Assistive Technology- Magnifying Tool

Tools for assistive technology don't have to come expensive. Microsoft has created programs that are found on any Microsoft Vista PC that allow students to have free access to many assistive technology tools.

One tool that Vista makes for students that need assistance with reading or seeing, is the magnifying tool. It is free and can be easily found through the Control Panel. This allows students to view anything they want with a magnifying glass, making the words or the pictures bigger. You can see what you type in the magnifying box, as well as you can move the box to see what you are writing in a bigger format. This would be beneficial for students who are visually impaired and need help reading, or writing on a computer.

-- First go to the "Start"menu.
-- Then open up your "Control Panel"
-- After that click on "Ease of Access" to get to the next step
-- Click on "Ease of Access Center"
-- In the end click on start magnification in order to bring the magnifying glass up to the screen.

Assistive Technology- On Screen Keyboard

Tools for assistive technology don't have to come expensive. Microsoft has created programs that are found on any Microsoft Vista PC that allow students to have free access to many assistive technology tools.

One tool that could come in hand is the "On-Screen Keyboard". This would be used for someone who wouldn't be able to type on a keyboard, rather they could type using their mouse.
The On-Screen Keyboard can type for anything, and stays up so you can see it all in whichever screen you choose. You can fix many options on the screen keyboard, such as which kind of keyboard, how many keys are shown, and the layout.


-- To go about finding this tool go to your "Control Panel" in the "Start" Menu.
-- Click on "Ease of Access" which will take you to the next screen.
-- Click on "Ease of Access Center" and that will take you to the next screen.
-- Finally you will see it in big letters, and click on the link that says, "Start On-Screen Keyboard"

Below are pictures following the instructions above.

Timeline

-- I just created a timeline on Microsoft Word. The timeline that I created was for a Personal Development Goal that I created. I wanted to put my skills to the test, and see what I could create on Microsoft Word. I was able to make a timeline on the topic of "Space".

-- I thought the timeline was definitely something that I could use as a future teacher, or something that my future students could do. I know, there are probably millions of templates for a timeline out on the internet; however, I thought it would be a good skill tester to find out how to create timelines on the computer doing it how I wanted. The timeline was pretty simple; however, it did take a little bit of time to create. I also had to refer to other websites for help on doing it. I use Microsofts webpage for assistance (http://www.microsoft.com/education/TimelinesWord.mspx). It was a great way to start off with some help, and then once I got a hold of what I was trying to accomplish, I was able to do it by myself, anyway I thought of. I definitely think that kids could use this. It would be a effective and efficient way of creating timelines. Students will find a new way to create a boring project like a time line, and make it fun on the computer. You can directly add pictures instead of cut and paste, and you can make it however you want to. I can also see myself as a teacher creating timelines for my class on a certain topic. I would definitely do this again.

-- Here is my final timeline that I created. Please refer to the Microsoft Website above if you are interested in creating a timeline on Microsoft but need a little help.

Website Tool, Weebly

-- Weebly is an online tool for creating a website. The website that it allows you to create is very simple and is more of the type of learning website rather than communication type of website.

-- Weebly is a great tool to use if you want to make a basic website page easily. I made a Weebly as an ideal project that I could potentially use with my future class. The idea that I had with making a Weebly was to study a topic (i used the solar system), allow the students to create internet/technology based projects, and post them on the website to show their knowledge of the topic. I didn't go much into detail with the project; however, I got the gist of how to use it. The tool is very simple to use. All you do is pick what kind of layout you want, and drag it to the screen and begin typing. It allows you to put videos, rss feeds, pictures, music, information, etc. on the webpage. You can make different pages to go to. For example, I made a "activities" page, and an "assessment" page. I found it very useful for what I wanted to create.

-- The website allows students to show how much they have learned about a topic and present their knowledge. It's a great effective and efficient tool for the students. It allows learning to be fun as well as makes students want to learn about a topic. There are activities and assessments for others to test and put to play their knowledge they have learned on the topic. It is also easy for teachers to create if they wanted to make a webpage for a subject for their class or for themselves.

-- Here is a link to my Weebly as well as a YouTube video for further information on the website creator.

Our Teeth and How pH Effects Them

Part I:
-- Our Teeth and What We Drink Module #9
-- Apryl Casetter, Taylor Freeman, and Heather Sarles
-- As a group, you test 4 different liquids (tea, soda, tap water, and cranberry juice) and find the pH of each of each of the substances with a sensor device and computer program. After testing the pH there are question for further investigation.
-- As a group, we tested the 4 different liquids (tea, soda, tap water, and cranberry juice) and found the pH of each of the substances using a sensor tool and computer program. After that we took pictures of each of the results from the pH computer program for evidence. After we did online research to answer further investigation questions based off the experiment we had just performed.

Part II:
-- Further Investigation Questions:
Our first question was, "What is pH in laymen's terms? We answered as a group, "pH is a system of measurement in order to find the acidity of a substance. The scale for acidity ranges from 0 to 14. The lower the number the more acidic a solution is. The higher the number, the more basic a solution is. The number 7 is neutral, so anything over 7 would be considered basic, and anything below 7 would be considered acidic". The second question that we were asked was "What are the typical rangers in pH that are ideal/healthy for the human tooth"? We then answered "Tooth material loss can begin with drinks that have a pH level of 5.5 or lower. The lower the pH level, the less acidic the beverage is". The third questions that we were asked was "How do more acidic or basic substances/beverages affect teeth"? We answered "Acidic beverages/substances dissolve the calcium out of the teeth enamel in a process called demineralization leaving a breeding ground for bacteria. Once bacteria settles in the tooth cavities begin to form". Our fourth question was "Why would this matter and how would knowin about the pH levels of what we drink affect the health of our teeth"? We then answered "Since pH disintegrates your enamel, it is important to know what you drink and the area of pH of the drink. This will let you know how it effects your teeth. Constantly drinking a very acidic drink like soda or cranberry juice would deteriorate your teeth over a period of time even with proper care. There is a reason why dentists might ask if you constantly drink something really acidic like soda, because it shows up on the teeth and ruins the health of them. Drinking something really acidic is okay, just make sure you take care of your teeth, and drink it in moderation". Our last and final question that was asked was "What do the graphs tell us about what each of these beverages would do tot our teeth if we drank each about 1-2 times a day"? We concluded with a group that, "Soda would be the worst for your teeth because of how acidic it is. When we tested the pH we saw that it was about 2.43, which on the pH scale is very low. Cranberry juice was almost as acidic with a pH of 2.97. So, cranberry juice is almost as bad for your teeth as soda because of its low acidity. Tea is the next acidic with a pH of 4.98 which is still not good for your teeth but definitely better than the soda or juice. Last is tap water, which has a ph of about 6.36. On the pH scale a 7 is in between a base and an acid, so, the tap would not be as bad for your teeth because it is almost a base".

Plurk

-- Plurk is a social networking and blogging tool that is very similar to Twitter. It allows people to post little comments for others to "plurk" or respond to. This allows for teachers and students to communicate between each other in a safe community, as well as look at what everyone has to say or feel about a certain topic.

-- Plurk is very similar to Twitter. It allows you to instantly post messages and comments for others who are your friends to read. The only thing that is different from Twitter is the format as well as the community that allows you to view your Plurk page. Plurk is also much more instant than Twitter is.

-- Students will be able to communicate with people in their classroom as well as their teacher through Plurk. It gives the students a place to communicate and collaborate with one another. It is very fun and instant. This would be a more efficient way of communicating through the internet and at a fast pace to get information, thoughts, and feelings through to many people at once.

-- Here is a tutorial video for Plurk

Voice Thread

-- Voice Thread is a new programs which allows teachers or students to collaborate and create presentations. You are able to create a presentation where you add images, documents or videos, along with some kind of audio content like voice, music, webcam, etc. In the end you will be able to present your presentation and allow others to collaborate on it and view it.

-- There is so much technology that is used with voice thread. It is a presentation tool that allows you to include pretty much any kind of media in the project. It allows you to make a presentation full of any kind of media out there and allow others to view it and collaborate on it. That is a huge feature that other presentation programs don't let you do. Also, all the collaboration will be together to view and discuss.

-- Students will be able to use this as a learning tool for a topic. Also teachers could makes these for the students. They allow students to make technology advanced presentations for a specific topic to show how much they have learned and show it in their own creative way. It is a great source for a more efficient and effective learning on their subject or topic as well as collaborating and helping others and themselves. It will be a fun project for students to show off their creativity with a boring thing like a presentation.

-- I think this is such a fun learning tool. It seems very easy as well as creative and effective for learning. It allows students to interact in a fun way and a creative way.

-- Here is a little tutorial made by Radford University on Voice Threads

Google Wave

-- Google wave is Google's latest version of a chat room. It is an advanced combination of a chat room, instant messenger, and email that we are oh so familiar with today. You are able to send documents, pictures, videos, etc. It is new the safe version of a "chat room" provided by Google.

-- The technology is a little bit more advanced that what we are use to in a normal chat room. Google Wave allows people to send all sorts of files easily without any problems. There are options to directly send documents, pictures, songs, videos, maps, etc. through the Chat. You can also look back at previous messages between people as well as view what a person is typing in real time. The real plus to Google Wave is that it runs in real life time, so it allows students to work together at the same time to communicate and collaborate.

-- Students are able to use Google Wave with it's tools to help them with group projects and communicating with a safe and easy way over the internet. Also everything that they need or have to send one another can be easily added to Google Wave to get to each member. It also inspires open debate between students online. These features encourage students to find a way to collaborate and discuss with others through the new generation of technology.

-- I really think as simple as Google Wave might sound, it is going to be a beneficial tool for students with learning, collaborating, and working with the internet to talk to others. I am always a huge fan of Google's programs. They are free and easy, and very accessible for students to use and take advantage of the learning possibilities with them. They also come in handy for projects and assignments in the future.

Here is a little preview/overview of Google Wave

Leap Pad

• Leap Pad is a semi-new invention which is made up of a main system that reads from Leap Pad books in order to help students with their reading and word pronunciation. In order for the Leap Pad to work, you have to purchase special books that correspond with the Leap Pad machine to help the students read and follow along. They are usually fun and relate to a popular cultural aspects such as movies, tv shows, music, etc.
  
• The Leap Pad assists with the open ended content exploration. Open ended meaning that there really is not a main goal with Leap Pad. The purpose of it is to help kids with their problems with reading. It provides kids the ability to interact with the reading and learn how to sound out words correctly. It also gives them a fun way of doing so by playing along with their favorite characters at the time.
  
• Not only are the Leap Pad learning machines fun and exciting, they are also educational and very practical. The ability to help students read and sound out words correctly usually only comes from a human being. Now, with the Leap Pad machines, they are able to provide the help without an actual human being right next to them. It gives the students a feeling of independence and the feeling of being more "grown up". The fun level that kids get out of using the machine also puts forth more effort to make the children want to learn and read more. I think the Leap Pad is a great invention and very helpful to students learning to read-- but also fun for all ages.
  

"Going Global" Podcast Summary

I recently watched a podcast, "Going Global: Culture Shock, Convergence and the Future of Education" from K12 Online Conference website. In this podcast, living overseas and learning techniques from other places is observed and highly looked upon. The author of the podcast describes her experiences with learning overseas, mostly in Asia. The Podcast begins by breaking up the presentation in the three different categories of 1. Culture Shock, 2. Convergence, and 3. Future of Education.

The first one they talked about is Culture Shock. The author begins by explaining how everyone experiences culture shock when first moving overseas and trying to adapt to the new culture. The author really finds cultural adaptations to be helpful when trying to expand on technology in one place, and trying to bring it to another place. It brings different cultures together to interact. She speaks to ideas of "mobility", "customization", "adaptability", "always on", "collaboration", "quickly", "emergence", and "blending" in asian cultures that she has experienced, and how these ideas relate to their cultural education, and how these words should resemble our western American education.

The second topic the author talks about is convergence. The main idea of this is that successful people will be the ones who will be able to adapt to changing situations. Ways of doing this is growing up in other country and being "immersed" in other societies. The podcast continues to interview children who grew up in other countries and how they feel about "convergence".

The third and final topic that the author talks about is the future of education. She begins by talking about a personal learning network. Which is a group of people who your collaborate with on a daily basis. This is not only in person, but also online in other places. To make a successful personal learning network, the author says, "connect yourself, to connect your class". The six different things that the author provides to help a teacher who wants to build a personal learning network would be to read RSS feeds, create and join a social network, start a blog and develop your personal profile, create personal levels off your blog, go to online conferences, and finally try twitter. These things will help you improve your personal learning network, which will in the end help your future students create a personal learning network.

If you would like to watch this podcast or find out more information on it, follow this link:

Del.icio.us

-- Some may think that iGoogle and Delicious are the same thing. Well, you are wrong. Delicious is a website where you are able to easily bookmark anything from the internet you might find. A simple way of describing what Delicious actually is, is by saying that it's your own personalized portable bookmark for the internet.

-- There are many things that you can do with Delicious and technology. Delicious is a place where you can store all of your personal bookmarks from any website you might come across. The nice thing about Delicious is that any computer you go to, you will be able to find all the websites you have booked marked and be able to access them from any computer. This allows you to access your favorite websites from anywhere in the world as long as you have a computer and internet. Also, you are able to "tag" your websites. This means that Delicious automatically organizes your pages so you will be able to find them easily when you start to accumulate a bunch of bookmarks.

-- Teachers have found this website very nice for both themselves and for their classroom. Teachers like this for their classroom because they are able to share the websites they have found with their students. I remember one of my teachers using Delicious in high school. She would make us go to a certain link in her delicious and read the articles she found on a topic we were studying. Students are able to access information from a teacher without having to print out a reading or activity to do.

-- Here is a demo for Del.icio.us.

iGoogle

-- iGoogle is a personalized page where you can subscribe to blogs that you enjoy and or visit regularly. It also allows you to add applications for games, news, celebrity gossip, and anything else you can find searching through it's thousands of "gadgets".
-- The great thing about iGoogle, is that you have the ability to find any kind of "gadget" and have that in one spot online. There are endless possibilities for technology and being able to put them to use. You can also find blogs that will assist you with any kind of technology you might want to advance in.
-- You can find any kind of blog that can relate to the type of education that you teach. The beauty of having an iGoogle page is that you are able to keep all your blogs that you find in one place. When you find things that you like and can use for your classroom and curriculum, you will be able to keep it in one place and keep it organized so you can find it for later use.
-- Here is a demo for iGoogle.

WebQuest

-- A WebQuest is an internet based quest for information on a certain topic. People all over the world make these WebQuests for both private and public use for help with a certain subject. WebQuests are very easy to make and can be used for any topic in any subject.

-- You can use all sorts of Technology for WebQuests. There are many different websites that allow you to make your own. For example, Zunal.com is a site where you can sign up for free and make your own WebQuest on whatever you want. It gives you steps to complete so in the end you have websites to follow, pictures to look at, and questions to answer-- A complete WebQuest. It gives you a choice to publish your WebQuest for others to use.

-- The purpose of a WebQuest is to become more efficient and effective in a subject. It makes a topic more effective because it gives you extra information on a topic, as well as insight that others could have used this WebQuest to help their students become more knowledgeable on a subject. It makes students more efficient because it gives them access to technological uses online while learning more about their subject.