Article Review #2

This article is titled technological aids for inclusive classroom written by and Richard Howell for theory into practice volume 35 number one inclusive schools continuing the debate winter 1996 pages 58 to 65. Published by Taylor and Francis LTD.

Mr. Howell starts off this article given sympathy it seems to regular education teachers who he thinks will be given more responsibilities for students with disabilities in their classrooms. He looks at whether the technological advances in both tools and techniques offers any help in reducing the load placed on regular education teachers. Richard Howell talks about the first applications of computers into education which were not adopted into many school districts around the country but a select few computer labs were placed in African-American Communities that showed promising results. According to the article when the microcomputer came out it was used as the primary educational aid with low achieving students using it for drill and practice instruction, and high achieving students being taught programming skills.

In next section of his article Howell talks about some of the positive and negative aspects of learning with computers. One positive is that it increases socialization skills, it was once thought and that computer instruction would decrease socialization and promote isolated types of learning environments. It has been shown that students working within a certain programming environment engage in more collaborative problem-solving with on task related assignments and had more appropriate social interactions with peers. More benefits of computer-based learning is students learn more factual and conceptual information have a better retention and transfer of learning and develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. A negative aspect of learning with computers is children using traditional methods such as maps and atlases are able to achieve the same results.

In the last section Mr. Howell talks about specific special education groups and how each disability can benefit from computers and technology integration. In the last section Howell also briefly discusses the costs associated with technology integration, and that teachers should receive training on the devices and technology to be effective in teaching it to students. Lastly the author discusses of the maintenance of involved with these devices, and how it should be an important part of safeguarding your investment.

Article Review #1

This article although written in the early 1990s would still be of use today especially if you're like me and still learning about special education. The article is titled assistive devices for students with disabilities written by Lech W. Sendwski and Robert Sedlak pulled from the elementary school Journal Volume 92 Number three Special Issue Integrating Learners with Disabilities in Regular Education Programs January 1992 pages 297 - 314 published by the University of Chicago press. This article reviews the number of devices that have been invented for disabled individuals to help integrate them into regular education classrooms.

This article first talks about the visually in paired and the blind in some of the assistive devices that are available for them. The first thing that they talk about is the white cane, we all know the white cane can only detect what it can touch which is a limitation of its ability. The article talks about a laser cane, the laser cane would pole an area ahead of the user with a laser beam that would cover straight, down, and up. This would help detect things such as stairs and curbs. Another assistive device is the Sonicguide landing on easy to operate as an on off switch and volume control and looks like and worn like a pair of sunglasses. This device works by sending out an inaudible high frequency pulse to an area in front of the user. Sonic energy scans the environment and reflects back to receivers and is converted for the user to interpret through ear tubes. This is a pretty cool assistive device very high-tech I've never heard this before it will be very easy for a person to blending in using this device can appear cool while doing it.
The user would appear to be wearing sunglasses and listening to music.

Assistive devices for the deaf and hearing impaired, are discussed and just like the blind and visually impaired this section begins with what we should already know hearing aids. The first thing we should know is that a hearing aid needs to be in proper working order. To ensure that a child hearing aid is in proper functioning order hearing aids should be inspected regularly, inspections should include cleaning, performing routine listening checks, and identifying common problems and their causes. The Upton is mentioned, I've never heard of this assistive device. The Upton glass is said to help students in the art of lip reading. When in conversation the eyeglass identifies and transforms critical speech features to the lip reader. Speech analyzing microprocessors analyze and separate speech into five patterns and during the conversation, diodes attached to the rear of the eyeglass light up in order depending on the phonemes being heard providing important feedback. The next section discusses assistive devices for the speech or language impaired this section starts off talking about the different aids available to correct speech disorders such as computer software available on the market. This section also talks about the aids for language disorders dimension solutions can range from nonverbal systems of gestures to electronic gadgets and whatever you pick depends on your student’s abilities and level of assistance required.

The assistive devices for the physically in health impaired section talks about things such as wheelchairs, orthotics, and environmental controls. The wheelchair has been used as a primary mode of transportation for many physically disabled individuals, but because of consumer demand we have seen it drastically change in appearance. The wheelchair has undergone changes in breaking, steering, power, cushioning, and in an overall body frame. Orthotics which are the braces that aid in the proper positioning to ensure a stable gait, have undergone such improvements as the weight of the materials have been rigged as a half, new materials allow greater flexibility and comfort for users. The last thing that the article talks about is assistive devices for the learning disabled the authors talk about books on tape that are available to help children with reading disabilities they talk about assistive technology devices such as the talking pen to help kids with handwriting issues, or processors that have spellchecking available to help students that have writing and spelling issues and handheld calculators for our learning disabled kids that are having math difficulties. I think that this article would be a great article to read for someone who is just starting out and trying out low tech ideas for students and ruling them out before moving on to the more expensive items.

AT# 5 Intellitools/keys

Intellitools can provide a child with independent computer use on an alternative keyboard and lets teacher adapt the assignments to the individual child and their needs. The manufacturer of this program recommends that you use it with intellikeys which is a keyboard that allows for easy typing and cursor movement. One of the drawbacks is that it may take a little time to learn the program and the keyboard. The software can run from $80 - $300 and the keyboard can cost $400. The website says that it provides technology to struggling students to learn to their fullest potential. I think that if should first try the 30 day trial to see if this is a good fit before you invest. I can see where kids who interact better with technology may do better and achieve more if they get their lessons taught to them this way.

AT Review #4 Wheel Chair Rear/Front Anti Tippers

The Rear/Front anti Tippers can help to prevent wheelchairs from tipping frontwards or backwards. These can be adjusted for up to 10 inches and has a 2 inch wheel diameter that provides easy gliding. Be sure to check that the mounting will style allows the user to transfer the units between various makes and models and allows you to change the height and position as necessary. The cost of these ranges from $49.00 – $75.00.

I thought of these because I had a student in a wheelchair this past year and she switched to a wheelchair that was smaller and it has a pair of rear tippers on the back. Those rear tippers came in very handy because she carried her book bag and her crutches on the back and it would tip backward and the teachers would forget about the tippers and make a grab for the wheelchair. So these are very handy to have installed.

AT Review #3 Dragon Naturally Speaking 10

Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 by Nuance is a speech to text tool design as an assistive technology tool and quickly recognized by everyone from lawyers to doctors how useful this could be in their everyday lives. Dragon Naturally Speaking brags that it can type almost as fast as you can talk. Dragon Naturally Speaking also says that it can open applications, files, type and send emails, and surf the web all by the sound of your voice. Dragon Naturally Speaking claims to be 99% accurate and recognize your voice with only minutes of training and improvement every time you use the software. The cost of Dragon Naturally Speaking depends on the edition you buy and can run you from $40.00 to $199.99. This software can be paired with other assistive technology tools or used alone. I went out and brought one for myself to use for typing papers and to take to school to use for my students who just hate to write papers.

AT #2-Touch Screens

Touch Screen computers are computers that use plastic instead of glass and are embedded with tiny sensors that are able to detect pressure from fingers or pointing deices. When the sensors are activated, they perform the functions of a normal mouse click and drag. You can install software on the hard drive to customize different settings; Touch screens are great for cause and effect and any software applications that require direct select.

This would be great for a kid who doesn’t have the ability to use a mouse well; the touch screen can be paired with Dragon dictate for typing. The cost of Touch Screen systems run from $800- $1000.00. The only thing I found fustrating is too many clicks and things start bouncing around, and you have to figure out what the heck when wrong which might be fustrating to a kid.

AT Review 1 Boardmaker

Board maker version six is a symbol based communication system that can be used by both educators and parents alike to build a language for individuals of all ages and disabilities. Board maker is also a drawing program combined with graphics that gives you all the tools you need to make your child successful, to get started all you need is a printer and access to a computer and you would be able to use this program. This program costs anywhere from $329.00 - $445.00 and is offered by Mayer Johnson who gives you a chances to try it out with a trial period, if you purchase this product you will be given a membership in their board sharing community that gives you access to the boards created by teachers and parents.
This product would be great for any classroom that has a need to get routines established. I think that this product would also be needed in a class where everything has to be labeled with its proper name. I found this to be a very neat product and hope that I will have the opportunity to use it.