The Controversy of Assistive Technology

Prior to reading the article "Assistive Technology and Mild Disabilities" I was unaware of the controversies that surrounded the use of assistive technology whether it was low, middle or high. Many people believe it is a crutch for some children who rely too heavily on the help of the device. Others believe that it's unfair that some students are allowed these helpful devices and others are not. When standardized testing comes into play most devices are banned from being used at that time, with that many schools take away the device entirely so that the student learns to work without it. 

I have seen many devices used in various classrooms over the past few years and have seen nothing but growth in the children that have been given these devices. When you find a story such as Trey's you can only think of the growth he experienced coming from a non-verbal life to being able to communicate with the world around him. Many tend to think that students are "cheating" by using the technology, that it doesn't level the playing field for the class as a whole (Cercone 236). After reading many different sites, articles and books related to the topic I have learned that these devices actually level the playing field. They can change a child's way of learning, whether its a child who was unable to participate in class discussions and now is able to with the help of a keyboard or a student who needs a wheelchair just to get to school each day. Many dispute that students will never learn to complete the task at hand without the device but they don't consider the student from scenario 1 who lost their arm in a tragic accident (Edyburn 18). That child would be unable to attend school by himself/her without the help of a communication device. 

Dependent vs. independent? Are students able to become independent because of this device or are they becoming dependent on the device? This question could be argued either way. By having the technology they need to learn students can work at their own pace in the regular education class room more independently (Bodenheimer). Student either keep their devices for a lifetime in order to communicate with the world or the device is just an aid for a short period of time until the student can learn to work without the device just as well as they did with it. Most keep their devices because they rely so heavily on them to complete their work just as children in the regular education room can.  


The confidence that these devices gives students is remarkable. While working in a life skills class I was able to watch a student with a severe speech impediment use a keyboard device to practice her speaking and explain to the teacher what she was thinking. With this technology students can interact with other students in the regular education classroom and feel accepted more than ever. These devices are in no way a crutch to the struggling students that need and rely on these devices. 

References: 
Bodenheimer, A. (Fall 2012). Technology as a Communication Tool Within the Education System. Retrieved from http://technoedu.weebly.com/pros-and-cons-of-assistive-technology.html

Cercone, N. (2013). Computational Approachs to Assistive Technologies for People with Disabilities. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=ke7AAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA236&lpg=PA236&dq=is+assistive+technology+cheating &source=bl&ots=bicQHR5pYb&sig=kXRIzgefB3sZzdkg7Nb91IW0Tzk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-rEHVONWysuDBPmag LAK&sqi=2&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=is%20assistive%20technology%20cheating&f=false

Edyburn, D. (2006). Assistive Technology and Mild Disabilities: Special Education Technology Practice. 

Habib. (2010, April 22). Mr. Habib's Class: Assistive Technology. Retrieved from http://specializedprograms.blogspot.com/2010/04/technology.html

Nielsen, L. (2011, Sept. 5). The Innovative Educator: 25 Incredible Assistive Technologies. Retrieved from http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/09/25-incredible-assistive-technologies.html

Using Twitter to build a Professional Learning Network and the Use of Evernote and Skitch

Twitter is a social networking site or application that allows the user to create an account in order to send short messages out to the world called tweets. Tweets may contain pictures or videos along with the 140-character limit each tweet is allowed. Twitter has no boundaries and is usually used as a form of self-expression, a way for people to speak their mind. To many peoples surprise Twitter isn’t Facebook, it doesn’t outline your life story with photos or descriptions. Twitter allows for educators to develop a professional environment for further learning. Millions of tweets are written each day but the ability to only view the tweets the user wants to is very simple. It’s as simple as following the people you want to and not following the ones you don’t. Twitter creates a safe community of expression and group development.

Recently Twitter has been the new craze for teachers across the country. Teachers are not only using the site to interact with students but to connect with coworkers and other teachers from across the country. One blogger from EDUblogs, Kathleen Morris, a second grade teacher from Australia writes, “I find Twitter to be like a virtual staffroom where I can catch up with my PLN” (EDUblogs, 2011, "PLN Challenge #3: Using Twitter to Build Your PLN," para. 3). Many believe that the staff within your school can become your community with which you share ideas and learn from others, but that can be very limiting. By using Twitter teachers can share and gain knowledge and ideas from strangers in the next county over or on the other side of the country. Twitter adds diversity to the topic you're searching for, creating no boundaries with endless resources. In a blog written by Tom Whitby entitled Building a Professional Learning Network on Twitter he writes, "It is my belief that the people you follow are far more important than those who follow you" (My Island View, 2013, "Building a Professional Learning Network on Twitter," para. 3).  Tom admits this because everyones knowledge is "tweeted" at your disposal and that if you find something worth reading you should share it on your Twitter as well. It seems that the biggest goal in using Twitter for teachers is to get the ideas, articles, and other resources to as many people as possible. By exploring the people that your followers follow you can gain even more resources in minutes. The idea of following hashtags can produces thousands of other resources you didn't even know existed about a certain topic or area of discussion. By following hashtags that could also help to find more people to follow. Millions of tweets filled with fantastic resources are uploaded each day. Thus making Twitter an unlimited source when used to its full capacity. Blogger Tom Whitby also discusses the importance of creating plans and lists to better use Twitter and all it has to offer. By creating a list of all the Twitter accounts that are most useful to you or that you use frequently it makes it even easier to access useful resources. Tom gives a great closing statement, "Having and working a plan, or strategy to follow people for your PLN development is essential to grow it and increase its value" (para. 8). 

As for most 20 somethings in the 21st century Twitter has become a part of my daily routine. This doesn't mean that I tweet on a daily basis but it has become a social networking app that I check regularly throughout the day. I have never had to use Twitter for a class or assignment before but I believe it can be a great way to share thoughts among a group of students. In the future I would gladly incorporate Twitter into various lesson plans. After learning about using Twitter to build a professional learning network I will now use Twitter as a source to gain ideas and news about the public school system. Even though I'm not a teacher yet I would still utilize the same resources teachers in schools do. 

Evernote and Skitch work together to create an innovative way to take notes using pictures, ones own handwriting, ordinary typing, or voice memos. These notes can then be sorted into folders, exported to other sites, or edited at any given time. Evernote is essentially paperless note taking for the 21st century and an alternative to Word or Pages. Using Evernote along with Skitch can allow the user to keep all documents, pictures, or notes for a certain topic in one place. The Evernote application can be downloaded onto your smartphone, tablet or computer for free. With this application on all of your devices everything you create automatically syncs to the other devices. 

Evernote and Skitch can be used in the schools by students not only for note taking but to hold all of the material for a project or paper. Teachers can also upload power points or notes to Evernote so that students can add their own notes as well as record the teachers lesson or lectures. This application can help the unorganized students become organized and can give the over achievers an extra boost on their organization skills and study habits. As a special education major I believe that Evernote and Skitch can aid those struggling learners that learn in "out of the box" ways. The fact that students can add visuals and listening aids to their notes could help them better understand the material being taught. When I begin my practicum and start working in the schools more often I would eagerly use Evernote and Skitch to aid my students in excelling in the learning process.