Assistive Technology Ultimately Benefits Entire Learning Community

Since living with a disability does not preclude a student from furthering his or her education, these deficits must be acknowledged and addressed.  Luckily, there are a number of technologies designed to help students with disabilities adjust to school life with the greatest measure of independence possible and also allow them to integrate as valuable members of the classroom community.  For students that suffer from dyslexia or other learning disabilities, electronic worksheets can be implemented.  These worksheets help students orientate themselves to the words, equations, and other items that encompass their assignments.  Moreover, some of these worksheets have a text-to-speech option, which allows for greater ease of obtaining information.  In addition to these worksheets, there is also phonetic spelling software, which converts the student’s typing into words that they can listen to after the class or lecture.

            For students who have conditions such as dyscalculia, the use of a talking calculator is of great benefit to them.  These calculators make it easier to read numbers, perform calculations, and review or check answers.  Most of us spend our undergraduate years dodging math, but a device like this can be a game changer for the types of degrees these individuals are willing to pursue.  For children who suffer from autism or other disabilities that cause them to struggle with social situations, assistive teachers can videotape various interactions.  The tapes can be used to highlight where the students engaged in positive exchanges and where they might need to improve in the future.  Any device that can create an environment in which disabled students feel included and productive and removes a sense of isolation should be invested in for the benefit of the entire learning community.

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Teach Your Monster To Read

Teach Your Monster To Read is a fun-filled game for young children learning to understand the sounds and first words with the progression to simple sentences.  They have a pretty thorough demo that allows you to try various games so the student would be more comfortable working the controls and following its directions.  The student is able to first create their very own monster and then the monster does different games based on the spelling of words and how words sound.Within the teacher's area, they have a classroom toolkit that shows phonics and reading resources.  It also has a game by game comparison that gives the teacher info on which games gives what skills to each child involved. They also have a shopping tab where you can have your created monster and put in on a t-shirt to purchase.  I have to put out a disclaimer: This website is ran by Usborne Publishing which makes pretty good children's book but I must say that some of the follow thru of connect this website to the books they sell does not work well enough to me.  Overall though, many kids will be very entertained with their little monster making a stir-fry from things that start with a certain letter.

The Happy Scientist

Founded by Robert Krampf, The Happy Scientist is an online learning platform that provides engaging science experiments. The material available on the website is presented in a non-threatening manner which enables educators, students, and parents, to have a everyone can do attitude. Presentations available on the online learning platform promotes a strong desire to understand the world around us. The videos show just enough about an experiment to give an understanding of the likely outcome incase one prefers to not do the experiment at home. Educators and parents can enjoy the detailed activities and videos that are available for children to enjoy. Many of the videos on the learning platform involves projects and experiments that help broaden and further the learning of students. The videos that guides experiments are short, fun, and packed with engaging ideas to try. Students are able to select their own science lessons and do reports on topics that keep them engaged. Funny yet informative, The Happy Scientist guides the learning of students by learning and building concepts and using prior knowledge to connect related topics. The only unfavorable thing about this website is that educators and parents that homeschool their children will need a paid subscription to add this learning platform to their curriculum or to simply just use.

Education City

Education City is a website with a phelora of amazing tools to help teachers achieve their goals in bettering the learning of their students. Many of their resources are free and they have a 21 day trial to try out all they have to offer.  You can plan, teach, learn and monitor all of the student's activities with this program.  The edmentum blog which connect with education city is another resource for teachers to participate in writings and gather information.  This application is easily accessible on computer, cell phone, whiteboard, or even at the student's home to do a possible flipped classroom.  For a paid subscription, you would have to fill out some information and will give you a personalized quote.  This is primarily for elementary educators to use and it does teach all of the basic subject but  there isn't anything that stands out from the rest that our class has done this semester.  Overall it is still a decent product but without having a long-term subscription, I cannot say if it would be worth the money or not.

How To Use Robots in Education

     While some people might imagine a time in which our children are taught by intimidating, lifeless robots, the view over the horizon is decidedly rosier.  One Finnish tech expert has developed an interactive robot that he hopes will assume the mundane tasks of teaching, freeing educators to serve as mentors to students, while providing fun and consistent instruction to students.  While Lasse Rouhiainen did express some concern that children might grow attached to the robot, the benefits definitely seem to outweigh the potential drawbacks.  For example, the robot would provide "judgment-free" assistance; even the most patient adult can grow weary of explaining the same concept over and over.  School districts would need to absorb the initial costs for the robot (and the obvious maintenance), but those same school districts would be hard pressed to find teaching assistants who can speak twenty-three different languages.  Moreover, the costs associated with human beings, like health care and time off, are not factors to consider when using robots in the classroom.  As a student who needed support in a mainstream classroom, I think that a robot would have been a good fit for my needs.  I did not need assistance with self-care, I just needed certain instructions repeated and certain concepts reviewed.  After the initial allure of the robot wore off, it would have been more "organic" and less intrusive to receive assistance from a robot than to constantly have an adult at my elbow.
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Kahoot!

Kahoot! is a new way of learning. It is a "game-based learning platform" that's fun and engaging. Users can create quizzes or learning games to share and play with each other. This site can be used by teaches as a way to introduce technology in the classroom. This way of learning excites students and holds their attention. After launching in 2013, this site has made learning more fun and engaging for those who use it. When I first played a Kahoot!, I remember being much more engaged and interested in what was being taught. That's what Kahoot! is all about. They combine what kids like most - playing, with learning, and it actually works! The company is all about engagement. Instead of the traditional classroom setting, Kahoot! wants classrooms to involve every student and encourage connecting with each other. Since 2013, more than 2 billion players have played on the platform. and still going strong. It's grown to become a very popular platform that many all over the world use.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a website that has it all! From practice exercises to instructional videos, this site has many great tools to help with student learning. When I first went onto the Khan Academy website, I was blown away with all it had to offer. It has multiple subjects and grades for users to select to work on a specific area of learning. They have different categories for the subjects; Math, Science & Engineering, Computing, Arts & Humanities, Economics & Finance, and Test Prep. The Test Prep category is something I found very unique. The website offers practice for tests such as the SAT and MCAT all online. Millions of students all over the world use Khan Academy every single day! It's well-known and well-trusted. 

Codecademy is a website that teaches you how to code. You can join for free and have access to what they label skill building or you can go Pro for $19.99 a month and chose a career path that will give you a more in depth line of courses. When you first sign up you can explore on your own or you can chose to be guided. when you are guided they will ask you four questions to get an idea of why you came to be on the website. The first question they ask is "What brought you here?". Then they ask "What topic are you interested in?", "What is your learning pace?", and "How do you plan on using Codecademy?". Once you have finished answering those questions you will be giving the courses that they feel like will best help you achieve your perceived goals by the answers that you have giving for the questionnaire. To keep it simple for a beginner you can start of with the course Welcome to Codecademy! This course will teach you how to code starting with the simplest codes. If you like the coding experience I would suggest going Pro. This could be very expensive for one classroom so I would suggest having your school pay for it.  Happy Coding!

Highlights Kids

Highlights Kids is an online learning platform which is the counterpart to the Highlights magazine. This website features writing and reading based scientific yet artistic activities. Children are able to browse more than 45 science experiments, recipes, and instructions for more than 40 craft projects. Children are also able to access more than a dozen online art activities and view videos of other kids telling jokes. There are word searches, hidden pictures and other games available on Highlights Kids. A cool feature that kids are able to use is to be able to submit content of their own such as jokes and drawings to be featured in the print magazine.

The abundance of activities that Highlights Kids has to offer helps to keep children occupied while also providing an educational component. Some of the virtual art projects allow kids to create funny faces out of food and customize buildings. The science experiments provided offer great explanations on concepts such as gravity, how visions works, and much more. Kids do not need a subscription to Highlights' print magazine in order enjoy the online platform.

Digital Passport

Provided by Common Sense, Digital Passport is a way to allow elementary students to have them learn the fundamentals of becoming a digital native while doing so ethically.  In reality anyone could use it, but it is geared towards youngsters that are new to using computers for educational purposes.  The website has different games to play like Password Protect which teaches students how to come up with a proper password without their password being: PASSWORD or ABC123. Twalkers teaches the students about multitasking, Share Jumper teaches about privacy, and MIx-n-Mash teaches about creative credit.  Although this website is free, it does accept donations. There is also a downloadable pdf for educators to help assist them with how to use all of the tools mentions and explains the importance of each of these compartments.  Overall, this is a great tool for any young child new to computer technology become more comfortable and aware of their digital footprint.

ABCmouse.com

ABCmouse.com is an "award winning early learning academy". The website is tailored to kids ages 2 through 8. This site allows young kids to be able to access an entire curriculum. According to the website, ABCmouse offers over 850 lessons and more than 8,000 learning activities. This site is a great tool for parents to use at home with their kids for extra practice or use as a tool to teach them new things.

The site is divided into different categories depending on the subject. There's Reading, Math, World Around Us, Art & Colors, Music & Songs, Library, Puzzles, and Games. After clicking on the category, the user will be directed straight to numerous lessons and learning activities. Children have access to thousands of activities that include things like reading books, playing games, watching videos, painting pictures, and learning songs all while learning useful information at the same time.

A cool feature ABCmouse has is something called "My Learning Path". This is a step-by-step path that guides children from one activity to the next. The site arranges all the activities into a simple curriculum made by teachers and learning experts. What I like most about this website is that even though children will be playing games, each individual games is a carefully designed learning experience.

Assistive Technology for Visually Impaired Students

     Having interacted with two blind students at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, I wanted to learn more about how they navigated a sighted world without asking intrusive questions.  Therefore, I researched the matter, and while much of the assistance offered to them is "low tech" in the form of audio recordings of lectures and the use of other students as readers, some exciting technology exists that can really "speed up" the intake of information.  For example, a Braille printer can help individuals completely devoid of sight, but the price tag is rather shocking (prices range from $1,800 to $80,000 for a high volume machine).  A graduate student at Vanderbilt explained how frustrating it is to lag behind her fellow students in completing assignments, at the mercy of various devices, and how technology like screen readers with speech or voiceover for her laptop, iPad, and iPhone level the playing field considerably.  I appreciated the way she further explained that all students have goals, and visually impaired students want to exercise the greatest amount of independence possible, and these superior devices allow them to do just that.  I think that this type of technology is a worthy investment for educational communities like universities in order to ensure that these students succeed.
     Another interesting point the website raised was the issue of advocacy.  The problem with allocating funds for this technology is that there are relatively few students on campus who are visually impaired.  Nevertheless, I think that an argument could be made that this technology allows them to compete with their peers.  I think that these students and their families should speak to the administration and ask that they make specific requests of their most generous donors for this technology; these individuals may not even be aware that such a need exists.  I recently saw a blind student almost run into a chair; we should all be more sensitive to the challenges others face and join them in asking for help that will make them enjoy their college experience even more fully.
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Zearn

Zearn is an integral part of teaching for many educators. It is a great supplemental online program that can be added to any curriculum. The intended use of the program is to begin with whole-group instruction. Students then work in class independently or may be able to have a partner or two when doing digital lessons. Small groups may be possible accompanied by a teacher to help "deepen, extend, and remediate" all based on the comprehensive reports of student progress. The great thing about Zearn is that it allows an educator to individualize a students' experience and also allowing them to practice what they are lacking in the most. Zearn enables students to master the skills with repetition while understanding the lesson material on the surface level. When blended with direct instruction and quality hands on practice, Zearn provides the needs of a good learning environment that students need to master mathematics and also get in some practice. This program can be used by various educators and for all levels of learner, Zearn allows students to really strive for more and achieve their goals.

BrainPOP

BrainPOP is an educational to to put in your teaching arsenal. For many young teachers this site will be a nostalgic trip but for your students, it offers an easily accessible site with loads of different materials. It has extensive content on most subjects found in primary and secondary school. Graphics also illustrate the content that is being clicked on by students, allowing for clear structure of the website. An amazing quality of this website is how it structures and displays the information when you have reached a subject. The UI (User Interface) is extremely impressive. Let's say you have reached Polynomials after going from Math to Algebra, It presents you with clear cut options on what BrainPOP provides. For every micro-subject they provide. there is an available movie, quiz, related readings, vocabulary, game and more. 

A negative aspect of the site is that it requires funding to fully access the content. Some of the content is free and most of it requires  subscription to play. Another gripe with this content is the ambiguous difference between what is free and what is not. For a teacher, access to the full website will cost $230.00 for a year and for a school, it would cost $1,895.00. I think this would be an amazing site for a school to buy, allowing for unlimited access to the site.

Quizup

     QuizUp is an app for mobile devices where you can take quizzes made by other users about any topic you can think of! I used to spend hours on this app taking quizzes about T.V. shows that I watched or even books that I've read. There is also an option to make your own quizzes, which can be useful to educators to make quizzes about different material that they are covering. You can face random opponents form anywhere in the world. The only critiques I have to make about this app is that there isn't much sensitivity to the chat option and if using this in class, students may be distracted by other quizzes. Some pros of this app is that it is free to use, and students can take this on the go to take quizzes wherever they may be. Overall, I really love this app and think it has the potential to be a great technology tool for educators. 

https://www.quizup.com

Newsela.com

There has been a pretty significant push stemming from the Common Core Standards to include some form of reading in all content area.  No longer is reading proficiency only expected in English or ELA classes but also in science and math etc.  Luckily, we have Newsela.com as a great resource for grade appropriate and content specific articles.  And most articles are free!

Looking for an article relevant to math and appropriate for 8^th grade?  Look no further – just click here!  Within a couple of clicks, teachers and learners can specify the content area as well as the Lexile level you need, and “Poof”, a number of articles that you can choose from are presented.  Another great thing about the site is that you can have everyone in your classroom read essentially the same article but at varying Lexile levels.  This way, all students get the same content but without the struggle.  Check it out!  

Go SoapBox

Have you ever been a student that has been afraid of asking questions in front of your fellow classmates?  GoSoapBox is a web based teacher tool that students and teachers can use in the classroom to keep the lesson more engaging and to make the activities more interactive.  To use, just sign in and make you lesson with an accompanying quiz or test.  The student sign in by clicking in on join event.  Students can sign in using a tablet, smartphone or computer.  There is a free version up to 30 students but it can get pretty pricey.  From thirty-one to seventy-five students, the price is $99 dollars.  You can make different polls, quizzes, create discussions and have Q&A with the students.  The questions that students ask are confidential so no one has to feel embarrassed or ashamed for not knowing something. The student can also notify if the teacher if they are confused of if they can understand something in real-time.  If may not have the quirkiness of Kahoot or Quizizz but the anonymity and lack of embarrassment of students more than makes up for lackluster graphics.

LiveBoard is an interactive whiteboard teacher’s can use to create multimedia content for their students. LiveBoard is similar to a powerpoint but is much more interactive. Teachers are able to write all over the slide, but then can create a new one so they do not have to erase what they started. Within the slides, there are many features such as a clicker, pen, shape maker, eraser, and the ability to insert images. A recording feature is also available so the teacher can go over the content as they would in class. They can record as many videos as they would like. Additionally, students are able to leave comments on the slide/video and teachers are able to answer those as soon as they are able to. Teachers are able to make a new “slideshow” for every topic. Furthermore, they are able to share the slideshows with as many students as they would like.  With LiveBoard, there is a free and a paid version which costs $10 per month. The free option has all the important features, but the paid version has extra bonuses. I have loved using this application and would definitely recommend it.

Prodigy

Prodigy is probably one of the coolest educational websites I know that kids can use for free. It's basically this online world that challenges students with each other in order to keep reaching higher levels. The game allows them to build their own character, name them, pick a pet, and battle with their school friends in the classroom or at home!

 Now, what makes it educational are the battles themselves. Students must answer a series of math questions to "battle" each other. Every correct answer equals a hit their opponent takes. That goes on back and forth until one battler finally loses the battle by running out of health. The more battles you win, the higher levels you unlock, and the higher level you are, the harder it is for people to take you down! The battles consist of math questions tailored to the players level. The questions come with 3 chances and hints if the player is stuck. If the question is answered incorrectly, the player loses their chance to take a hit at their opponent. This game is cool because of how interactive it is. It lets students play with their friends in different realms the game lets you unlock. It lets you join forces with your friends to battle another duo for a tag team battle. This site offers so many cool features that kids love!   

Technology for Homeless Students

Even though there is the danger that vulnerable populations would sell or "barter away" devices like iPads and laptops, the benefits of allowing these students access may outweigh the concerns.  I currently tutor older students preparing for the GED, and during our orientation, the director for educational services indicated that some of the participants were homeless.  If they had an iPad or laptop for their personal use, the stress over traveling to the center would be alleviated.  Moreover, I would have more opportunities to work with them as questions came up by using technology like Skype.

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Khan Academy

Khan Academy, a Non profit online resource tool with the mission to provide a a free, world- class education for ALL ages, anywhere. this website offers practice exercises, instructional videos and a personalized learning dash board that allows students to keep track of their progress. Khan Academy also allows you to learn at your own pace, while learning subjects such as math, reading, social studies, science and more. I do believe they  have more helpful resources and focuses on mathematics. Khan Academy also shows you your errors, as well as helps break down problems. A customer survey held in 2018 with 1503 respondents posted 90 percent of teachers and students who have used Khan Academy (the impact) report it is an effective learning resource.

Readability Formulas

As teachers, especially in the content areas of math and science, we can sometimes forget that readability of the subject matter can have a significant effect on the success of a student.  Quite often we are handed text books and other materials that we have to work out of but other times we can actually choose materials from outside sources.  So how do we know if the content we choose is appropriate for the varied reading levels found within our classrooms?  

Luckily we have online resources like Fry Graph and Raygor Graph Readability Tool which is based on the well-known readability formula developed by Edward Fry.  The super easy to use calculator allows you to enter samples of text from the document you are interested in using and calculates the reading level of the content in a jiffy.  The tool also provides other information such as total number of words, repeated words, unique words etc. all of which contribute to the readability of the content.  This tool should be in every teacher’s toolbox since a busy teacher can assess the readability of what she plans to present within seconds and adjust accordingly so that all learners can benefit from the material. 

Seussville

The colorful and easy to read Seussville is an online platform that is a great place for classrooms and even families to explore. Visit the Cat in the Hat, Yertle the Turtle, the Lorax, and all of the Dr. Seuss favorites that are loved by so many. This is awesome website that offers internet fun for the family whole also providing a lot of activities that appeals to young children of all ages and grades K-5. When being used by an educators users can adventure the many areas of Seussville or simply click on Seussville University to be introduced to the subjects available for Pre-K to first grade students. These subjects are reading, math, science, and reasoning.
The colorful characters and timeless rhymes of Dr. Seuss are showcased in the interactive games available on the website. These games will take any individual at any age on a joyful adventure. There are also activities and printable games that helps to bridge the gap between family refrigerator door and the media.

DragonBox

Dragonbox uses a visual, intuitive interface to gradually scaffold increasingly complex algebraic equations. Cleverly disguised as a game, the program moves from visually appealing images and characters to variable symbols you'll recognize from algebra class. This app and website is divided into two sections (4 to 9 years old and 9 and up) with various math disciplines to learn. Dragonbox is a brilliant means of doing so. I like the quick pace of the website and its overall gameplay. The levels get progressively more difficult, but little by little so students are able to feel successful as they progress rather than frustrated. Since the game format is so strong students are engaged and don't really feel that they're "doing math". This tech connection has helped some students who previously didn't understand balancing equations to catch on when we go back to numbers.  Think of this game as Algebra mashed up with Angry Birds. They have Regular and Advanced Math Packs at 9.99 and a Complete Math Pack at 24.99.

Assistive Technology for Autistic Students

     Since most people have access to either a cell phone or a tablet, it is a good idea to utilize these devices when working with autistic children.  Since many autistic children experience deficits in communication, it is important to have something readily at hand to avoid unnecessary frustrations and to facilitate learning whenever possible.  Certain apps contain flashcards commonly used to speech therapists to capture common events, command, and so on (I remember using those cards with my speech therapist; they were laminated, constantly falling on the floor, and were often lost).  This system is superior because the educator and student can track which cards are used most frequently and can add cards as the student's vocabulary expands.  I also agree that the device can be handed to the student as a reward to play a quick game as opposed to providing a sticker or some toy that will be forgotten on the bottom of someone's backpack.

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Agnitus

Agnitus is a subscription website geared toward children from preschool up until 3rd grade. They follow a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on mastering skills through series of activities, books and games. The books on the app are interactive so children can listen or sing along to nursery rhymes. The site claims it uses progression based technology in their activities which prepares students for structured learning environments. The app and website offers skill reports for parents to track their child's progress and what skills need more focus on. A monthly subscription is $6.99 or a yearly subscription is $47.99.

I feel that this is another spin off of abc mouse but at a slightly more affordable price point being only $6.99 instead of $9.99 a month. I like that website while plain looking is more focused on providing enriching activities for young children which a focus on pre-kindergarten education. I believe its a good investment for children who need extra help with mastering preschool level skills but a waste of money afterwards.

Starfall

Starfall is an educational website for grades Pre-K through 3rd that can be used to help with reading and math. The website focuses more on reading. According to the site, Starfall's founder, Stephen Schutz, struggled learning how to read throughout his childhood and because of that he was inspired to create a place to help children like his past self learn how. Starfall has been around since 2002 and in 2012 started providing its activities through apps on phones and other electronics. The concept of Starfall was to create an environment "Where Children Have Fun Learning To Read".

The website offers interactive games and online books to help kids strengthen their reading. Students can read and listen to books, practice phonics, and build sentences through the site. Math games are also available on the site as additional math practice. Starfall gives parents and teachers the option of purchasing a membership to unlock different resources. Teachers are given the option of purchasing a membership that allows them to use it in the classroom with their students. Overall, Starfall is a great option for any kid learning how to read or is struggling with reading.

Math Playground

The Math Playground is a website that has a ton of free math games available for grades 1st-6th. They have tabs titled Math Games, Logic Games, Math Arcade, Story Math, and Math Videos. When you click the tab you will be taken to a page full of games to chose from. You can also click the grade that your student are in and make the games grade specific. The site also offer other categories like word games and geography that can be found at the bottom of the page. These games can be played without a subscription. However, if you would like to have more games, be add free, save your favorite game and play in full screen mode it would be best to subscribe to the website. They have separate pricing for families and schools, that can be paid monthly, quarterly, and annually. For the family you can pay on the low end with an annual subscription of $35.88( $2.99 per. month), $4.99 quarterly or $5.99 monthly. For the school it will cost $71.88($5.99 per. month), $7.99 quarterly, $9.99 monthly. 

I enjoy playing the games on this site. I feel like it keeps my mental math sharp and the geometry games help me problem solve. I think this site can be used when you have students that finish their work early as something that is fun and educational or for students that need a little more practice on certain lessons. It would also be great for a day when the class have a substitute teacher, they can do a day of fun self learning. The games on this site keeps the students motivated and striving to beat their personal best. I would recommend this site to parents for students to have fun and educational games to play during the summer break.  

Education.com

                                         This site provides numerous of activities for children preschool age all the way up to fifth graders. You can search activities by topic, arts and crafts, coloring, holidays, offline games, pop culture and events, recipes, seasonal. You can even look things up that correlate with the Common Core Standards. I thought that was a really cool feature, even though it only has language arts and mathematic standards. This covers just about all of the subjects there could be; coding games, fine arts, foreign language, math, reading, science, writing, social emotional, social studies, and typing. All these subjects offer activities in printable worksheets, online games, guided lessons, lesson plans, hands on activities, interactive stories, printable workbooks, science projects and even song videos. This website had just about everything on here. While I was exploring the website, I did run in to a speed bump. You need a subscription. I was only allowed access to a handful of activities until it brought me to a screen where I could between three types of membership, Monthly for $8 with no commitment, can cancel anytime. The Annual option was for $5 month if billed annually you'll save big and the lifetime membership for a once time fee of $160. That's a bummer for myself, because I had originally thought that this was a free site, but now knowing, I might do the monthly and try it out and see if I actually use it and make time for it all, and depending on how it goes in the classroom and how I like it, I might do the annual or even the lifetime.