Art program at CSU right out of High School. From there he decided to set his eyes on becoming an educator alongside an illustrator and concept artist. Archives
December 2018
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