Effective Assistive Technology: Details and Demonstration

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Effective Assistive Technology Details and
Demonstration

• Donna Mawhorter
• Jennifer Courduff
• Etiwanda School District

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In the beginning

• IDEIA 2004 Assistive technology must be
  discussed at every IEP meeting
• The discovery of a critical need for training in
  basic technology skills for special teachers in
  the Etiwanda School District
• Three minds, together, developing a training and
  support plan

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The challenge

• Running up against a common mindset
• To be honest, special education is such a small
  group of teachers that their needs are less
  important in the grand scheme of things when you
  look at the needs of an entire district (ouch)
• Reality of certain critical elements
• Training empowerment technology integration
• Ongoing support follow through
• Celebration of every single success, no matter
  how small willingness and courage try new
  things

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The challenge2

• Reality2 training in large groups is the least
  effective method for real learning to occur
• What is needed is a mix of small group, one on
  one, face-to-face, online, in a lab, on site,
  planned, spontaneous, training sessions
• This is a research-based model
• Hall Hord Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM)
  (2002)
• Wenger Lave Communities of Practice (1991)
• Gardner Multiple Intelligences (2006)

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Details Tier One

• We can do it! Effortless assistive technology in
  the classroom
• Structured as face-to-face monthly meetings
• Needs assessment surveys given at the beginning
  of the year
• Fusion Writers and headset microphones provided
  as incentives
• Training rule of thumb
• 10 minute direct instruction
• 15 minutes hands-on activity

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Demonstration Tier One

• Fusion training one new skill introduced in
  each session
• Speech to text in SEIS, E-Mail, MS Word 3
  sessions
• MS Word is cumbersome, better options are WordQ
  and SpeakQ by Quillsoft
• Accessibility tools in MS Word 2 sessions
• Using UnitedStreaming with Special Needs students
  3 sessions
• Adding voice narration to PowerPoint/PhotoStory3

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Details Tier Two

• A Community of Learners E-Portfolio Basics
• Digital Cameras provided as incentives
• Hybrid model
• Face-to-face every other month
• Ongoing, online collaboration using Airset.com

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Demonstration Tier TwoOnline

• Introduction to Airset.com
• Airset is a free online resource that follows a
  cloud computing model.
• Self page
• Group page(s)
• Discussion page
• Calendar
• Files resource page
• Web resource page

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Demonstration Tier TwoFace-to-Face

• E-Portfolio training
• Purpose of an E-Portfolio
• An electronic growth journal a way for learners
  to take ownership of specific goals, document and
  reflect on personal progress toward the goal
• Created in PowerPoint or other presentation
  software
• Can include pictures, videos, scanned documents,
  voice narration, graphs/charts

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Artifacts

• Artifact cycle
• Selection academic, social, physical.
• Collection work, videos, pictures
• Reflection identify artifacts that show growth
  and needs
• Projection update goals based on growth and
  needs
• Presentation create presentation that includes
  artifacts in ways that show progress toward goals

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Training

• Creating the initial PowerPoint
• Student/teacher created digital presentations
  using PhotoStory3
• MS Word for writing samples/daily
  entries/reflective pieces
• Scanned documents
• Student/teacher narrations as reflective
  pieces/progress toward goal
• Student-led conferences

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Details Tier Three

• Developing a Community of Practitioners
• Continue the hybrid model introduced in Tier Two
• Continue developing skills in E-Portfolio
  development and technology programs
• Training specifics will be based on survey
  results from Spring 2009

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Supplemental Documents

• Cover sheet
• Training schedules
• One page of references
• For a complete copy of the plan, e-mail Jennifer
  Courduff at jennifer_courduff_at_etiwanda.org

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Questions?

• Contact information
• Donna Mawhorter
• Donna_mawhorter_at_etiwanda.org
• Jennifer Courduff
• Jennifer_courduff_at_etiwanda.org