Assistive Technology

-- I saved this as a draft on the 10th. Oops! --

It is amazing how some of this technology has changed the face of a classroom. For students to be in more inclusive systems because the technology allows them to be included is one of the best things to happen to the world of education since the white board.

One of the greatest stories I've heard in the past couple years was about a student that was restricted for the majority of his life to his home. He had some disorder that didn't allow him to be in class often. Yet, he still wanted the same experience. SO, the school and the family worked together to build a "droid" like device to roll around school to allow him to attend all of his classes (even driving his "droid" self to his next class from home) in real time, ask questions, be called on, and participate with his classmates.

Just stop and think for a minute- a student confined to his home still participating in class. This wasn't possible 10 years ago. A student confined to a wheel chair is able to manipulate a computer with same results of an able bodied student. The student with hearing diffeciencies is now able to take a personal amplifier to each class and have his/her teacher speak to them just as the rest of the class.

I think what it all comes down too is inclusiveness. These students wouldn't have been able to participate in class in the past, but with the assistance of technology, they can.

Time on the Road

My job in college admissions takes me out on the road, away from home for about 6 weeks every fall. Visiting schools, and working college fairs for high school students to learn all about the vast opportunities that await them for post-secondary schooling. I spend approx 30 nights in hotels, thousands of miles driving and countless hours with time to myself. This leaves me with lots of time to think, and make observations about our schools, students and just the world. I mention this because I have an indirect connection to what students are doing in school by what I see and hear on the road.

The assignment from last week, looking at all of the websites and tools for teachers to use- a lot of these technologies are new. And yet, colleges are trying to use many of them. Mostly social networking type of sights (and blogs), but for us to be on the same converging path of technology and sharing of information (teaching and admissions) I see many similarities. We in admissions, just as teachers, want out students to come back and be engaged by our web presence. We want them to ask questions and learn about all that we have to offer. Teachers want their students to ask questions and learn the information in order to pass the test.

Some of the sites on the list I have heard of- blogger.com, the Smithsonian site... But some of them are a real eye opener, not only in the world of earning my M.Ed. but also in the world of college admissions. If I can be the first in my area to successfully use some of these new resources, its all good.