Reflections

Course Reflections

This course has taught me so much, not only in the use of assistive technology in my classroom, but it has deepened my understanding of those students who are in need of using such devices.  During our class meetings - as we looked at different case studies of students and learned new AT tools - I couldn’t help but reflect back on some of the students that I have taught over the years who would have greatly benefited from AT tools – the iPad and its multitude of wonderful Apps in particular.

With my new knowledge, however, I am more aware  (and frustrated) with our current educational system.  We need to spend more time, effort, and money on assistive technology and training of our teachers so that we actually do meet the needs of all learners!!!! 

For our last class, we presented case studies on students at our school or in our community who we thought would benefit from having assistive technology in their lives.  We have begun making small steps in the lives of more students...

 

Teacher	Student	Goal	Apps	Results
Nikki	Gr 6 Autistic ADHD	To develop a visual schedule to increase independence.	Binder with visual schedule without pictures. Checklists for keeping student on track.	Student developed some independence but an iPad would be more useful.
Shauna	10 yr old boy Autistic Doesn’t like pencil & paper activities	To increase reading comprehension and enhance communication skills.	Classroom Suite My Talk            ToolsLite Checkers Social Stories Visual schedules	Student only wants to use technology for writing.  Now to convince the school board community to purchase an iPad.
Eleanor	Age 18 Grade 12 ADHD  Poor working memory Easily distracted & low motivation Difficulty with predictions and cause and effect	Make connections to his learning and articulating thoughts.	Poplett – a graphic organizer Dragon Dictation- CoWriter	Poplett – App is user friendly Dragon Dictation- He didn’t like it b/c challenging due to noise in class and his work would get lost. After making a story web in Poplett.  He typed it in CoWriter.  This made him feel more successful because he knew his spelling was correct.
Chris	Age 9 ADHD Frequent D’s in school Taken off of meds	To help child become and stay organized at home.	iReward Chart App Stress Ball	Child was able to organize room but perhaps try Epic Win App to motivate the child further.
Whitney	Age 16 BIRT Class Dependent on EPA for doing his work	Improve student’s ability work independently.	Claro Speak  Dragon Dictation	Improved pace and focus Could better access what he knew.
Donna	High School PEERS Class of 7 students.	To help students develop social communication skills.	Tellagami EverNote CloudArt VisionSim	Students developed more motivation and confidence.
Theresa	Grade 3 girl Down Syndrome Speech concerns – difficult to understand.  Low vision. Likes to have her own way.	Student engagement and motivation for learning. Teaching EPA to use AT.	Slant board  & stylus for iPad IPad for Learning Tool instead of games Visual Timer Emotion Flashcards	Used technology for social books Needs to see a visual timer (to help her end a task) Liked iPad Learned to have shared control with the use of the choice boar
Susan	Self CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)  2% range of motion in fingers after a car accident	To find appropriate AT to assist in personal Hygiene and Meal Preparation	AT One handed cutting board video Hair Dryer Stand	Got some independence back.
Reagan	To Get AT in school and people on board -4 teachers and 5 students	No Training No Accounts No budgets No apps Blocked usage	ReadIris Clario Kursweil Firefly (App)	Teachers and EPA’s seeing benefits of using iPads. Teachers NEED to be TRAINED and Pad accounts set up and money for purchases.
McKenzie	4 students with various Learning Difficulties Grade 8		CoWriter	Successful and wrote more risk taking and bigger words. More confidence and more engaged.