In pursuit of websites that teachers may use as a tool for assisting students who are English Language Learners, I came across www.englishroleplay.com. This website is a dynamic tool for teachers of ELL students. This is a free resource. The way English Role Play works is the student creates a user account, and profile. Then the student has access to the other members of the program, those of whom he/she can role play with. There are role play lessons the student can participate in. “Roleplay is a fast way to improve speaking and listening for real life situations. Roleplay uses scripts that you read with your partner, like actors in a movie.” (www.englishroleplay.com/page/whatisrolepaly) This program helps students learn how to speak full sentences, and to think about what they are saying. There are four types of role plays the student can participate in through the site; Situation role plays, Story role plays, Short discussions, and Long discussions. These lessons vary from 10 minutes to 1 hour. This website seems to of combined the concept of social networking and learning into one. The creators of the website state that the purpose of the website is “to provide effective speaking practice for language learners everywhere.” (www.englishroleplay.com/page/About)
http://www.englishroleplay.com/
-Stephen Hardy
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The Internet as a Tool for Assisting Students with Special and/or Diverse Needs
Empowering Rural Students with Disabilities Through Assistive Technology
http://www.sedl.org/rural/seeds/assistivetech/
In this article it discusses the group SEEDS which focus on "the implications of technological innovations for rural schools, addressing such topics as distance learning, statewide and state specific networks, along with policy issues." They want to make it possible for people with disabilities to have a bigger chance of being able to interact with their environment and to "function independently."
SEEDS believes that the technology that can assist people with disabilies is growing that that it can make things that use to seem impossible, possible. Such as students who have disabilties will be able to participate and be a part of the classroom instead of having to have a special needs cirrculum. SEEDS believes that technological advances that assist students with special needs will help students become more of an individual and independent. However, one of the problems is that teachers will have to be sure to be up-to-date on all of the new technologies. But I believe that this is a small hurdle to jump over for something that is not only good but necessary.
-Signe Larson
http://www.sedl.org/rural/seeds/assistivetech/
In this article it discusses the group SEEDS which focus on "the implications of technological innovations for rural schools, addressing such topics as distance learning, statewide and state specific networks, along with policy issues." They want to make it possible for people with disabilities to have a bigger chance of being able to interact with their environment and to "function independently."
SEEDS believes that the technology that can assist people with disabilies is growing that that it can make things that use to seem impossible, possible. Such as students who have disabilties will be able to participate and be a part of the classroom instead of having to have a special needs cirrculum. SEEDS believes that technological advances that assist students with special needs will help students become more of an individual and independent. However, one of the problems is that teachers will have to be sure to be up-to-date on all of the new technologies. But I believe that this is a small hurdle to jump over for something that is not only good but necessary.
-Signe Larson
Kristianna King's Post
In the website I found, it states "An increasing array of technologies can help personalize instruction for students with special needs...". In doing this, you can meet the curriculum requirements and fulfill the NCLB as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Act but creating an environment that includes both special needs and diverse students as well as "normal" students and making it all more inclusive for everyone.
Some of the things that are listed as technological tools for assistance are digital textbooks that have audio and visual representations of what you would typically find in a standard textbook. Also, a school in Maine provided special needs students with personal laptops and later found that they improved the students ability to work independently and improved their class participation, interaction, and preparation. The final interesting tool that it discusses is a newer technology called soundfield amplification; "wireless infrared technology enhances and distributes the teacher’s voice above background noise in the classroom, making the sound more audible to students". It is said that this allows all the students to understand the discussion and lesson that is being taught.
http://www.edtechactionnetwork.org/schools_special_needs.html
Some of the things that are listed as technological tools for assistance are digital textbooks that have audio and visual representations of what you would typically find in a standard textbook. Also, a school in Maine provided special needs students with personal laptops and later found that they improved the students ability to work independently and improved their class participation, interaction, and preparation. The final interesting tool that it discusses is a newer technology called soundfield amplification; "wireless infrared technology enhances and distributes the teacher’s voice above background noise in the classroom, making the sound more audible to students". It is said that this allows all the students to understand the discussion and lesson that is being taught.
http://www.edtechactionnetwork.org/schools_special_needs.html
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Internet as a Tool for Assisting Students with Special and/or Diverse Needs
“Internet communications can transport students beyond their physical environments, allowing them to interact with people far away and engage in interactive learning experiences. This is particularly appropriate for individuals who are easily distracted when going to new and busy environments such as the library, who are poorly motivated, or who have difficulty with reading or writing.” states the author on page 3 of Assistive Technology for Students with Mild Disabilities . In this article the author addresses some of the challenges that teachers face with student who have a mild learning disorder. The Internet and other assistive software programs help to keep students who are easily distracted on task. For example some students may have a hard time finding interest in reading but when presented with an e-book their interest is often sparked. The power of multimedia can really inspire a student with disabilities. One of the benefits the e-book, that is accessed through the Internet. The article describes the capabilities of an e-book like this, “They include high-interest stories: the computer reads each page of the story aloud, highlighting the words as they are read. Fonts and colors can be changed to reduce distraction. Additional clicks of the mouse result in pronunciation of syllables and a definition of the word. When the student clicks on a picture, a label appears.” The Internet can also be used to give students, with disabilities, task oriented problems that can be accessed online. For the teacher the Internet offers many resources and ideas to help facilitate the needs of these diverse learners.
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Assistive_Technology/
-Stephen Hardy
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Assistive_Technology/
-Stephen Hardy
Kaitlyn Lara: The Internet as a Tool for Assisting Students with Special/Diverse Needs
While researching this topic I came across www2.edc.org/NCIP/Default.htm. This is the National Center to Improve Practice. The mission states that their goal is to "improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities by promoting the effective use of assistive and instructional technologies among educators and related personal serving these students." The website does this through the use of technology, media and materials. They provide numerous technologies one can use to teach diverse students, whatever their learning challenges may be. They provide a library, video profiles, guided tours, online workshops and links to other sites for special education resources. The website includes many videos that show "students using assistive and instructional technologies." One visiting their site can see that the NCIP views the internet, along with other new technologies, as a helpful tool in teaching students with special/diverse needs.
Valerie Schulz: The Internet as a Tool for Assisting Students with Special and/or Diverse Needs
The internet is a tool that enables individuals to access any information that will help them. On a website titled parentpals.com, there is a plethora of information on children that have learning disabilities. The website includes links for children with autism, ADHD, the learning disabled, and much more. Each disability's link takes parents to websites with articles, message boards, support groups, and more.
I decided to explore the website to see how helpful it would be, and I did this by looking under the links for Autism. Once clicking the link, there were many options for me to choose from, including books, research, and treatment. I also found similr results when I clicked on the link for Learning Disabilities. Overall, the website seemed to be very helpful for a parent or teacher who wants to use the internet in order to facilitate the needs of their child with disabilities.
I decided to explore the website to see how helpful it would be, and I did this by looking under the links for Autism. Once clicking the link, there were many options for me to choose from, including books, research, and treatment. I also found similr results when I clicked on the link for Learning Disabilities. Overall, the website seemed to be very helpful for a parent or teacher who wants to use the internet in order to facilitate the needs of their child with disabilities.
Erin Fountain: The Internet as a Tool for Assisting Students with Special and/or Diverse Needs
When I researched this topic, I came across a website that has links to various websites where teachers or parents can buy programs to help their students or children who have problems with learning. There is even a portion of the website that has links to software that can aid in helping adults with special needs.
The website: http://www.iser.com/special-needs-software.html which stands for Internet Special Education Resources, offers quite a variety.
As I scrolled down and read through the software descriptions, Smart Tutor caught my eye. I clicked on the link, and it brought me to another website. Smart Tutor is a program designed to help children who suffer from various learning disabilities, including ADD, ADHD, Aspergers' Syndrome and even Autism. The tutoring program is designed to help children aged kindergarten through fifth grade. The website: http://www.smarttutor.com/home/special-needs.asp states that the techniques they have designed for reading and mathematics are all researched-based and award winning. They have various features listed such as individualized learning paths, learning at the child's pace, each lesson provided offers a complete tutorial, a review, and a quiz at the end of the lesson, fun online learning, immediate, motivating and positive feedback from the website and reports that are easy to read for the parents and teachers. The program itself is $17.99 per month, but I personally think that the price is right on key. It's not too expensive, and the details about the program make it all the more appealing. I think parents would be spending more money on tutors per session and therapists to find out why their child isn't learning the way they should be. I think this solution is smart, for the child, the parents and the household budget!
The website: http://www.iser.com/special-needs-software.html which stands for Internet Special Education Resources, offers quite a variety.
As I scrolled down and read through the software descriptions, Smart Tutor caught my eye. I clicked on the link, and it brought me to another website. Smart Tutor is a program designed to help children who suffer from various learning disabilities, including ADD, ADHD, Aspergers' Syndrome and even Autism. The tutoring program is designed to help children aged kindergarten through fifth grade. The website: http://www.smarttutor.com/home/special-needs.asp states that the techniques they have designed for reading and mathematics are all researched-based and award winning. They have various features listed such as individualized learning paths, learning at the child's pace, each lesson provided offers a complete tutorial, a review, and a quiz at the end of the lesson, fun online learning, immediate, motivating and positive feedback from the website and reports that are easy to read for the parents and teachers. The program itself is $17.99 per month, but I personally think that the price is right on key. It's not too expensive, and the details about the program make it all the more appealing. I think parents would be spending more money on tutors per session and therapists to find out why their child isn't learning the way they should be. I think this solution is smart, for the child, the parents and the household budget!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Kelly Romero - Using the Internet and Technology to Support Diverse Learners
Using Technology to Support Diverse Learners
http://www.wested.org/cs/tdl/view/tdl_tip/52
This website presents text on the benefits of using technology and the internet to support diverse learners, and English language learners in particular. The website gives several examples of how these tools can be used to enhance the learning experiences of ELL students. One suggestion is to use different websites to give background to students about the topic or lesson that is being presented. By allowing students the opportunity to explore these websites either as a group or an individual, they will be fortified with background knowledge and information of the subject.
The website also suggests that the internet can “create a positive learning environment” for English Language Learners because of the “non-judgmental nature of the computer”. The use of spell check or tutorials can give confidence to ELL students whether they are doing assignments or even participating in e-mail or chat rooms with native English Speakers. The suggestions that the website gives for using the internet with ELL students can be used with other diverse learners and also typical learners as well.
-Kelly Romero
http://www.wested.org/cs/tdl/view/tdl_tip/52
This website presents text on the benefits of using technology and the internet to support diverse learners, and English language learners in particular. The website gives several examples of how these tools can be used to enhance the learning experiences of ELL students. One suggestion is to use different websites to give background to students about the topic or lesson that is being presented. By allowing students the opportunity to explore these websites either as a group or an individual, they will be fortified with background knowledge and information of the subject.
The website also suggests that the internet can “create a positive learning environment” for English Language Learners because of the “non-judgmental nature of the computer”. The use of spell check or tutorials can give confidence to ELL students whether they are doing assignments or even participating in e-mail or chat rooms with native English Speakers. The suggestions that the website gives for using the internet with ELL students can be used with other diverse learners and also typical learners as well.
-Kelly Romero
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