3.4 Adaptive & Assistive Technology
Candidates facilitate the use of adaptive and assistive technologies to support individual student learning needs. (PSC 3.4/ISTE 3d)
Artifact: Assistive Technology Implementation Plan
Reflection: The artifact that I have decided to use for this standard is the Assistive Technology Implementation Plan. I created the Assistive Technology (AT) Implementation Plan during the summer of 2013 in ITEC 7445. The plan details how I use AT in my classroom.
Standard 3.4, Adaptive and Assistive Technology states, “Candidates facilitate the use of adaptive and assistive technologies to support individual student learning needs.” This standard establishes the importance of educators remaining sensitive and implementing AT in the classroom. In the plan I created, AT was used to help a student type. The student had a learning disability and he was ELL and SPED. His disability prevented him from reading independently; however, he could comprehend information well. I would read his passage to him and his journal topic. He would use the computer to speak out his response using a program called Free Natural Reader. The computer would type it for it. I would then read it aloud to him to ensure it typed what he wanted it to say.
From completing the Assistive Technology Implementation Plan, I learned how important it is to think of the learning needs of all of your students. With the assistance of technology, every child can contribute and maximize his potential. He may not contribute in the same way as other children. He may take a different route in accomplishing an objective, but every child can be challenged and can learn. Technology is awesome in that it helps us to help others and helps us to empower others. This experience could be extended by me creating a Wikispaces page of AT resources. On the page other SPED teachers could join the group and contribute tools as well. This could be a working document that is update as often as needed so that it remains current.
The work that went into developing this artifact impacted student achievement. Student achievement was impacted because it provided the student with a tool he could use independently to complete his assignment. He no longer had to solely be completely dependent on his teachers. I enjoy seeing the confidence that the independence provided him. The impact of this tool was assessed through teacher observation and the quality of the assignments he was able to turn in independently.
Standard 3.4, Adaptive and Assistive Technology states, “Candidates facilitate the use of adaptive and assistive technologies to support individual student learning needs.” This standard establishes the importance of educators remaining sensitive and implementing AT in the classroom. In the plan I created, AT was used to help a student type. The student had a learning disability and he was ELL and SPED. His disability prevented him from reading independently; however, he could comprehend information well. I would read his passage to him and his journal topic. He would use the computer to speak out his response using a program called Free Natural Reader. The computer would type it for it. I would then read it aloud to him to ensure it typed what he wanted it to say.
From completing the Assistive Technology Implementation Plan, I learned how important it is to think of the learning needs of all of your students. With the assistance of technology, every child can contribute and maximize his potential. He may not contribute in the same way as other children. He may take a different route in accomplishing an objective, but every child can be challenged and can learn. Technology is awesome in that it helps us to help others and helps us to empower others. This experience could be extended by me creating a Wikispaces page of AT resources. On the page other SPED teachers could join the group and contribute tools as well. This could be a working document that is update as often as needed so that it remains current.
The work that went into developing this artifact impacted student achievement. Student achievement was impacted because it provided the student with a tool he could use independently to complete his assignment. He no longer had to solely be completely dependent on his teachers. I enjoy seeing the confidence that the independence provided him. The impact of this tool was assessed through teacher observation and the quality of the assignments he was able to turn in independently.