Week 13- Assistive Technology in the Classroom

This week we learned about Assistive Technology in the classroom. Assistive Technology is any means of technology that helps improve the learning experience for students with disabilities. There are assistive technologies for the blind, the deaf, the speech-impaired, and more. There are two main components of assistive technologies: Assistive Technologies themselves and Assistive Services. Assistive Technologies are also divided into High and Low technologies. High being ones that incorporate something digital (and are therefore more advanced) and Low being ones that don't have a digital component but still help students with disabilities in the classroom. With the increase of technology and the "digital world," more and more classrooms are integrating high tech assistive technologies. 

Some assistive technologies that help the impaired include online screen readers for the blind, speech-to-text functions for those who have a hard time typing, subtitles for the deaf, and brail keyboards for the blind. There are many other ones, but those are just to name a few. Even Virtual Reality can be assistive technology. Many classrooms, especially ones with students with autism, integrate Virtual Reality into the classroom to allow the students to take trips to places that they would never be able to afford or have time to go to in real life. Not only are they educational if you have them explore a museum or something in nature on them, but they are also very entertaining and engaging for the students. 

Even things that aren't necessarily digital can be assistive technology (Low Tech). Things such as mobile furniture (such as yoga balls for seats and rolly desks) and even organization tools are assistive technologies that don't incorporate a screen. These are just as important as the digital tools of assistive technology. Some kids work better when things are more organized and structured instead of just all over the place (I know I am like that, I like things organized) and some are more fidgety and cannot sit still (I can also be like that sometimes). So, it is key to have these functions in the classroom for those who need it as well.

I think it is very beneficial and very important that classrooms include various means of assistive technology. That way, education is made equal for all, even for those with disabilities they cannot control.  Including assistive technology guarantees F.A.P.E. (Free Appropriate Public Education). The growth of these assistive technologies is definitely a positive within the growing digital age of the 21st century. When I become a teacher, I will include a variety of Assistive technologies, both digital and non-digital, in my classroom. For one thing, my classroom will be organized (both for my sake and for the students'). I'm sure wherever I teach will have more mobile furniture because I have seen an increase of that in schools. When we use laptops or tablets or some other device for classwork, I will introduce the students, both those who really need it and even those who would just prefer it, to all the different helpful accommodations that they can use on their device. I will encourage them all to use these when applicable. For example, not everyone has an IEP that needs speech in text form, but some may like to see what they are also hearing and have subtitles (I am one who likes to have those on even though I don't absolutely need them, I just like to read along to what I am hearing, as it helps me pay attention better). Especially if I have blind, deaf, or other disabled children, I will help them to operate these assistive technologies, both digital and non-digital, to promote equality in my classroom.

Week 12- QR Codes in the Classroom

This week was all about QR Codes and how they can be integrated into the classroom. The best thing about QR codes is that they are free to create. You can create a QR code for any website, video link, audio link, image link, and other things on the internet. They are easy to create and easy to use. You just need the camera on your phone or tablet (or a QR code app) to scan it and it takes you directly to the source. In the 21st century with the growth of technology, teachers have been integrated QR codes into their classrooms to make learning more engaging and fun for the students.

You can create a QR code for pretty much anything on the internet. You could have it send the scanner to a website, a YouTube video, an audio link, an image, a game, and more. You just need the link and you can convert it to a QR code that you can use digitally or print out for others to scan. There are a variety of QR creator sources and many of them are free to use, which is one reason why teachers are increasingly incorporating them in classrooms. Since most kids have their own device and/or many schools have school-issued tablets or computers, it's easy for kids to use to quickly get sent to the correct information. It's easy for parents to use too on their phones. It makes learning with technology more fun and engaging for the students.

Another thing you can integrate into a QR code that schools are increasingly using are sign-up sheets. You can make a Google Form, create a QR code out of it, and post it around the school for students to sign up for an event or club. It's quick and easy, and on something that the kids already use everyday: Their phones. Forms can be integrated into a QR code for parents to scan as well if they need to sign up for something for their kids, such as a Meet-the-Teacher or a conference. Scanning it takes them right to the form where they can sign up with ease. This is one of the revolutionary ways QR codes can be used for schools.

Another thing about QR codes is that they are customizable. You can change their size to fit what its going on (you can make it nice and big for putting it up on the Smartboard for the kids to scan, or you can make it small for a worksheet). Another thing is that you can change their colors and designs, making them more fun. It's also easy to edit links in case the website is no longer available. This is another reason why teachers like the idea of QR codes: They can get creative with them.

Most importantly, QR codes are fun, free, and easy. Something with all three of those qualities are bound to be incorporated into the classroom. And they can be used for any grade level for any source online. There are so many benefits to using QR codes in the classroom, as long as there is good access to technology that can scan them. I will definitely use these in my future 3rd grade classroom. If I need the kids to go to a specific website, I'll make a QR code for it. If we use a specific program (like a learning game), I can create a QR code that I can then put in the room for easy access so that kids can just scan and go. Another idea, I can create an "All About the Teacher" video and turn it into a QR code that I can then place on a welcome sheet that I give to the kids at the beginning of the year. The opportunities are endless!

Week 11- AR and VR in the Classroom

With the growing age of technology and digital devices comes the growth of VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality). The difference between the two is that AR places digital things in the context of real-world physical surroundings, while VR places the user in a complete digital world. Both have their place within education as technology continues to grow. Many classroom settings K-12 and even higher education find AR and VR to be useful. Both can help to replicate an otherwise expensive trip, such as to a historic site. These options are sometimes more cost-effective than implementing the actual trip or activity. 

AR and VR can be used in a variety of subject areas in school. They can be used to simulate real-world medical scenarios without the risks or costs (for those looking into the medical field). They can simulate a classroom setting to test how one reacts to difficult classroom scenarios (this would be for someone looking into the field of education). They can mimic a historic site or monument and provide descriptions about it. All these and many more would be costly and sometimes risky to accomplish in real life, especially for students learning the subjects. For these virtual reality alternatives, it allows for good practice before taking it out into the real world.

A lot of the AR and VR lessons have the use of a headset to make it so that the user is more immersed in the environment. But many of these concepts can work on any device. Especially if just seeing the object and reading up on facts is the most important part, then having apps or computer programs that do just that without the use of a headset or other tools would work. For example, something about space. Even having an app on an iPad or computer that allows for a 360 degree viewing so you can read about the planets and constellations would work for students studying astronomy. In this example, it would allow the students to see and learn about outer space without actually having to physically go there (because that would be very close to impossible).

These kinds of AR and VR lessons can be used in any grade level, for any subject, and even for teachers. There are so many benefits to learning using AR or VR. If one doesn't want to go all-out and get all the fancy gadgets that some use, simply just downloading apps that incorporate a replica of that environment would be useful. In addition, students really enjoy using these kinds of things. Since their lives are already incorporated with much technology and that's what they are used to and what they are learning to use in the 21st century, the incorporation of this would build upon that and would make it more enjoyable for this generation. Also, in these VR scenarios, if one messes up or causes a disaster, it at least won't be in a real-world setting. Students can use these VR scenarios to do trial-and-error and learn from the errors. Then they'd be better prepared for doing it in the real world.

I think VR and AR in the classroom are very necessary in this day and age, and it will continue to expand throughout the 21st century and beyond. Kids and teachers will find it fun and beneficial, and the low costs as compared to the real thing are also a plus.

Week 10- Makerspace

This week we read all about Makerspaces in the classroom. There is no one way to create a makerspace, so many different combinations of materials and activities can go into developing a makerspace for students. A Makerspace, in general, is an area that sparks various hands-on and creative learning experiences for the students. They could involve the use of computers, or they could not. All makerspaces are different. The important similarity they all have is hands-on, creative-thinking, problem-solving aspects. Makerspaces also evolve over time as you determine which materials and projects work best in the classroom. It is good to start small and add projects over time. Many makerspaces include 3D printers, coding on computers, circuitry, and microbots (like Sphero). All of these and many others give students unique hands-on learning experiences and help them better understand and operate the technology of the 21st century while also learning the curriculum. Additionally, having makerspace activities engages students more and makes the learning process more fun, increasing their participation and interest. 

Many schools are incorporating some form of makerspace. Some dedicate an entire room of different stations of projects (my mom's school has this). Some have a few things just to use in the classroom. Some have a rolly cart that transfers between classrooms (kind of like a Chromebook cart). Makerspaces can come in all varieties, and there is no right or wrong way to create one. It depends on what works best for the class depending on what they are learning and what is made available. 

Where my mom teaches, one of the older classrooms was remodeled into a Makerspace room. In the room, they have 3D printers, 3D pens (which were really fun to use), vinyl making, various microbots to use, Lego sets, circuitry toys, and animation makers. This entire room was dedicated to hands-on activities and can be reserved by any teacher in the building for their students to use. The room is mainly used as a way for the students and even the teacher to break away from traditional classroom learning and get the kids more engaged and more willing to actively participate. When I was helping my mom on the day they reserved the makerspace, she had her kids in small groups, each table with a different project, and she had them rotate every 15 minutes. That way everyone got a chance to use all the projects for a little while. One group had circuitry toys, one had Legos, and one had a thing to create your own video game (and they would have been able to scan it to play it, but she didn't have them use that part). I thought it was really neat for her school to incorporate that and have many means of activities in the room. I noticed that the class was definitely enjoying their time there (and they immediately asked when they could come back).

When I start teaching, I will definitely integrate some level of a makerspace for my class. Whether that be one the school already has set up or projects that I would buy. It even mentioned that projects such as building a tower with toothpicks and marshmallows can count as a makerspace project, so even if I started off with something like that and expanded more into the realm of microbots or 3D printing. Honestly, these kinds of things would be fun for me to do along with the kids if I could. Depending on what is released when I start teaching elementary, I will definitely consider these projects and activities.

I think the idea of a Makerspace will continue to expand, and more activities that integrate more modern technology will be produced and utilized as time goes on. Right now, we are in the era of coding and 3D printers, but who knows what kinds of things will be made in the future. In a world of expanding technology, this is bound to happen. It amazes me even to see everything they have now as compared to when I was in early elementary school and all we had was the computer lab. Now they have 3D pens and printers, and advanced coding programs, and robots. Definitely something that will continue to expand for generations to come.

Week 9- Gamifying the Classroom

  

    With the growing of technology in this day and age comes the growth of video games and other online game platforms. With this comes the growth of its integration in schools. Many classrooms turn to online games to be integrated into everyday school in order to present the curriculum in a more engaging and entertaining way. There are many ways in which online games can be made more educational and there are many websites and apps that allow for this. For one thing, making online quizzes makes review more entertaining. Websites such as Kahoot or GimKit allow one to either create or find an already created quiz to allow their students to play on. Some games even review math or language arts curriculum lessons. Prodigy is a game that has math questions for all of the elementary grade levels, and the game allows students to battle and play with their friends, all while having them answer math questions (and there is even a language arts version as well). Another game called Blooket allows for another quiz review but with more gameplay variety (as in different modes to play and answer the questions). All of these websites are great ways to integrate games in an educational way. Kids are more likely to participate and enjoy being in class more if the learning is made fun, and these games do just that.

    Aside from educational quiz-style games, other console and computer games that may not seem educational at face-value actually help develop important life skills. Minecraft is one example. Though it may not seem very educational, it actually has a strong creativity element to it, and when you play with friends it helps to develop communication skills. Problem-solving is another skill that this game helps with. Though these are not curriculum-based skills, they are important life skills. I think it would be useful to have these kinds of games in the classroom at a more limited amount than educational games such as Prodigy, but they can still be used. Everything in moderation.

    Another ongoing trend in this day and age that has made its way up to become scholarship opportunities for some colleges is eSports. eSports are video games played on with peers that improve skills needed for the future job field and overall, just for life in general. eSports has been getting gradually more popular as time goes on, and many sports networks have a separate eSports category because of its popularity. The thing with eSports is that they usually incorporate multiplayer, and lots of people stream them on sites like Twitch. eSports streams have also become increasingly popular, and some people have that as their occupation because of the number of viewers they get and the amount of revenue they get for advertising and sponsoring products. Many universities have also allowed to eSports scholarships. Since eSports help to develop communication, problem-solving, cooperation, and other life-needed skills, scholarships are occasionally offered at some schools to students who want to pursue this. As showcased, eSports have some similar benefits to traditional sports, like cooperation and communication, and the perseverance to keep going forward. 

    I found it very interesting, and even a bit surprising, that some universities award scholarships to those who concentrate in eSports. But I think it's a good idea. As the article I read has said, these kinds of scholarships are for those who do not do as well on SAT or ACT tests. Just like people get scholarships for playing football, track, volleyball, and other physical sports, students can receive scholarships for gaining real-world-needed skills while participating in eSports. I like how this accounts for the diversity of student interests and incorporates video games as a pathway to succeed in life if that's really your passion. 

Week 8- Social Media in Education

Social Media is taking over the 21st Century, and it's evident. Almost everyone is on some form of social media outlet, whether that be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. When thinking of these platforms, at face value they don't seem to possess many educational qualities. Especially since a large component is interacting with others online, it seems that there isn't much educational value in them. However, they can be integrated into education programs to help adapt to the changing times. In addition, since many kids are already largely familiar with social media, integrating them appropriately, it would be easy for kids to operate them. The 21st century has seen much rise in technology, devices, and social media, and they are worldwide things that everyone uses for a variety of reasons every single day. Why not fit them into school? The kids would find it more entertaining because it's a platform they enjoy and are used to, it could help with classroom connections amongst students, and it would overall be more modern. I've read from a few articles that some teachers have started up some classroom Twitter accounts to share classroom stories on. They post about what's going on in the classroom so other faulty and parents can stay in the loop. Many other classes use some sort of Blog website where kids can create blog posts that can be read and shared by others of the class. Some schools even have their own Instagram page where users can follow along with campus events. Sometimes setting up group chats with classmates on Messages or even Snapchat can be effective means of communication for group projects. Since the kids are already using those services, they'd be more likely to interact with each other for school means on those platforms. A lot of employers look at LinkedIn profiles of applicants. Or as we use in my Power-Up class, on websites generated by Wix or through conferences on Handshake. Even those are considered social media and are being used for school and beyond purposes.

With the integration of social media in the classroom comes much more to consider. Integrating social media, in my opinion, would not be as beneficial in some grades as it would be in others. For preschool, I do not see much benefit from having the kids use some sort of "social media" for learning. At that age I think they are too young. Even for elementary school it would be hard. I think that having the kids create blogs on a kid-friendly site would be a good idea, but you can't really tell them all to make an Instagram. For middle and high school aged kids I think this would work the best. Many of those students already have Instagram, TikTok, and maybe even Facebook, so as for them to be able to follow along with their school on social media would be beneficial. Or even having all the students have a "book talk" or something along those lines on a social media platform would be a pretty neat integration for those upper grade levels as well. For any social media integration, however, you have to be careful. Review Privacy rules and facts and make sure the kids as well as the teacher are using the platforms wisely and are not putting themselves in danger. Advocate for strong passwords so they don't get hacked and arouse panic. Make sure they are using the platform for school purposes only when in school and that they are using it responsibly. Social media can be a beautiful thing, but if abused could go very wrong, so it's important to be mindful when using it for anything.

Another thing worth mentioning is the benefit that social media integration in school can have on parents. Even for parents of elementary aged children, if the school has a Facebook or something, the parents can get updates and follow along from their device. Having some sort of messaging system (like Class Dojo, which I suppose the messaging feature would kind of be considered social media), parents can communicate with the teacher for matters about their child. Even Zoom can be considered social media, and teachers can set up video conferences with parents (or even with students). This makes distant communication much easier (or if the person is sick and cannot meet in person). 

Overall, social media is not always a bad thing, if used appropriately. Many benefits can come out of using some form of social media or online communication in the classroom. Kids already use it all the time, so why not use it in school too to enhance learning? Kids would probably enjoy it better having it be on platforms they already enjoy, or even just being able to communicate with classroom friends. With the constant changing and improvements of technology it was bound to make its way into the education system, and it has, and social media has done just the same.

Week 7- Accessibility in Teaching with Technology

This week we read about accommodating for all students, even those with disabilities, in an online classroom environment or just when providing online resources for a class. Not all students have the ability to hear well, see well, use a mouse well, and many other things, putting them at a learning disadvantage. By accommodating online tools to fit the needs for these students, before they even have to ask for accommodations, is key. 

Some students are deaf or are hard of hearing. This barrier can be overcome by adding Captions to videos that are assigned. Some YouTube videos are auto captioned, but it's important to check the accuracy of these captions. Some videos are not captioned at all, and captions must be put in place to provide equal access to deaf students. If you create your own lecture, you can accommodate to disadvantaged students by inserting your own captions. 

For students that are blind, on-screen reading can be very helpful. In addition to this, you should include captions for images that can also be read aloud to the student. When you design these accommodations in an online lesson, its key to not have links that just say "Click Here" or the URL name because to a deaf student these can be hard to navigate. Use tools that allow you to change the name of a link to make it less confusing and allow blind students to more easily find that particular information and source.

Not all students can operate a mouse, so another important accommodation to include is to allow everything to be accessed with the keyboard. The arrow keys to move from item to item, the Enter button to submit something, and other keyboard sequences would be helpful for those who are unable to use a mouse.

Overall, when designing material in an online format for a course, it's important to not make things too cluttered. Using simple text on a plain background does so much more than mixing all sorts of fonts and colors. It makes it easier to follow and provides less distractions. When structuring an online course, structure each lesson section in a similar manner to provide routine and eliminate confusion. Organization is key, even when online for a class. Good organization of assignments and materials online creates a more user-friendly learning environment, allows students to stay better on task, and overall eliminates confusion. Mixing simplicity with many accommodations provides an even more user-friendly environment for all students regardless of the disadvantages they may have. Online accommodations provide equal access of content to all students and may even be beneficial for those who don't necessarily have a disability. Captions for example, can be used by someone who isn't deaf in order to better follow along with the video and avoid zoning out (that's that I use the captions in videos for, as I like them on). Image Descriptions also can better help clarify an image for someone who isn't necessarily blind. All in all, it's important to consider the needs of all students up front in order to provide equal learning opportunities and eliminate the need to accommodate something every single time a student asks for an accommodation. It's better to have the accommodation set-in-stone in the first place.

Another thing mentioned in the articles is about accommodations for those not necessarily with a physical disability, but for those with learning disabilities as well. Extra Time on tests is something that many students (including myself) need in order to have an equal opportunity. When we were online and had tests, my teachers would usually generate a separate test that gave extra time for me and other students who had 504 Plans that required that accommodation. Definitely another thing to consider when accommodating your online resources for class.