Day One

First class today for EDUC5173 Assistive Technology: Access to Learning and Leisure. 
All I can say is, “WOW!”

The class started with a video called “Climbing the Wall” a truly inspiring story about an individual who with encouragement, and the proper tools accomplished his goal of climbing a rock wall. After watching the video, we were asked to submit via polleverywhere.com or text our emotional response to the video. It is at this point I realized how my learning might on-fold in this course. I felt a bit overwhelmed and behind the rest of the class, especially as the words appeared on the screen. It was obvious the other students were quite familiar with their choice of technology – iPads, laptops, “polleverywhere.com” or texting technology. I, on the other hand, am a dinosaur. However, after a couple of attempts without success on my laptop, I decided to use my smartphone and asked the person sitting next to me how I could text my answer. 

Next, we were asked to partner with someone, gather an I-Pad, and prepare a mini-presentation on the assistive technology application and the term taped to the front of the I-Pad. Of the nine pairs who presented their definitions using the app assigned to them, I must admit I was only familiar with two of the terms – IPP and DA. Therefore, I found each of the presentations very interesting and informative; however, the presentation defining Human Activity Assistive Technology (HAAT) as a model that considers the person, the activity to be completed. Using the TELESTORY app which is a video app that allows you to tell a story using digital animation effects such as costumes. Was awesome! My next favourite presentation discussed the SETT framework and VIDEOSCRIBE app. Student Environment, Task and Tools (SETT) is a four-part model which focus is to promote collaborative decision-making in all phases of assistive technology. VIDEOSCRIBE is an app that allows an individual to create a whiteboard video by adding images, text, voiceovers, and music.

Driving home, I had time to reflect on the class and the information around the number of frameworks and amount of technology available to educators, schools, and departments of education to enhance students’ learning. I was truly excited as I was not aware of many of these. I loved how using these approaches will provide opportunities for students who may otherwise be left behind. Truly, being a more inclusive school environment and one that presumes competence not incompetence.

As I thought about all of the presentations the app that would fit my immediate situation and one I plan to investigate is the 3D Timeline and the polleverywhere.com website. I am thinking I could integrate both in my courses

My plan is to share my new learning with my colleagues especially the polling websites and 3D Timeline. We are constantly looking for new ways to deliver our material so that our students have valuable learning experiences.