THINK ABOUT EDUCATION

I look forward to incorporate technology in education specifically for the exceptional education. Many students do not have the abilities to learn through their own means. For this reason, computer access, tools like we learned in this class and furniture and environmental adaptations is their way to LEARN. Imagine how many ToonDoo Comics and voicethreads kids can create, learn from teachertube  or benefit from a Skipe class reaching other parts of the world. I am an optimist so I can envision technology as a wonder that can change lives of people with a disability.

 

However, I see how Medicaid is changing and not granting assistive technology to this population on a timely manner as resources are becoming scares.  Private insurances only pay for equipment if it is medically necessary and not educationally necessary.  It will need the school system to provide tools for the kids. If this does not happen, the community will need to mobilize and work for funding. The country’s situation is changing and the funds are been distributed on other priorities. Starting by myself I will need to become more proactive. I would like to add on my website links to assistive technology that can help and are not expensive. It will be hard as technology is expensive.  Funding technology in education is an issue that requires governmental attention!!!

 

REFLECT ON YOUR OWN WEBSITE

This website will be a resource to other professional and families interested in build community and a resource for families with children with disability. I will place all my experience as an Occupational Therapist. I will like to use this website to educate parents in developmental skills using audio-visual tools like the ones we had learned in this class. I will use it as a website where the families I visit can go and apply therapeutic “Tips” with their children. Right now, I will like to place more information prior to inviting more people to the website. I have invited people but they have not joined yet. So far I have 12 members. So perhaps I have to work on more content.  I have a project that I will be doing as soon as this class finishes. I will produce a movie on adequate school environment for toddlers. I have talked to the principal of the school and I have the authorization. This high school has an Even Start program that is wonderful!!! I know many other daycares could  benefit from imitating their approach….This professional website will be my virtual interaction with other professionals and families and a media to return to the community what I have learned so far to assist in patients in their  daily activities.

CLASSMATES WEBSITES

I like:

Ashley Sperry: Her website has good appearance in attractive colors. It is organized. The assignments on the course are easy to reach. It also, gives a clear understanding on how teachers can use these wonderful technology tools in education! I think Ashley can clearly find a job showing off with her technology trick to the future employer!!

 

Michael Stettingger: He reflects on his teaching philosophy which indicates his  true  spirit of teaching. He agrees on the importance of intellectual part of teaching, the reason he is influenced by Jean Piaget’s model. Above all he makes a point of striving to impact the children’s life. I feel Michael has a purpose in his career, together with a sense of creativity and care. Go…Michael…Go!!!! I know his website will grow, for now appears having what we need to complete this class as well as his personal talents.

 

Amber Lynn Simmon: Her website is attractive on the layout, organization and color. She provides with her teaching philosophy following Froebel, progressivism and essentialist premises, which are important to teach  Kindergarden her professional goal. I totally agree with her organizational approach as she addresses classroom management. As a therapist I visit daycares that are lacking environmental and teaching organization. There is no attention to the classroom organization. Consequently, the kid are sensory overloaded, they overreact to activities and their behavior are out of control. I will be addressing this on my website. I want to do a movie showing great environments that can mentor classroom layout for better learning and adaptation. Great website!!

FAVORITE PODCAST PRESENTER

I think Wesley Fryer described so well technology tools that is currently  been used in Education. I am studying a MLS in Assistive Technology and he has many useful applications of wikkis, mathcart and  VoiceThread that can assist people with disability to achieve their educational goals.  I will continue learning from him to apply the tools he teaches to my occupational therapy practice. All the tools I have learned through his podcasts,  can easily be applied on  my therapeutic website to network with other health care professionals, educators and families. Other podcasts were not so easy to retrieve,  and they were geared towards education. I specially like his interviews they are easy to understand. So, when I did my podcast,  I  tried to imitate him…….it turned out far from that…… I will continue following his podcasts for mentoring purposes

WHAT TOOLS

 

I will be using the following features in an on-going bases on my professional website for the purpose of outreach professionals like therapists, educators and educate families.

 

 YouTube will be audio-visual information for parental education and  promote therapeutic suggestions through my website.  The VoiceThread  will be part of “therapeutic Tips” I would be providing on a regular bases. I hope people try to use it and reply to it.  Skipe will be replacing my home phone as we all have cellular phone so I will use it for international calls. I will have skipe available for conferences as well to inteact with families. Toondoo was really an interesting project that I want to use to introduce concepts and ideas. I will try my best to be funny!

The portfolio website is an opportunity to collaborate with other professionals and reach out to families. In this project I will place mostly parental education and tips I have learned within my professional years. I am going to use podcasts to interview people in the community to clarify their jobs or the purpose of the organization they represent. I would like to make interviews to people in the community who can help others. This way the parents with a kid with a disability can better understand the system and guide the rehabilitation process successfully.

 

5 THINGS THAT MADE ME THINK

 

Overall this course has been one of the most important courses I’ve had. I was lucky, Cyndi gave me the chance to take it at the last minute choice.  A course that has been and I opener, because I am not a technology oriented person and all what I have learned in this class without exception was new for me. Now, I can foresee so many applications like  reaching to the community using many of the features we  have learned in this class, (continue learning).

My first  WOW’s is  Social bookmarking which provides me we more websites options besides the one I had researched. I have discovered other people on my social bookmarking had good information in my professional issues and interests.

 

You Tube is an excellent resource to educate families with concrete audio-visual information. They not only can read information to educate them, (sometimes people do not have time to read), but audio-visual information makes the difference to capture the activities well.

 

Podcast is an excellent opportunity to make interviews and to educate the community in what is helpful for them. I never thought I could be doing interviews and the assignment we had was a chance to educate in what is Early Steps.  This information is embedded in my website.

 

 VoiceThread is a great idea that complements a picture with reflections, ideas, stories and information in text or voice. The interaction that VoiceThread produces is a good

way to communicate with others as well. The person has feedback from others and can improve their skills or understanding of concepts.

 

 ToonDoo was amazing as a way to create an idea with humor. A MUST to apply to any website!!

 

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!