Technology for Gifted and Talented Students

This was a very interesting topic for me to read and learn more about this week. Often we get so wrapped up in helping students who are falling behind that we often forget to challenge the students that are gifted. I am lucky that they school I work at is still able to have an enrichment program for gifted children. However, the programs that are offered at my school only pull students once a week. Also, these programs are usually for 6 weeks and then a new program starts. This makes it very difficult for me to find ways to provide a challenge for my talented and gifted students.

Often when looking at UDL i can forget to look at how within my lessons I can adapt for my gifted students. Also, using the modules, I caught up in just following the script which isn't always what is best for my students. Most commonly, I have my gifted students help me work with other learners who may be struggling. I have noticed that quite often they are able to explain the process of something better than I can. I have been trying extremely hard in my lessons to incorporate some type of technology program to create a virtual learning environment. I am able to search and find online programs that fit into my units. For example, as we are beginning test prep reading comprehension is something my students are working on. I have found a website where they read an article and then answer the questions online. Some of my talented students are able to work on this program during guided reading and they love it. It gives them an opportunity to use the computer and do something fun. Also, the site that I have found has a wide selection of articles for them to choose from. Lastly, this website can help my struggling readers as well. With many different articles, I can tell my struggling readers they need to choose 3+ because those are readings at their level,

I have never worked with a student that has a disability, but is also a gifted student seeing as it is something that is very rare. However after reading I would be very interested to work with such a student. When looking at this information from UDL it is important to be able to help your gifted student overcome any barriers they may be preventing them from showing their gifts. For example, having the tools to allow someone who may have a difficult time writing. Being able to provide students with voice recognition software could help them tremendously.

Overall, I am extremely happy that I am able to learn more about how to help gifted and talented students and continue to hope for an opportunity to work with such students. In the mean time I will continue to use the information I read this week to help my current students when looking at UDL.

Technology and Communication Impairments

After visiting the websites for this week it absolutely amazes me the impact technology can have from people with communications impairments.  Through my studies this far in the Educational Technology Specialist program I have been able to learn a lot of new technologies. However, the technologies that are able to allow people to do things they have never before truly inspire me.  Even if these technologies can’t allow people with hearing loss to hear again it provides them the opportunity to live a mostly normal life.

Reading the article, Assistive Devises for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders, I was able to learn that there are three types of assistive devices. Theses consist of; Assistive listening devices, augmentative and alternative communication devices, and alerting devices. All of these devices provide alternatives to help people with hearing and other disorders. Although I have no experience working with any of these systems I can see the impact they might have in the classroom. However, I can also see how the classroom may be a difficult place to use these devices to the fullest capabilities. For example, the article Hearing Assistive Technology, talked about the challenges that one may face using these devices. Using UDL, as a teacher it is important that I do my best to plan ahead. This would mean doing everything I can do to limit any of the complications that may arise using the devices. I would make sure that the distance between me and the learner using these devices would be minimal. By placing that student near me during lessons so they can always hear me.  However, one issue that these devices may have is competing noise within the environment. This is one thing I can do is make sure competing noises are limited. However, I have no control of computers humming and the unexpected overhead announcements.

Overall, this week has opened my eyes to even more technology that can be used to help students with communication impairments. I am continuing to learn that technology is more than using the Smart board in your classroom or using iPads during reading centers. There are many other technologies that are allowing students to communicate when they weren't able to before.

Technology and Autism

I have always been interested in the use of technology in students with learning disabilities. It is absolutely amazing how much technology can help these students. This week’s focus was on the use of technology with students that have Autism.  One major thing I took away from this week’s readings was the power of giving students with no voice a way to communicate.

I watched the Webinar that focused on PECS. It was very interesting to watch the beginning uses of PEC’s. For example, they showed a video of a young child who was just learning to use PECS. The child wanted to listen to music, which was her preferred activity, in order to get that she had to take the card that said music and put it in the hand of the adult. There were two adults working with her and she did not get her preferred activity until she gave the card to the adult. It was amazing to see how quickly she was able to learn what she needed to do in order to listen to music. I have never used PECS I have only used them images as a schedule tool. When looking at what I my students to complete at the end of the lesson I make sure to incorporate some type of preferred activity at the end.

When looking at UDL and technology with children who have Autism is the importance of making sure students have the tools they need to be successful. I observed in a life skills classroom and the teaching staff needed to always make sure that their students had the right phrases and words they may need to communicate clearly. If they didn’t have the correct pictures it often made it difficult for the students to express their wants and needs.  With technology growing students can continue to use these tools when they are at home. Often it is hard for students to communicate effectively at home. Being able to use information on smartphones is now opening up a new world.