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.