ED-443 Assistive Technology methods course allows students to explore and discover a cornucopia of instructional media and technology available through the web internet. The intention of this methods course is to create a link between education and technology to develop more efficient and effective teaching strategies for the benefit of students and individuals with special needs. This e-portfolio project summarizes and emphasizes the variety of instructional media and technology introduced in the course to promote its use and convey its significance in the Special Education profession.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
My Philosophy
Technology is a gift. Since its time, it has allowed us to perform daily activities and carry out important and difficult tasks efficiently and effectively. Every individual utilizes different sorts of devices from low-tech, such as a simple can-opener to high-tech, such as a personal computer. However, while the purpose of these devices for most people is merely for efficiency or convenience, technology has become the means for individuals with special needs to become a part of the society, which they have been struggling to fulfill for many many years. No longer are the blind and the deaf clueless, no longer are the speech-impaired ignored, and no longer are the individuals with multiple disabilities isolated. With the agency of appropriate assistive technology devices, individuals who are visually impaired and/or hard-of-hearing are now taught with the use of magnifying equipments, recording devices, and amplifiers. Individuals with speech-impairment can now communicate and convey their messages through text-to-speech programs and other talking devices. While those who have multiple disabilities and other health impairments have increased their mobility and capabilities with electronic wheelchairs, sensory devices, and other mechanical machines that provide ease for certain tasks such as rubber knob-turners, apple-peelers, back-scratcher, etc.
As educators and/or Special Education professionals, it is of paramount significance that we are cognizant of the available, most recent, and appropriate devices and technology for our students' use. Since it is our mission to increase the potential of each student, assistive technology can aid us with this endeavor.
As educators and/or Special Education professionals, it is of paramount significance that we are cognizant of the available, most recent, and appropriate devices and technology for our students' use. Since it is our mission to increase the potential of each student, assistive technology can aid us with this endeavor.
CEC Standard 1: Foundations - The Council for Exceptional Children, Guam Chapter President
Having decided to pursue Special Education as my major and as my choice of career, I joined the Council for Exceptional Children or CEC after I was accepted in the School of Education on Fall of 2007. Since becoming a member, I attended CEC's general members' meetings and participated in the 2008 Special Olympics Guam at John F. Kennedy track-and-field as a volunteer coach for Maria Ulloa Elementary School athletes. I helped the athletes train for the event for eight weeks starting late January to early March of 2008. One year later, I was nominated and was elected as the Vice President of CEC on January 2009 and was eventually promoted as the President on April 2009. In the beginning of our term as officers, we have implemented a new point system for our members to go by in acquiring our CEC Membership and Highly Qualified Teachers sashes. Since February, we have conducted two general members' meetings, partipated in three major events including our very first Charter Day, Special Olympics Guam 2009 at Okkodo High School track-and-field, and FEGA Eggstravaganza selling sno-cones and popcorns as our fund-raising activities. CEC was also represented during the recent NCATE and WASC visits at the University of Guam.
March 2008: Special Olympics Guam at John F. Kennedy High School Track-and-Field
February 7, 2009: First 2009 General Members' Meeting with the New Officers of CEC
March 10, 2009: CEC's First Ever Charter Day
March 14, 2009: Special Guam Olympics at Okkodo High School Track-and-Field
March 22, 2009: NCATE Focus Visit; Poster Display
March 23, 2009: NCATE Focus Visit; Student and Organization Representatives' Interview
May 2, 2009: CEC General Members' Meeting
March 2008: Special Olympics Guam at John F. Kennedy High School Track-and-Field
February 7, 2009: First 2009 General Members' Meeting with the New Officers of CEC
March 10, 2009: CEC's First Ever Charter Day
March 14, 2009: Special Guam Olympics at Okkodo High School Track-and-Field
March 22, 2009: NCATE Focus Visit; Poster Display
March 23, 2009: NCATE Focus Visit; Student and Organization Representatives' Interview
May 2, 2009: CEC General Members' Meeting
CEC Standard 1: Foundations - The Student
I graduated from Simon Sanchez High School on the summer of 2005 and began my first semester in college immediately after on the Fall of the same year. Initially, I wanted to pursue Architecture or Interior Designing in Manila, but my parents were skeptical of sending me back by myself in the city and eventually disapproved. Left with no alternative but to stay on the island and attend the University of Guam, I went with my second option as my career choice-Education. Since I started my first semester in college, I had been declared as a Secondary Education major with minor in English. I finished my General Education requirements after two years while taking introductory courses to Education. Amongst these courses were Introduction to Special Education and its practicum. Having been educated in a private school while living in Manila despite having an orthopedic impairment, I never received any kind of assistance for my education, hence, I grew up without much knowledge about Special Education. Things took a 180-degree turn after completing these courses, when an epiphany occur to me-Special Education was my calling. Since then, I changed my major from Secondary Education to Special Education and continued to pursue my degree. I am now going to student-teach on Fall of 2009, and I am overwhelmed with the feeling of anxiety and excitement at the same time. However, I don't think that my education will stop here. I still want to continue on and pursue a Master's Degree and fulfill my dreams of studying Interior Designing. To educate is my mission . . . to create is my passion. I am aGenT PaLm and I am full of ambitions!
Fall 2005: College Freshman
Spring 2006: Work-study Student at the School of Education
Spring 2008: ED-315 Methods of Teaching Children and Youth with Disabilities
ED-315 Practicum at Maria Ulloa Elementary School
Spring 2008: ED-343 Career Orientation/Work-study for Exceptional Individuals
Spring 2008: ED-357 Reading Methods
Summer 2008: ED-442/ED-694 G Special Education Law
Summer 2008: Awarding of Certificates for the 2008 Summer Cohort
Fall 2005: College Freshman
Spring 2006: Work-study Student at the School of Education
Spring 2008: ED-315 Methods of Teaching Children and Youth with Disabilities
ED-315 Practicum at Maria Ulloa Elementary School
Spring 2008: ED-343 Career Orientation/Work-study for Exceptional Individuals
Spring 2008: ED-357 Reading Methods
Summer 2008: ED-442/ED-694 G Special Education Law
Summer 2008: Awarding of Certificates for the 2008 Summer Cohort
Fall 2008: ED-314 Assessment of Skills for Children and Youth with Disabilities
CEC Standard 1: Foundations - The Campus Suicide Prevention Program Assistant
Recently, I applied as a program assistant at the I Pinangon Campus Suicide Prevention Program at the University of Guam. I came across this job announcement when one of their program assistants visited my Abnormal Psychology class in the beginning of Spring 2009 semester. I was only taking four classes and figured I had a lot of extra time in my hands, so I decided to apply. I wanted to become more involved in campus events and build up my resume and thought that this was a perfect opportunity. I would also earn money, which I could use to support my leisure.
My background in Special Education and practicum experiences in different elementary schools, middle-schools, and high-schools helped me land the job. I was trained through the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training or ASIST and became an official gatekeeper in February. Since I started in March 2nd, I had been involved in different events such as the National Alcohol Screening Day, Suicide Prevention Movie Night, and Staff Development Day. I have also given presentations with my partner in classroom settings to raise awareness about the suicide culture within our campus and on the island. I have met people that worked in the Department of Youth Affairs, Department of Mental Health, and PEACE. I also got the chance to meet Rear Admiral Erick Broderick, the administrator of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on his first ever visit to Guam. Under the direction of Dr. Iain Twaddle, I Pinangon Campus Suicide Prevention Program also works collaboratively with Isa Psychological Services Center and the Violence Against Women Prevention Program.
February 21 and 22, 2009: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Published in Pacific Daily News on March 2009.
April 11, 2009: Rear Admiral Broderick's Visit at the University of Guam
My background in Special Education and practicum experiences in different elementary schools, middle-schools, and high-schools helped me land the job. I was trained through the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training or ASIST and became an official gatekeeper in February. Since I started in March 2nd, I had been involved in different events such as the National Alcohol Screening Day, Suicide Prevention Movie Night, and Staff Development Day. I have also given presentations with my partner in classroom settings to raise awareness about the suicide culture within our campus and on the island. I have met people that worked in the Department of Youth Affairs, Department of Mental Health, and PEACE. I also got the chance to meet Rear Admiral Erick Broderick, the administrator of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on his first ever visit to Guam. Under the direction of Dr. Iain Twaddle, I Pinangon Campus Suicide Prevention Program also works collaboratively with Isa Psychological Services Center and the Violence Against Women Prevention Program.
February 21 and 22, 2009: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Published in Pacific Daily News on March 2009.
April 11, 2009: Rear Admiral Broderick's Visit at the University of Guam
CEC Standard 1: Foundations - Behind the Smiles and the Laughter
Born and raised in Manila, Philippines on September 25, 1986 from a middle-class family, I grew up with a family of five, including my parents and two younger sisters. My father had been living and working on Guam since I was born as a Certified Public Accountant, while my mother stayed with us in Manila working in sales at a boutique at the airport. Before the age of one, I became orthopedically impaired with my right arm due to an accident. The nerves from my right shoulder down to the right side of my back were shut down limiting the use of my arm. I have never felt like every normal kid growing up, as I was hindered to participate in sports and many other activities I had ambitioned to do such as dancing and martial arts. I have always thought that I would have been a great dancer if not for my impairment. There were many incidence, where my impairment had caused me embarrassment and very low self-esteem from unpleasant remarks and actions by ignorant people. However, it didn't destroy me but made me even more determined to strive for success. Thinking that when I encounter them again, I can reminisce and have the courage to face them with no shame. For the 22 years I had been living with this challenge, I have learned to cope and deal. To build up my confidence, I concentrated on portraying myself to the public as impressive as I can by dressing up well and showing a friendly demeanor. By wearing this attitude, I met great friends and acquaintances and my disability remained incognito. I continue to strive for success and consider my impairment as something special I possess that no one else can claim. It's made me remain grounded and proud at the same time.
CEC Standard 4: Instructional Strategies - Assistive Technology Devices Websites
• OK-Writer Word Processing for Kids (MAC OS X)
Syndicomm: Making Your Computer Work for You;http://www.syndicomm.com/mac/ok-writer/index.html
This website promotes the use of a software called, OK-Writer, which is targeted for use by young children. OK-Writer is a type of word processor that is created to aid children in writing stories by allowing their creativity soar, with the utilization of friendly features unavailable from regular word processors. It is designed to appeal to children evident with its colorful, attractive, and visible icons displayed all around the window page for convenient access or navigation. These icons also make jolly sounds when clicked to entertain and instigate the child in trying out as many icons as possible. Although it is targeted for use by young children, it still includes the basic features of a word processor such as spell-checker, style, and font icons. It also enables children to listen to what they have written with the inclusion of a text-to-speech feature. Other easy-to-use features are also included. OK-Writer may be downloaded from the website or may be purchased for $150.00 for installation at any Macintosh computers.
• ReadPlease
Software that Lets Your Computer Talk; http://www.readplease.com/#
This website is an informative website that alerts visitors with the use of a text-to-speech software that is compatible with Windows-based operating systems called, ReadPlease. Accommodations for visitors that have visual impairments and non-English speakers are available at the top right corner of the home page. The text becomes larger and more convenient to read with a click for the low vision icon, and it also converts into different languages from English to Spanish, French, German, and Japanese. Acquiring an insight about the credibility of the software and whether it is appropriate to use for a certain disability becomes conveniently possible through user manifestations—display of the comments and reviews from previous and current users found on the right corner of the page. This software does not only read any text visible on your screen but also allows page-zooming, translating, and converting files into mp3/wav files. The website’s navigational icons found on the left corner of the page include an overview of the products, downloads, orders, registration codes, and contact information.
• Accessibility
VoiceOver; http://www.apple.com/accessibility/voiceover/
This website provides a more in-depth overview of the VoiceOver, which is a feature available in Mac computers. VoiceOver is a text-to-speech program designed to aid Mac users with low vision or blind. Included in its development is a new voice called, Alex. Alex is a more sophisticated voice program in comparison to other text-to-speech programs designed to sound as realistic as possible. Alex’s speech varies depending on location and on concepts introduced in previous sentences. Alex’s voice is also created to resemble that of a person instead of a computer reciting text. It is even able to emit the sound of breath for a more realistic ambiance based on the appropriateness, the structure of the sentence recited, the gap since the last breath, and the estimated time until Alex finishes speaking. VoiceOver also accommodates users who use Braille by allowing efficient access with a USB Braille. It also provides a versatile Braille panel on its screen for users who do not have USB Braille and have low vision. Apart from an in-depth overview of this program, the website also touches and discusses further more on its other features such as the use of USB, instructions and manuals, translations, etcetera.
• Snappy-Dresser
Regain Your Independence in a Single Snap; http://www.snappy-dresser.com/about_us.shtml
This website features the snappy-dresser, a low-tech assistive technology devise represented by a family-owned and operated company in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The snappy-dresser was inspired by a woman born with a physical disability as an agency for her daily life-skills activities such as getting dressed, using the bathroom, and reaching for or picking up items. The snappy-dresser comes with detachable and replaceable parts for specific utilizations most convenient for picking up fallen items. It is also portable so that users can carry it with them all the time wherever they may go. Two demonstration videos are posted on the website for adjusting and detaching and replacing the handles.
• SnapFiles
Zac Browser: Zone for Autistic Children; http://www.snapfiles.com/screenshots/zacbrowser.htm
This website features the Zac Browser, a revolutionary browser designed to appeal to users with Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. From this website, two screenshots of a Zac Browser was displayed. Similar to Mac desktops, the docs or the functional icons are located underneath the screensaver. The designs are bright and attention-grabbing which are perfect for users with Autism to capture their focus. Students with Autism like to explore and this browser includes a variety of interactive features such as games and music. It also looks fun and easy to navigate with its appropriate and visible icons. The Zac Browser is a freeware and is available for download from the website. Users may also write comments.
Syndicomm: Making Your Computer Work for You;http://www.syndicomm.com/mac/ok-writer/index.html
This website promotes the use of a software called, OK-Writer, which is targeted for use by young children. OK-Writer is a type of word processor that is created to aid children in writing stories by allowing their creativity soar, with the utilization of friendly features unavailable from regular word processors. It is designed to appeal to children evident with its colorful, attractive, and visible icons displayed all around the window page for convenient access or navigation. These icons also make jolly sounds when clicked to entertain and instigate the child in trying out as many icons as possible. Although it is targeted for use by young children, it still includes the basic features of a word processor such as spell-checker, style, and font icons. It also enables children to listen to what they have written with the inclusion of a text-to-speech feature. Other easy-to-use features are also included. OK-Writer may be downloaded from the website or may be purchased for $150.00 for installation at any Macintosh computers.
• ReadPlease
Software that Lets Your Computer Talk; http://www.readplease.com/#
This website is an informative website that alerts visitors with the use of a text-to-speech software that is compatible with Windows-based operating systems called, ReadPlease. Accommodations for visitors that have visual impairments and non-English speakers are available at the top right corner of the home page. The text becomes larger and more convenient to read with a click for the low vision icon, and it also converts into different languages from English to Spanish, French, German, and Japanese. Acquiring an insight about the credibility of the software and whether it is appropriate to use for a certain disability becomes conveniently possible through user manifestations—display of the comments and reviews from previous and current users found on the right corner of the page. This software does not only read any text visible on your screen but also allows page-zooming, translating, and converting files into mp3/wav files. The website’s navigational icons found on the left corner of the page include an overview of the products, downloads, orders, registration codes, and contact information.
• Accessibility
VoiceOver; http://www.apple.com/accessibility/voiceover/
This website provides a more in-depth overview of the VoiceOver, which is a feature available in Mac computers. VoiceOver is a text-to-speech program designed to aid Mac users with low vision or blind. Included in its development is a new voice called, Alex. Alex is a more sophisticated voice program in comparison to other text-to-speech programs designed to sound as realistic as possible. Alex’s speech varies depending on location and on concepts introduced in previous sentences. Alex’s voice is also created to resemble that of a person instead of a computer reciting text. It is even able to emit the sound of breath for a more realistic ambiance based on the appropriateness, the structure of the sentence recited, the gap since the last breath, and the estimated time until Alex finishes speaking. VoiceOver also accommodates users who use Braille by allowing efficient access with a USB Braille. It also provides a versatile Braille panel on its screen for users who do not have USB Braille and have low vision. Apart from an in-depth overview of this program, the website also touches and discusses further more on its other features such as the use of USB, instructions and manuals, translations, etcetera.
• Snappy-Dresser
Regain Your Independence in a Single Snap; http://www.snappy-dresser.com/about_us.shtml
This website features the snappy-dresser, a low-tech assistive technology devise represented by a family-owned and operated company in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The snappy-dresser was inspired by a woman born with a physical disability as an agency for her daily life-skills activities such as getting dressed, using the bathroom, and reaching for or picking up items. The snappy-dresser comes with detachable and replaceable parts for specific utilizations most convenient for picking up fallen items. It is also portable so that users can carry it with them all the time wherever they may go. Two demonstration videos are posted on the website for adjusting and detaching and replacing the handles.
• SnapFiles
Zac Browser: Zone for Autistic Children; http://www.snapfiles.com/screenshots/zacbrowser.htm
This website features the Zac Browser, a revolutionary browser designed to appeal to users with Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. From this website, two screenshots of a Zac Browser was displayed. Similar to Mac desktops, the docs or the functional icons are located underneath the screensaver. The designs are bright and attention-grabbing which are perfect for users with Autism to capture their focus. Students with Autism like to explore and this browser includes a variety of interactive features such as games and music. It also looks fun and easy to navigate with its appropriate and visible icons. The Zac Browser is a freeware and is available for download from the website. Users may also write comments.
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