Class 2 - July 5, 2012

It was a challenge in today's class to go as deep as possible into the reading process in our task analysis. Initially I wondered what the reading process had to to with assistive technology. As we went, and Barb explained, it became more obvious that each step in the process is critical, and if a student is missing a step due to a disability or another factor in their lives, the entire process is affected. The assistive tech tools that we're being shown can all help with that. It's important as educators though, that we know where to start in assessing the challenges our students face and giving them the appropriate tools to succeed. I feel like our school assisstive tech consultants usually do their best to get to know our students in a short amount of time, but after seeing everything that's available on the iPad in just a few short sessions I'm beginning to wonder if the students I worked with this year were a bit short-changed, as I wasn't given the opportunity to explore the possibility of using these apps with them, and didn't know enough earlier in the year to ask about them. Moving forward, my goal will be to use as much of what I'm being shown in this course as possible, and as soon as possible.

I liked the way our task analysis was linked to Inspiration. I first learned how to use Inspiration during my B.Ed in New Zealand, but haven't used it a whole lot since then. I'm happy to have been re-introduced to it, as I remember it having lots of potential as a classroom tool.

Something else I know I will use from today's class is the QR scanner codes - wow. I've seen them everywhere, and didn't really know until today how much potential they have. I thought you needed a different scanner app for specific codes (for example, if you wanted to scan a code in the Metro newspaper, you would need the Metro scanner app) and that seemed like a waste of time and space on my phone. After examining the codes and their uses further today I am blown away. It's amazing how there can be so many cool technological things happening around us but if nobody takes the time to explain them they are just ignored.

On another note, Nolan and I have decided to be sensible and not get an iPad right now....I'm pretty sad about that. Maybe for my birthday? As a wedding gift? I'm going to register for one!!

I thought this was cute and kind of sums up how I'm feeling about teaching this new stuff to my students next year!