Sunday, February 3, 2013

Blog Post #3

Critiquing A Classmate's Blog

Paige Ellis's blog was very informative on how to successfully and professionally critique another person's work. In my case, as a student, it was helpful to be given the information in a simple form with added information to supplement the three easy to remember steps. Her best advice to keep in mind, is to be positive, and offer constructive criticism. Do this in a way that benefits the person you are critiquing without saying anything that could be discouraging for the other student. Both suggested short movies and the slide show reinforce her statements in her blog. Keeping this in mind, we should offer compliments, suggestions, and help make corrections.

When I make my comments to a blog, I am going to use both public and private comments. My first reaction to that question was that I would definitely use private comments mostly. I know what it feels like to feel stupid, because I did something wrong, and other people saw whatever it was. So, I can really identify with Paige's comments about shying away from offering criticism, because it can upset, or offend someone. I am sure that other people can identify with that too. I then thought that my public comments might help the individual, but they may also help other people (including fellow students) who might be reading them also.



The Mountbatten 
Made by The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
boy using Moutbatten
The Mountbatten is a tool for the blind. It looks like a small typewriter. (hopefully everyone knows what that is) It types braille, while saying the letter for the student out loud. This provides immediate feedback to the student and appeals to their tactile sense. It can connect to a PC, save files and transfer files also. The video was very short and only provided a small amount of information about the Mountbatten.I did some searching on the internet and was able to find more information than what was provided by the video.
Reinforces recognition of Braille characters - utilizing speech output to enable and promote experiential learning.
Allows pre-Braille activities and play for young children long before they are physically able to use traditional mechanical Braille writers.
Develops technology and Braille as Life Skills - concepts of using files and editing documents are introduced at a basic level, all in the context of learning Braille.
Introduces organizational concepts such as planning and time management - using the built-in clock and diary functions. Removes attitudinal barriers by taking the "mystery" out of Braille - sighted teachers, peers and family can connect a regular PC keyboard and write in Braille.
Assists with inclusion and participation - the student's work is displayed on the Mimic screen.
Literacy through Braille opens up the world of communication and expression - essential for living successfully. Braille fulfills needs that cannot be addressed by verbal and audio methods. The MB Learning System is the ideal platform for launching children into the world of Braille literacy. (http://www.mountbattenbrailler.com/)
This little machine could give me and the student a connection, by allowing us to work together. If it connects the student to the teacher, it could also be a tool to bring the students together too. Many students might feel an awkwardness at trying to connect with someone that is not like them. This machine could help with that. It is not only important for students with special needs to learn in the classroom, but they need to feel accepted by their peers also.

Technology for Special Needs Learners
Teaching Math to the Blind  was created by Art Karshmer at The University of San Francisco, is a demonstration video. He has created a machine that helps set up math problems for the blind. This machine allows them to set the problem up just the way a sighted person would. It looks like a really old version Scrabble. There is a grid with wooden blocks. Each block has a written number and a number in braille. When placed in the grid the blocks number is said aloud. I wonder if this tool could help sighted people too. Everyone has a different need when it comes to their own learning style. So, I am curious as to whether this machine could be beneficial to other students in the classroom also.
iPad Usage For The Blind
This demonstration was done by Wesley Majerus. He is an access technology specialist with the International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind (IBTC). His main focus was on the benefit of having voice over on the iPad. He showed how the reader feature worked. I personally did not care for the monotone voice of the reader and it was a bit fast for my taste. In my own classroom I would probably prefer to use books on CD. I grew up listening to books on records, tapes, and eventually compact disc. The voice of the author , or someone who has a good reading voice, is much more pleasant to listen to verses the robotic voice of the reader.
The last video (created by Denise Robinson)was another demonstration of the iPad. It was designed to teach parents what their deaf/blind children are learning with the iPad. It was a little easier to follow than the previous video. Having never put my hands on an iPad, it was easier to understand what the voice over was saying in this video. It also added some humor to the mix, because the mom was having trouble following the persons instructions about how to use the iPad itself.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
This video shows a true classroom of the future. Vicki Davis has stepped away from traditional teaching. She is leading her students to opportunities that other traditional students will unfortunately be missing out on. She is using wikis, blogs, podcasts, virtual worlds, and other new media tools to connect students in rural Georgia to the world. Rather than giving them all the answers her teaching methods empower the students by making them research and learn while they learn. She understands that not all students learn the same.
This video excited me to the very point of tears. As a substitute teacher, to see these students excited about learning, gives me hope. Mrs. Davis's students are taking on leadership roles in the classroom, and through teaming, they are reaching out to help others. The school must really know the importance of having technology in the classroom. Every student was sitting behind a computer. Some of them were utilizing phones in the classroom too. Everyone was engaged and actively learning. I hope that all schools are moving towards this method of learning, or I hope I am lucky enough to be teaching at one .

2 comments:

  1. "...I did something wrong, and other people saw whatever it was." That happens all the time to all of us. No one is perfect. We learn from our mistakes (as long as we know what they are).

    "I personally did not care for the monotone voice of the reader and it was a bit fast for my taste." If that is the only way you can "read" you would be glad to have it. Have you ever watched a blind person use the internet? They speed up the "reading" so fast that I cannot understand it. They can and I assure you that the tone of the voice matters not one whit to them!

    Thoughtful. Interesting.

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  2. I agree with you on your post about Ms. Davis I think she is doing a wonderful thing in the classroom and it brings hope to me as a future educator. Often times we think we are going to change the lives of our students but do not know how and this gave me some great ideas. I enjoyed your post.

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