A final thought...

As the semester comes to an end, I've found some time to reflect upon this course. I've enjoyed coming to class on Tuesday nights and learning new and exciting ways to teach students. This course has given me numerous new skills to add to my teacher "toolbox." Skills such as podcasts, effective use of an iPad, and how to incorporate Facebook effectively into an educational setting to name a few. 

I found that the utilization of social media in this class, especially Facebook has been critical it this classes success. The posting of relevant articles connected with educational technology is a great way to concert with other classmates. Facebook provided an opportunity for voices to be heard that aren't so vocal in the classroom. Additionally, the use of blogs provided people with a voice. Blogs were a great way to voice ones opinion on something, rather they liked it or disliked...etc. However, I found attempting to view each of my classmates blogs rather cumbersome due to many factors, time being the most overarching. 

Overall, I enjoyed this class and think that all teachers graduating from any college rather undergrad and grad should take a course that is similar. I feel that the skills being taught in here can translate to any age and any subject, even any language. The effective use of technology in the classroom, I feel will be growing as the years progress. 

An idea in DC

Recently, I went on a class trip to the Baltimore/DC area with 100 seniors. Both myself and the studens had a great time on the trip. We experienced a lot of fun and interesting places both as a group and individually. We stayed in Baltimore near the inner harbor but we traveled to DC to spend the day. 

On this day we let the senior roam the National Mall. I admit, I was a tad skeptical of this plan set forth by the tour guide but went with it anyways. Students were required to check in with their chaperone every so often through texting. Now, DC more so than Baltimore is full of awesome museums and monuments. As I roam about DC with my fellow chaperones, an idea occurred to me. 

Since I cannot be at the various monuments and museums throughout the National Mall giving a guided tour to these 100 seniors ( nor do I think they would want to hear my voice yammering on and on). Instead, my idea would be to creat a podcast of the various museums and monuments. The creation of a podcast would have been valuable for the students. Students could access the podcast using their smartphones, which in most cases they are already on. If they simply don't want to listen to me yammering, they can simply turn it off. 

Podcasts are very versatile and can be utilized numerous different ways both inside the classroom and outside the classroom. Now I'm sure podcasts exist for the DC idea, but if they don't someone needs to create one! Also, this idea just shows that no opportunity is too small nor too big to take it as learning opportunity. 

Classroom websites

The value of a classroom website is often over looked. In an age where people are constantly on the internet, it only makes sense to make and maintain a classroom website. The key is to maintain and update the site. Time after time, I see websites that go neglected. 

In my humble opinion, utilizing a website makes life a little easier. It's a great way to post homework, announcements and other items that may be of value to both students and parents. Also, by utilizing a website and posting class work on there, can help foster independence amoung your students. Instead of a student asking for another copy of a worksheet, they can go to the website and print their own.

Websites, can also be very valuable for parents to stay up to date with their students class work. Knowing what's due and when can help parents stay active in their students school work. Also,  a website is an easy way for parents to be aware of their students class work and answer their own questions before emailing a teacher. 

iPads in the classroom

Looking over numerous different apps tonight and looking at the evaluation forms. Both have merits on evaluating an app. However, I felt that the critical evolution of a content based mobile app allowed for a more comprehensive evaluation of an app. Review was easy to follow and allowed for some flexibility. The summary section is imperative when looking to see if an app will be effective for your students. The rubric evaluation did not call for such a section. Ultimately, downloading and playing with the app is the lost effective way for me to determine if the app wil be right for my students. 

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is a great tool to have in your tool bag. This software not only benefits people in education but also people in all walks of life such as business. Excel is great for compiling data and sorting through it in a quick and efficient manner. Also, as I learned in class recently can effectively keep a grade book. Something else I learned recently is that it's a great tool to make a timeline. Before class last week, I was wondering how Excel could be used beyond administrative tasks and grade book duties. Creating a timeline on the computer can be often times challenging and fustarating. However, when using excel is didn't feel those emotions. I found is extremely beneficial to utilize a step by step guide such as the one I found http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelArticles/create-a-timeline.html 

This site was instrumental at easing my frustration. While many programs are very powerful, I feel Excel when used correctly can be a grat took in the classroom. 

Looking back

Looking back on my research paper, the results of the findings of the numerous studies conducted using assistive technology make sense. I say this because the devices/techniques I chose to evaluate are very repetitive in how they operate device that is very repetitive can help build a foundation in which can be built upon for communication. The interventions I chose, video modeling, computer-based intervention, and augmentative and alternative communication devices, help assist students with autism in an effective manner because they are very repetitive in nature. Also, the three poses the ability to be altered when a desired result is reached.

When evaluating students with disabilities and determining which intervention to utilize it is imperative to use an intervention that will enhance to the abilities of the student. Often times, individuals get stuck on the fact that the student has a disability. Rather than focus on the disability, focus on the ability the student poses. The object of utilizing an assistive intervention device/technique is to make learning easier, not more difficult.

Working with students with disabilities, I have seen how assistive devices have impacted these students. The research that I have found, supports the theory that if the device/intervention is repetitive in nature but also has the ability to be altered students will be successful in communicating with their peers.

An eye opening experience

Day after day, I walk into a serve and multiple disabilities classroom. I've worked in a number of these settings through out the years. However, not once have I thought about how students with learning disabilities feel in the room in which we co-exist everyday, until now.  This video provided me a chance to reflect upon the very students that I help everyday. 

One aspect of the video that captured my attention was when all of the teachers were looking at a drawing and couldn't figure it out. I think it turned out to be a cow or something. This caught my eye because it made me think that do all of my handouts look like this for my students? Understanding words on a paper can be far more confusing than interpreting a drawing. 

This video provided me a chance to take a look at what I've already done and will do and simplify it to ensure my students can understand it.