Over the last month our class has been working on creating projects to answer important questions on using technology as a classroom tool you can find my project under Educational Technology Presentation but here is what I learned from my classmates:

How can we create a more inclusive classmate using tech?

The goal is to provide resources to allow all students to be engaged and for the teacher to be able to reach all their students!

Virtual Classroom

zoom lectures

Teams

blackboard websites

google classroom

(online resources to provide the lesson to students either in real time or posted to access at any time)

Immersive reader

reading support system

there is a google chrome immersive reader extension to use for any website and device

Nearpod

collaborative boards that can be presented live or student paced (code protected)


Pros

  • students can work at their own pace
  • revisit lecture from class
  • available anytime anywhere
  • keep up on classwork if you miss a day
  • students can have a voice online if they feel less comfortable speaking out

  • translates for learning English
  • excellent for students with difficulty reading screens
  • you can colour coordinate parts of speech (verbs, nouns…)
  • user chooses the speed of reader and can pause on tricky words
  • offers independent choices for extra support

  • has a whiteboard to interact with lesson during a presentation
  • student results are emailed right to the teacher
  • lots of features to keep students engaged
  • student paced
  • has built in immersive reader
  • audio submission options if typing is a challenge
  • assign pods for virtual collaboration
  • you can add a coteacher

Cons

  • learning curve
  • inaccessible to some (must have tech at home)

  • students could rely on immersive reader but it may not always be available
  • cost to use
  • tech does not always work or is not always available

  • requires individual tech that is not always accessible
  • students may face temptation to use their device for games rather than learning
  • site does not support canav
  • internet could fail, have a backup plan
  • has American based materials

How does Technology supports diverse learners?

Technology can help to create an inclusive environment, adapt for student needs, engage students, allow for differential instruction.

Seeing AI– free app to describe people, text, objects to you and uploads the page directly to a digital file.

PROS: -speak to text – uses camera phone (accessible to most students

-describes a photo or face to students with visual impairments -reads text to help

students read – transfers scribe to create digital files

CONS: – digital voice can be hard to understand – minor description glitches (age,

race, sensitivity concerns)

Eye Gaze Tech: It uses eye movement tracking to control the computer and make selections by blink activation, a manual switch or dwell for selection (stare at screen for a set amount of seconds to make selection

PROS: – helps with mobility disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism…. – easy to learn

and use – allows students independence – used to diagnose visual disabilities

– has been used to diagnose autism as early as 6 months – helps students

communicate effectively – has games to practice using the technology –

students can create PowerPoints for school

CONS: – expensive – not accessible for everyone

Immersive reader: used to read text out loud, edit student work, draw focus to specific words for student learning.

PROS: -change colour to learn vocabulary (nouns, verbs) – highlight words

student needs help with – changes line spacing ( helps with visual disabilities)

– helpful to teachers, students with ADD, vision impairments, autism, dyslexia

– free with Microsoft account (most schools supply)

CONS: – can be loud and require headphones,

Breathe Think Do with Sesame Street: this is a game where you work through activities with a buddy monster

PROS: -reads to you – works on problem solving – helps with behavior issues – helps students monitor breathing – helps students be independent

CONS: – not very customizable would be cool to create a schedule for the student

in the game to work on routines