This week we learned about all types of assistive technology. As teachers, it is our job to stay up to date with what is available for our students. Now that there are so many options out there, we can make the learning experience more inclusive and overall just better for our students. Putting yourself in the shoes of a teacher who is being introduced to this technology without having the opportunity to truly understand it just makes it harder for educators to do right by their students and hurts their students ability to. benefit from the technology. We have a responsibility not only as teachers but as schools to make sure our teachers have the opportunity to be introduced to the many available options out there.
One of the specific types of assistive technology mentioned was e-books and e-reader apps. This stood out to me because it is one that I use in my classroom currently. I have several students who struggle with reading, but enjoy using the e-reader capabilities that come with our online curriculum options. These students can have the book read to the, have words defined, take notes and highlight things, etc. There are so many different free or inexpensive softwares and apps out there that allow for students to use an e-book. It creates a whole different experience for learning when some students have the opportunity to use an e-book as their book.
All this assistive technology comes back to what we as educators are really trying to achieve: A Universal Design for Learning. UDL is the basic principle that rather than have accommodations just for students with disabilities, why not change and accommodate the curriculum so that it is designed for every type of learner to begin with? All students, even without any specific disabilities can benefit from the opportunities and variations that UDL is trying to promote. They operate on 3 basic principles:
- Principle 1: Provide multiple means of representation (recognition network).
- Principle 2: Provide multiple means of action and expression (strategic network).
- Principle 3: Provide multiple means of engagement (affective network).
All of these together help educators create and expand their curriculum plans so that all learners can benefit from a universal, diverse, interesting learning experience.
Overall these assistive technology devices help us to create a more inclusive, interesting, and welcoming classroom experience for every student who walks through our door. But teachers alone can’t do it. They need the support of their school to help them provide the best opportunities for their students.
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