Blog Post 8

Adaptive technologies are extremely helpful to learners who have disabilities. Things like screen readers, braille printing in 3D printers, and online sign interpretations can be an essential part of educating those with either visual or auditory loss. These technologies help the student to feel more independent and less excluded from their non-disabled peers. Personally, my good friend is partially deaf, so I have seen him use both magnified volume in headphones to help him hear instructions as well as sign language interpretations in bigger lecture settings. These are both an integral part of his education, without which he would not be able to comprehend all of the instructions and perform up to his potential.

While adaptive technologies are an incredibly helpful tool for learners with disabilities, they come with many challenges. In young ages, it is important not to make the child feel isolated from his or her peers, or make the other children feel like they are neglected because they are not getting as much attention. I think a way to combat this is to integrate using these technologies into your lesson so that the students understand it and why it is available to only some students. In addition, individualized time to check in with your students is crucial to make sure your students are understanding material and that their needs are being met.

EdSurge is an online community where teachers can be updated on news of new technological advances for education. They can use this website to learn about PLNs, new projects, student feedback, and teacher planning. It utilizes lots of different formats, including podcasts, videos, and articles from different perspectives. It is updated fairly regularly, so it is a great way to stay updated on the technological trends of today. Find it here: EdSurge