Name and describe three hardware and three software assistive technologies for students with disabilities

Name and describe three hardware and three software assistive technologies for students with disabilities.

Hardware's

1. Alternative Keyboards -Often standard keyboards are not aaccessible to everyone, especially those with special needs. Alternative keyboards are keyboards that are adjusted to suit peoples different abilities and mobility examples of these would be the split or one handed keyboards.


2. Touch Screens - these can be used as an alternative to keyboards all together. Touch screens are sometimes used when the user has limited mobility in their hands (Fingers) By using a touch screen and a on-screen keyboard they are able to use a computer and all of its programmes.


3. Alternative Mice - Like with keyboards some people find mice difficult to use. For these people there are alternatives.The picture shows a mouse that can operate the whole computer with just 5 switches. These switchers are connected to the computer and to a device on a persons wheelchair, all the person needs to do is move their joystick like they would to move their chair and they can work away on the computer. As you can image this type of Mouse would be for a person with a server lack of mobility there are mice for people at every level of mobility.

Software's

1. Screen readers - this is a type of software that reads out given text for you, it works either by highlighting a line of text on a document or by scanning in a page onto your computer. Once you have selected what you want read the screen reader will read aloud the given text. This type of software is used both by people with vision impairments and by people with learning difficulties like dyslexia.


2. Screen Magnifiers - Screen magnifiers are used again for people with visual impairments. It is a software that is available on most new computers. It enlarges the display on the monitor therefore making all texts and images larger. Although this can be to some advantage it also necessitates the continuous scrolling around to see the whole page. It is possible to purchase and external or hardware version of a screen magnifier.
   
3. Speech to text recognition software - This is software that will convert what you say to text . It can also be used to make commands and on a computer. All that is needed for this software to work is a computer that is compatible and a microphone.One of the most popular speech to text software is the "dragon natural speaking Software."

How can we use video in the classroom

Increase students interests
Different Methods of teaching
Connecting with the outside world.
For instruction and research.
Suits different learning styles
Learning from others
Not expensive to set up
Real world examples
Students with disabilities
Important to prepare
Supports theory
Distance learning Classes
Teach any subjects from any location

How could you use technology & the internet in the classroom?

How could you use technology and the internet in the classroom?
Technology is fast becoming a regular fixture in many classrooms, I have just complete a teaching placement in a school which had data projectors in every classroom along with having a well equipped computer room. In this school i was able to use technology to my advantage. I could have a powerpoint presentation read for classes if i wanted to get a certain topic covered and felt that i would not have the time to be writing notes on the board. I was able to have account templates ready that i could project onto the board and then fill out information either by use of computer or just with whiteboard marker.
I also managed to complete an interactive lesson with the students at the end of a topic which acted as a great revision/consolidation tool.
Students had access to computers during the day and boarders after school so i was able to give students research projects to work on during the week and revisit the project later to see how students were getting on.

Althought these sound like some great advances in the use of technology there are still many more resourses that could be used if we were to spend so more time advancing our technology systems and teaching students how to use different technologies.
Technology could allow students to study at their own pace and in a form that best suits their learning style.
Students could use podcasts to help them revise different topics or teachers could provide students with pre-recorded podcasts that can be used to help consolidate or revise a given topic.
With students using gaming computers more and more this would suggest that learning resources for Xboxes and Nintento DS lites could become a part of the learning environment not to mention the new technologies involved in the NInentendo WII.
Stdents could become involved in teleconferencing with or schools in other parts of the world this type of learning can be invaluable for students in their cultural and religious studies as it can provide students with real life examples of other peoples religious experiences.
This type of technology could also be used in the sense the teachers could record their classes and then make them available to students online or through an intranet system.
Other resources that could be developed would be the use of phones and text messages for teachers and students to interact.

How can you as a teacher use ICT to enhance your teaching

ICT can provide many new opportunities for teaching and learning in the classroom.
As a teacher the computer can be a great resource.
Word processors and imaging programmes can be used to creating handouts and slide shows which will aid your teaching.
Excel and access can be used for keeping records on each student that you teach, along with being used to teach subjects like maths and accounting.
Computers can also provides an ideal storage solution for the many resources that a teacher accumulates over time.
The Internet is a great resource for both students and teachers, it can provide an unending amount of information for projects for students and also can provide teachers with additional information that can be used both for preparation and during classes.
The Internet also provides e-mail and chat rooms which teachers can use to share new ideas and resources.
The Internet provides such systems as blogs and pod casts which student can use as a new an innovative way to do class assignments, share answers for revision and revise for exams.

ICT however does not just start and end with computers, there are many other ways ICT can be used in classrooms, Cd's, DVDs and animations can now all be used in the classroom to enhance the learning experience. With students becoming more and more advanced in the use of technology it is important that teachers begin to integrate technology into the classroom, it will provide a way of attracting and keeping students attention, and also an easy way to make learning more fun for all involved.

http://amandab.mypodcast.com/index.html

What are the differences between Behaviourism and Constructivism?

Behaviourism
Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states.[1]

Constructivism
Constructivism is a philosophy of learning founded on the premise that, by reflecting on our experiences, we construct our own understanding of the world we live in. Each of us generates our own "rules" and "mental models," which we use to make sense of our experiences. Learning, therefore, is simply the process of adjusting our mental models to accommodate new experiences.[2]

Differences

Disagree on the importance of memory, while behaviourism does not put much emphasis on the use of memory Constructivism holds it as a key element of the learning process

Disagree on the importance of individual differences, behaviourism does not take into account that everyone learns at different levels and speeds,, it also neglects the idea that we all have different motives, and interests that effect the way we learn.

Disagree on the importance of the role of cognition/thoughts.

Disagree on the importance of the effect of previous experiences

Behaviourists emphasise the Stimulus-Response bond

Footnotes
[1] http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism.htm dated 08/10/07

[2] http://www.funderstanding.com/constructivism.cfm dated 08/10/07

Describe the three types of collaborative learning groups?

Formal learning groups

•Temporary clustering of students within a single class session
•Groups of 2 - 5
•Check on students' understanding of the material,
•Give students an opportunity to apply what they are learning
•Provide a change of pace

Informal learning groups

•Established to complete a specific task in a single class session or over several weeks.
•Eg: Lab experiment, report, project
•Group exists for duration of project

Study groups

•Long-term groups
•Exist for semester or longer
•Stable membership
•Group provides members with support, encouragement, and assistance in completing course requirements and assignments

Criticisms of behaviourism

Behavioural psychology, also known as behaviourism, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviours are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states. E.g. Ivan Pavlov, was able to condition a dog to salivate by ring a bell 10 seconds before feeding this continued until every time the bell rang the dog would salivate, even if no food was presented.

Criticisms Of Behaviourism

• Behaviourism does not take into account all the ways in which we learn.
• Behaviourism does not take into account that learners all learn at different levels and speed.
• Behaviourism does not recognise that children are able to create new learning patterns that are not related to stimulus and response techniques.
• Behaviourism lacks the applicability to the more complex human behaviors of language and memory, these activities are not developed with behaviourist techniques.
• Behaviourism does not take into account that each person has different motivations, attitudes and emotions and therefore what motivates one person to learn may not motivate everyone,