Fifth Class: Webinar and Assistive Technology Presentations

Tonight's class continued with a Webinar Presentation titled, New Apps for Learning Disabilities. This is a great topic, because currently I am working with several students who are diagnosed with learning disabilities. Prizmo was an app highlighted by this group. Prizmo is a universal photo-based scanner app that lets you scan and recognize text documents, business cards, and images, and then export them as PDF/Text, vCard, or JPEG/PNG. Prizmo is made for everyone, and is thus fully compatible with VoiceOver. It provides voice guidance to help position your iPhone when taking document pictures, and will find the text orientation automatically if it's turned left, right or upside down. This app is great for students with reading and writing disabilities. Prizmo's accessibility can be used to allow students to create unique, creative, and innovative presentations. Another highlight of this presentation was the video recording of a student explaining his use of technology in the classroom. It is so amazing to see the knowledge and awareness this student has related to assistive technology. Also, it was encouraging to know teachers are incorporating a variety of assistive technology in the classroom. Being part of this course gives us the power and privilege to advocate for Universal Design for Learning. Throughout this course we have been given the awareness and knowledge related to ensuring ALL students have accessibility to learning, so we need to use this information and inform other educators. 

The evening continued with our instructor presenting on Assistive Technology: Past, Present, and the Future. The past classroom consisted of traditionalism and rigidness. In the past so many skills and a complex variety of prior knowledge was a requirement for completing tasks. Rarely were differences recognized in the past and deficits were ignored and not acknowledge. What a shame individuals were not valued for who they were and expected to conform to the traditionalist ways of teaching. The present is moving towards more inclusive teaching. Those in power and privilege are beginning to recognize diversity and differences in ways students learn. Assistive technology is being incorporated into the classroom to enhance accessibility and students ability to complete tasks. I am glad I am part of an era that promotes learning for all and normalizes diversity. We still have a long way to go! Subsequently, a highlight from this presentation was related to Assistive Technology and Assessment. Skill set, milieu, the task, characteristics of technology, and time are components which need to be considered when assessing the effectiveness of Assistive Technology. The future involves change and the need for consistent assessment of Assistive Technology is crucial. Near the end of our presentation our instructor showed a picture of Alexander Graham Bell (past) and Steve Jobs (Present). How is this inventor and entrepreneur similar? In addition to the telephone, Bell introduced a system of deaf-mute instruction to enhance accessibility and inclusiveness for deaf and mute individuals. In comparison, Jobs enhanced the accessibility of technology by incorporating "i" products into Apple products. Both individuals have contributed to the incorporation of assistive technology and have invested their time into enhancing our daily lives through the introduction of innovative technology.