Webinar reflection: EasyBib

      Webinars are basically seminars that are presented over the web. This webinars allow for numerous people all around the world to listen to one seminar without spending money on traveling and accommodations. Teachers from the east are able to share with teachers from the west and  vice versa. It also allows teachers and students alike to talk to professionals about their areas of specialty. Classroom 2.0 Live provides great opportunities to watch old and new webinars. 
     There are various topics that webinars cover; from how to use goole earth in the classrooms to the usage of different search engines. I participated in the google earth webinar (Thomas Petra)  while it streaming live and then watched an old webinar about easybib (Darshan Somashekar and Neal Taparia). Each of the presenters knew what they were experts in their respected fields and each were able to answer questions and fully describe what their topic was all about. Since most of us in the class attended the google earth webinar, I will not rehash what we should have all listened to. Instead I will talk about the second webinar I listened to: EasyBib.
     Easybib.com is a place I have used often. It was set up by Darshan Somashekar and Neal Taparia back when they were still in high school. Easybib allows students to create reference or bibliography pages for research papers or anything that needs to be cited. Teachers and students alike can use this site. Students are able to use it to help them make citations and teachers can use the same site to see if the citations are valid.
      There are various form of references that can be made using easybib. The most cited resources are websites, books, newspapers, and journals. The site also allows for the citations of music, photos, etc... The site is very convenient because it inserts the periods, commas, and any other punctuation that a citation needs. To cite a website, all a student or teacher needs to do is input the url. To site a book, insert the book title or ISBN code. If easybib does not have all the information on your search, you can manually input it into the specified fields.
     As students, the most tedious part of writing a paper is going back and citing all the resources that have been used. This site makes life a little more simple. Students and teachers should use this site to ensure that credit is given to the resources that were used. This website allows teachers and students alike to avoid plagiarism.

Here's a video further explaining other uses of  easybib:

Learn more about easybib :
1.   http://live.classroom20.com/1/category/easybib/1.html
Citation guide from easybib:
1.   http://content.easybib.com/students/citation-guide/

Blog Links

Here are the links to all of your blogs...

• Sandie: http://ed271-savilez.blogspot.com/ 
• Crystal: http://teachpetreso.blogspot.com/ 
• Maria: http://howardms.blogspot.com/ 
• Rudy: http://rdyngma.blogspot.com/ 
• Melissa: http://melsentiments.blogspot.com/?zx=1ceff10aede2dec2 
• Edwardson: http://techassessmenttwo.blogspot.com/ 
• Justin: http://justinnaputi.blogspot.com/ 
• Gertrude: http://gertrudebiliran.blogspot.com/2012/04/soundcloud.html 
• Carolyn: http://lyniany.blogspot.com/ 
• Churita: http://churitababy.blogspot.com/ 
• Carolyn: http://lyniany.blogspot.com/

 To clean up our blog, I'm going to delete the sharing posts that some of you did for this.

Hopefully you found that starting a blog is easy.  Think of ways you can use blogs in the future.  Remember, you can invite more authors if you want and restrict access if desired.

Cellphones in Education

         They are known for their disruptive ringing in the classroom. They are known as that small device for text messaging and surfing the internet. Basically, they are known as that main idea that pops up in a student’s mind. So, what exactly are they? “They” are cellphones. It’s a powerful tool that can be used for many purposes. Sure, cellphones may be a disruptive device in a classroom. However, I believe that if these tools are used properly, they can work wonders and be useful in the educational system. According to the webinar on cellphone devices, many educators are advocates for these tools. These teachers brought up useful purposes for cellphones in and out of their classroom.
          Within the classroom setting, one teacher found his cellphone useful in taking educational pictures. What this teacher had done was that he took a picture of a historical item outside the classroom using his cellphone camera. He was then able to incorporate the picture into his lesson plan.  I’m sure that this action made his lesson more interesting for the students, especially knowing how the students enjoy the presence of cellphone devices around them.
          Besides the previous teacher having his phone to be used in the classroom, another teacher allowed his students to use their devices as well. However, before they could use their cellphones, the teacher first sent out parent permission slips regarding the usage of cellphones in the classroom. Once he got that out of the way, the teacher allowed his students to use their cameras to take pictures of his notes on the board and had chances to send them to students who weren’t present during that class time. Just like these students, I have also been taking pictures of board notes from professors here at the University of Guam. I was also able to send them to classmates who weren’t able to get all the notes down. Until now, I would say that using the camera on my phone is still very useful in taking educational pictures, especially in the classrooms where teachers will write and erase like there’s no tomorrow.
          Other than having cellphones used among students and teachers solely, they can also be used as a good tool for parents and teachers to communicate with. For example, if there are newsletters or concerns from the school or teachers to be sent out, parents can receive them through text messages or online using their cellphones devices. This is an excellent way for the school to save the trees and money. On top of that, teachers can also communicate with the principal, staff, and other teachers as well.
          Overall, I believe that the usage of cellphone devices can serve as useful purposes in the educational system. Teachers can use them professionally among their students. Students can use them educationally, even to connect with other students. Also, teachers can use their cellphones to communicate with parents and the staff about educational concerns.
          Although I believe in the growth of technology, I am still concerned for the students and families who are in poverty. The usage of cellphone devices will be a struggle reaching out to this population because of that reason. Therefore, I would see cellphones as not being part of the top priority on my list. Cellphones in my opinion are a just a necessity and if education was able to survive without cellphones back in the days then we can still survive without them today.  

Related Articles: 

Cellphone Technology a Serious Classroom Distraction, Says Professor

Cellphones in the Classroom: Learning Tools for the 21st Century

The Webinar based on cell phones allowed to be used in school for a particular educational purpose really caught my attention. While I was in middle school and high school, cell phones were definitely a big no-no. Once someone was caught using a cell phone in class, it would be taken away and the only way they would be able to retrieve it was if their parents came in and picked it up. Cell phones are definitely one’s personal technology because it differentiates from a computer lab filled with computers or a cart of netbooks. For this reason, many students have invested a great deal of time learning about the features of cell phones. They put a lot of time learning how to navigate as well as learning the limitations of a cell phone. Another reason to consider the use of cell phones is because learning, using a cell phone, can extend beyond the walls of the school or the limitations of a class period.

However, it is understandable that some people/schools would want to ban the use of cell phones, but I disagree. Personally, since being in college, cell phones really came in handy. From taking pictures of notes that I was unable to copy to recording lectures that really interested me. Because of my cell phone, I was able to have a copy of the notes I needed without rushing to write everything down and I was also able to listen to lecture’s all over again just to refresh my mind. 

On top of that, the advancement of technology is growing immensely. Things are constantly being invented to make life easier. With that said, cellphones were one of the many inventions that opened the doors up to a better and faster way of communication, as well as a fun and exciting way. Therefore, we can not go wrong with that. 

Moving on, because the Webinar proposed a positive outlook on the use of cellphones in the classrooms, I am sure many students, in the upper grade levels such as middle school and high school, would be more interested now in their subjects than ever before. They will no longer have to worry about instructors lecturing the whole time or being dull and boring. 

On the other hand, the Webinar pointed out that the teacher would be the only one allowed to use his/her cellphone. I see this as a great idea that way students do not get too carried away and lose focus on what the instructor is trying to teach. However, when students do need to use their cell phones for reasons such as the ones I mentioned earlier, then it definitely would not be a problem. Being able to utilize a phone in the classroom without worrying about facing any consequences is a great way to keep students engaged.

In spite of cell phones being a great tool for educational purposes, the Webinar did mention that “smart phones” were the best phones to have in order to be able to do a majority of what was mentioned. However, not everyone can afford a smart phone, but then again, it seems like everywhere I look, a majority of the student population do have smart phones. Nevertheless, the unlucky ones can always turn to their peers. 

Let's Flip the Classroom!

My children learn things on YouTube all the time, from learning to tie a neck tie to learning a song on the guitar. I am completely amazed at how fast and how much they can pick up on YouTube. So why not implement the same type of learning in a classroom. Actually, when I shared my last ED271 assignment on flipped classrooms with my oldest son, he was absolutely amazed and would love to see this kind of instruction implemented at his school. However, with a good thing always comes a bad. I mean to say, that it may not work for everyone.

I enjoyed listening to the webinar on Classroom 2.0 Live about Flipped Classrooms. The guest speakers were Aaron Sams and Jonathan Bergmann. Believe it or not, I watched a couple more YouTube videos on flipped classrooms to supplement the webinar. I feel that this type of instruction is very effective. The speakers on the webinar explained how to start a flipped classroom. You can't just start right away. You have to start off with just one lesson during a semester, and then expand. First with a lesson for a semester, then perhaps two more lessons, then try it out for a year, then you can totally flip your classroom. Not in that way exactly, but the teacher would have to do a test run. Perhaps it may not work. The webinar explained that for some subjects, flipped classrooms are the ideal way of instruction, like math and science. Personally, I feel that it can work for all subjects.

Some downfalls to flipped classrooms are the availability of the technology in the students' households. What if a student does not have the resources to watch the lesson via media. Well, the webinar included information about that as well. Not necessarily that the students didn't have the resources, but they just didn't want to watch the videos. The students preferred to read the books. Any way they want to learn the lesson, allow them to do so.

To me, the main focus point of flipped classroom, is more teacher student interaction. The teacher is not lecturing for the majority of the class time. They are assisting each student, at their own pace, on the lesson that they learned at home. This creates more time for learning, rather than plain instruction. Students are able to apply the lesson when they get to school.

I can't find a reason to not implement a flipped classroom for my class. It's something that I would definitely like to try. If it doesn't work, you can always go back to traditional classrooms.

Related articles

• Education Flipped
• Untangling notions of flipped classrooms

Take Out Your Phones and Let's Learn!

The webinar that i attended on SimpleK12 talked about incorporating cellphones into the classroom.  At first, I said "This will never work because students will be taking their phones out during class and texting one another and not paying attention to the teacher". Then the presenter talked about this idea where the teacher is the only one who will have a cellphone in the classroom.  With that cellphone the teacher can then show the class images from there phone, like charts and educational short films.  I thought this was a very cool idea because it eliminates the distraction of everyone having a cellphone in class.  With my iphone i am able to look on Youtube and find videos that show me how to solve math equations and find other information pertaining to school subjects, so i saw the benefit of having it in classrooms.  Also the pratical use of cellphones was brought up during the webinar.  With a cellphone you can send messages to students who have missed class and inform them of what work that have missed during class.  This helps students to not miss any assignments and not have the excuse of saying they didn't know they had that work, which is the statement that teachers hear all the time when dealing with absent students.  The one downfall that i see with incorporating cellphones into the classroom, is that smartphones are needed to do most of the things that the presenter brought up in the Webinar. Their are some students who cannot afford smartphones because their parents probably don't make enought.  All in all though i thought this webinar presentation brought up many valid points about allowing cellphones into the classroom environment because i personally benefit from having one.  I found this one website that has a wealth of information about cellphone use in different school districts so i hope it adds to your knowledge of cellphones in the classroom.  Teach Digital: Curriculum by Wes Fryer

Podcasting--to use or not to use?

The webinar I watched had to deal with podcasting--what is podcasting? and how can I use it to support my teaching?

Many of you may be wondering what exactly is a podcast? I learned that a podcast is defined as a multimedia digital file made available on the Internet for downloading to a portable media player, computer, etc. which is often subscribed to or streamed. What differentiates a podcast from a regular audio file is that is uses RSS--Real Simple Syndication, which basically describes how the podcast is saved and broadcasted. Podcasts can typically be found in blogs, Wikis, and iTunes. 

So it is not surprising that as technology continues to emerge in the classroom, that podcasting should not be used too. In fact, it can be a great tool for both students and teachers alike. At the very beginning of the webinar, they had a poll asking 2 questions: Have you ever created a podcast? and have you ever had your students create a podcast? It was quite amazing that a majority of the people in that webinar had. I, on the other hand, just simply sat quiet and wondered to myself what exactly it was and how does one use it. Call me naïve or what but I was completely lost. I mean, I’ve seen the podcast icon on my iTunes but I never bothered to check it out.

This webinar really opened my eyes to its uses and how it can be used in the classroom. As the presenter Kevin Honeycutt stated, writing is considered a social medium.  When a student is given an assignment to write a paper, it typically results in only one reader—the teacher. Sometimes, this may affect the student's motivation because they may feel like the teacher doesn't like them and assume they will in turn get a bad grade regardless of what they wrote. In comes podcasting, which enables the student to write a script, record it, and post it to the web allowing for a wide range of viewers who provide feedback. Other uses for podcasting in the classroom are class presentations, as a way to engage learners and encourage participation, self-assessment, as a way to help teach academic vocabulary, and lastly for professional development.

Overall, this webinar was very, very informative. Not only did it help me understand what podcasting is but also how to use it in the classroom. The webinar goes on a little further to address the process for podcasting. It opens vast opportunities both students and teachers alike. I feel this definitely is something worth investing time in and exploring as a future educator.

Related articles:

Podcasting: Tips for Teachers

Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom

"Cell phones, Please?"

 
The webinar I watched dealt with the topic of implementing cell phones for learning in school and as a tool for professional purposes. I was actually very interested in hearing what these presenters had to say about this topic, because I know there are lots of pros and cons.


 The main benefit of cell phones in school is the communication and interaction amongst students, teachers, parents, and staff.


Most students love to use their cell phones, what more than to use their number one communication device in learning too? One of the steps they mentioned with this topic was the one cell phone classroom. This type of teaching included only the teacher using his or her cell phone to teach their students. This includes examples such as, showing images from their phones and connecting it to a projector to make the whole class view them. Cell phones are also beneficial to send classwork and homework to students who either missed class or did not get a chance to complete the assignments in class. One example can be a brainstorming lecture where the teacher writes a lot of ideas on the board and then students do not have time to copy the whole thing down, so the teacher takes a picture and sends it to students.


There were some resources of texting sites to go to along with applications that can be useful with a cell phone in classroom. One was Wiffiti, which is a student-parent interaction tool that looks like a bulleting board which can help involve parents to participate their children's school by giving ideas to the teachers about an event. Another one was Voki, which is a recording application that can record students' responses while giving a lecture so teachers can remember what they said and have more understanding. It also can motivate them by allowing them to create their avatars.


 One downfall is that most of the cell phones involving these tools are smartphones. Not all students and their families may have access to them because of factors such as low SES and poverty. But with the help of teachers getting all students on board no matter what the circumstances can make cell phone use more accessible and beneficial in education.


Related articles:
 New York teachers learn cell phone lessons (upi.com)
 Schools see cell phones as aid (nysun.com)

e-Portfolios

Dr. Helen Barrett

        Classroom 2.0 offers a lot of webinars on different interesting topics that are very helpful to future educators.  One specific webinar that I listened to for an hour was about e-Portfolios. Dr. Helen Barrett was the guest speaker, and her topic was called Interactive ePortfolios. I chose this topic because I know that it is important to have an idea about ePortfolios, especially because it's required for future educators to have it now. There are two types of online portfolio. The first one is an electronic documentation for learning which is called the working portfolio. She explains that, the working portfolio allows learners to document their growth over time. This shows you, if you have progressed over time with your work. Another electronic portfolio Dr. Barrett explains is the presentation portfolio. This portfolio includes goals or standards where future educators organize the results of their learning process. This portfolio is basically for career development, employment, achievement of course outcomes, achievement of specific standards, etc. She explains that you need both for the learning process and the outcome.
         I really liked Dr. Barrett's presentation because it prepared me for the upcoming assignment on e-Portfolios. Now I have a better understanding of why we need to create them as future educators. It is a portfolio that not only stores evidence, but it's a reflection of a student's personal development.
         These online webinars on classroom2.0 are really helpful to educators because I personally think that it is convenient for us, because we don't have to go anywhere to listen to these important people present. All we need is a laptop and internet to gain knowledge on many interesting topics that will definitely help us grow as future educators. I think that webinars also helps us save money because we don't have to go off-island to listen in on workshops or any other reasons for that matter. We just simply go on-line and attend to the presentations in the comfort of our homes. It's amazing how technology has made it easy for us to get connected whether it be educational or just to talk to friends from across the globe.


Reference:
 http://electronicportfolios.org/

SimpleK 12 Webinar

Attending the 30 minute live SimpleK 12 webinar was a great and new experience for me. I learned so many things But especially listening to Mr. Petra topic for the night which was Google Earth. I know previous in the first days of school, you had mention all the things about google and what it has to offer but since the focus was on google earth, i got a better understanding of what Google earth can provide, especially in relations with education. With all the information being said, I agree that google earth is a great tool for teachers or educators in teaching students because its allowing the students to enter into a world of techology and it challenges them, expanding their intelligence in technology and education. When I first started elementary, textbooks were always the main learning resource and til today some teachers still use textbooks. But I think with all these educational technology tools, the textbooks might no longer be around. overall, the webinar was a great learning experinence for me, listening to how much the ladies have contributed to keep simpleK 12 a success really shows education is important. Sources: Webinars / textbook and technology

Online Professional Development

2009 Guam Quarter (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Webinars are a great thing to have for anyone who wants to improve themselves.  On Guam, it used to be a big deal for a teacher to get sent off island to attend a summer conference.  Teachers would attend events and then share the information with others when they got back.  Unfortunately, those opportunities decreased more and more in the past decade due to the lack of funding.  Teachers can attend university classes but that isn't an affordable option for many.  The result is a teacher corps that is stagnant in their professional growth or knowledge of new methods.

The good news is that doesn't have to be the case anymore.  Webinar events from around the world can be viewed on your computer at no cost.  That alone should be an eye opener for any school administrator!  Webinars, or online seminars, can take different forms but usually consist of a presenter sharing slides with an audience.  It may also be an interview or a workshop on a particular application.  Most professions require continued training and re-certification, so webinars make a perfect choice for professional development.  Some webinar sources for educators are The Global Education Conference, Classroom 2.0 Live, Future of Education, and SimpleK12.  Google also offers events through their Google+ Hangout feature.  The optimum way to participate in a webinar is to do so live as it is happening.  Each of the sources above use a conferencing application to bring all of the participants together.  Since the session is being conducted in a different time zone, it is important to know when events are happening at your time.  Use a time-zone converter for that if the source doesn't provide on for you.  If you can't make it at that time there is usually a recording of the session posted somewhere.  YouTube and iTunes may have these non-live versions as well as the providers listed above.  Some webinars require registration or may include a small fee, but there's plenty of material readily available for free.  Sign up to receive notifications of upcoming events.

With webinar events, educators have access to great minds like Howard Gardner or Daniel Pink.  Not only can you hear their presentation, but you may have an opportunity to ask them a question yourself.  Online webinars are where I've learned about emerging ideas in education like Finland's educational system and the 21st Century Fluency Project.  I keep a personal blog of the ideas I gain from these events and draw upon it often to shape my own professional beliefs.  There are also marathon sessions offered several times throughout the year that will include multiple back-to-back webinars.  Google's Education On-Air conference starts in a few days and you can look forward to a fantastic Global Education Collaborative conference in November.

The other resource found in webinars is the audience themselves.  Most of the webinars list the participants and keep a running chat discussion going as the presentation plays out.  You'll find people attend these sessions from all around the world.  This side chatter can sometimes be more interesting than the presentation itself.  Usually someone acts a wrangler and provides helpful links to what is being presented.  Some of webinar software allow you to save the chat discussion in addition to the main presentation.  This is helpful because it can be hard to keep up with the chat forum and listen to the presenter at the same time.  The chat forum is a great feature because it lends to the community feel of webinars.  Plus, you don't have to stay quiet during the presentation and you can get out of your chair when you want.  Better still - get involved yourself.  You can add your own comments to the chat discussion or "grab the mike" and ask the presenter a question at the appropriate time.

I think you'll find online webinars a worthwhile experience.  Think of them as opportunities for personalized professional development.  You'll learn new ideas and meet new people from the comfort of your own laptop.  Of course, you may miss out on that all-expense paid trip to Arizona but you'll free up your time to do other things.  This professional development that won't cost you a dime.  Tap into the world's collective knowledge and join a webinar today. Online webinars are the perfect choice for professional development that won't cost you a dime.

Related articles

• Getting the Most Out of a Webinar (onlinecollege.org)
• An Interesting Webinar for Math & History Teachers (freetech4teachers.com)

More joy!

     Can school be more fun? Can it be more joyful? Why do kids get bored so easily in school? As I watched this webinar "Joy in Learning" hosted by Barbara Bray, Bray talked about how school has become more dull in today's modern world. Back then education was more fun and exciting, more joyful compared to years ago. Now we face a generation of studentsd who often see school as boring, not fun, which leads to high dropout rates, and less educated people in the world. This webinar opened my eyes of why students like this in schools and how we can fix that problem.

     As I watched this webinar, Bray stated that students are getting more and more bored of school not because of teachers but when students don't understand what's going on in class, they easily give up and always think they can never learn which brings a halt to their learning. Bray stated that students don't perceive information well which is normal, that's how learning starts, by being curious and asking questions, but when students ask questions, sometimes the teacher can be difficult on the student and get tired of hearing so many questions. Teachers sometimes expect too much from students, they expect perfection which is wrong. Bray stated that when students are constantly told they are wrong, the student will soon develop that thinking in their head and the student will always think they are wrong, which stops the student from learning, also Bray mentioned a TED talk in here webinar by Sir Ken Robinson, "Do Schools kill Creativity?" Robinson said the same exact same thing Bray stated, when students are constantly scolded for being wrong, the students will stop learning and never move on. Robinson stated that it's ok for students to get be wrong, it helps them to know the difference from right and wrong, also if you encourage students after they did something wrong instead of scolding them, the student will be more motivated in learning instead of being shut down. So to get students to learn, don't give constant lectures, but constant support and encouragement.

So if we solved the problem why students get bored in school, what can we as teachers help fix that problem. Bray summed that answer in one word, "Joy." If there's more joy in classrooms, the more fun it is, if there is more joy in classrooms, the more students will be motivated in doing their work and learning. The more joy in the classroom, the more the student will learn better. Bray came up with a system known as "Flow." Bray stated that the more flow, the more joy is in the classroom. She described "flow" in the list below.

1. Clear goals and expectatons.
2. Deep concentration.
3. A loss of feeling of self-consciousness
4. Distorted sense of time.
5. Direct and immediate feedback.
6. Balance between ability level and challenge.
7. A sense of personal control over the situation or activity.
8. Intrinsically rewarding activity.
9. A lack of awareness of bodily needs.
10. Absorbed and focused on activity.

So to sum it all up, if you have the "flow" in your classroom, then  you have joy and you will have no trouble with your students.

So to conclude, don't expect perfection from students but encourage them when they do wrong and that will get students to learn better, and if you have the "flow" in your classroom, you have joy in your classroom and you will never have bored students again.

How to write a Haiku by Churita Quinones & Sandie Avilez

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Related articles

• Flipping the Classroom Requires More Than Video (wired.com)
• Using Glogster EDU to make the flip (edu.glogster.com)
• How and Why I Flipped My Classroom (kwhobbes.wordpress.com)
• Flipping Your Classroom With Free Web Tools - Guest Post (freetech4teachers.com)

Do Schools Kill Creativity?

What can swarms of robotic helicopters do for you?

View videos like this and others at TED.com or on the TED Talks YouTube channel.
"Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the World"

Assistive Technology: Making the Impossible Possible

Often times, we choose to overlook the struggles others face and focus more on the things that happen directly to us. But for once, let’s imagine a world that hampered our inner abilities, one that didn’t allow us to reach our full potential and one that made us feel isolated and alone.  Now take that visual picture and realize that that’s the harsh realities hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities face on a daily basis. It isn’t an easy thing to live with or cope with but with the saving grace of assistive technology it makes the impossible possible.

            In the article written by Mr. Neal Starkman, a freelance writer, originally published on January 1^st, 2007 in The Journal states that “Assistive technologies are helping students who don’t respond to conventional means of instruction.” It by no way means that assistive technology is only available to students; in fact the article goes on to state that one particular device, the New Standard Keyboard, was designed out of frustration with the old system of looking at the keyboard as one composes. The creator Mr. John Parkinson invented it in an effort to make typing easier for everyone. In essence, to make the difficult easy for the lazy people like him but his reach far surpassed his wildest dreams. It has helped students with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, find their independence and continue pursuing higher education as well help those who suffer from brain injuries and memory problems. 

            Although the article talks about several particular devices, their uses, and success stories, this by no way means this is all that is out there. In fact, there are a wide range of assistive technologies available.  In today’s world, there are several types such as hardware, software and systems for students to can’t by through the normal mode of instruction. However, despite the different types, their uses and the impacts it has on the lives of these individuals who use them is priceless. It is indeed world no one wishes to go through but for these individuals it’s just merely a way of life. Assistive technology helps close the gap between the two worlds and enables individuals with disabilities to live as normal and productive life as possible!

Starkman, Neal "Assistive Technology: Making the Impossible Possible" <http:thejournal.com/Articles/2007/01/01/Assistive-Technology--Making-the-Imposible-Possible.aspx>

Assistive Technology At Its Best

Because assistive technology is constantly growing in today’s society, those with special needs will not feel left out anymore. It amazes me how so much is available now than ever before for students, teachers and other individuals who have a disability. Since having a variety of technologies, it has helped open the doors for those with disabilities who are unable to demonstrate their ability to learn. Assistive technology has played a big role in the lives of those who have struggled with learning like their peers. They have, in fact, become dependents on such machinery to get them as far as those without a disability.

One particular assistive technology that I would like to elaborate more on is the ‘SuperTalker Progressive Communicator.’ It is a recorded speech communication device that can meet a range of developing communication needs and allows for multiple levels of recorded messages. It also has a choice of keyboard layouts and comes with a set of key guards. This device actually helped a six year old boy with Autism break his communication barrier by eliminating all the stress he was getting from pulling all the social interaction pieces together. In addition, the Super Talker allowed him to communicate and make choices in a way that was safe and predictable for him. This is just one device, out of countless devices, that has been a huge success in making learning for those with a disability less challenging and more enjoyable

Moving on, children with disabilities are very prevalent today more so than in the past. Or at least they are recognized as actual human beings with a disability and not just retards. They are more welcomed in our society now and not secluded like they once were. Therefore, it is important to remember that no matter who or what kind of child is out there; we must always accommodate their needs, especially because there is a vast number of assistive technologies available.

In sum, being able to offer children with special needs the same kind of materials that are being offered to those without a disability in a way they will be able to learn, is very delightful. I am extremely glad to see that people are continuing to push for what needs to be done in order to accommodate every kind of person, especially those in the education field. Lastly, the short video I watched about the six year old boy with Autism, that I mentioned earlier, is just one out of several inspiring successful stories because of the development of Assistive Technology.