EDT+650

= EDT 650: Foundations of Educational Technology = Start: 9/10/10 End: 10/16/10

=Assignment 1:=

=Assignment 2:= This wiki is the result of Assignment 2. Please feel free to browse the pages contained in this Wiki and take note of the information and links shared.


 * Related Links:**
 * Bob's Wiki: Creating a Wiki
 * [|21st Century Learning] This is a video documenting an interesting use of the Wiki for educational purposes. Students have created their own textbook incorporating research, interactive pictures, and videos. Students comment and reflect on the information in their textbook.

=Assignment 3:=
 * Here is a link to my blog:** [|Erin's Blog]


 * Related Links:**
 * Bob's Wiki: Blogging
 * [|10 Reasons to Use Blogs in the Classroom] Student testimony regarding reasons for classroom blog use.

[|Facilitate Online Discussion] This article, posted on the Georgetown University Digital Commons, encourages blog usage as a means to facilitate online discussion. The article provides examples of blogs used to encourage continuing discussion outside the classroom, foster a sense of community, and bridge the gap between distance learners. Although the site was aimed at secondary education, the tips listed along the right side of the screen provide a framework for efficient use of class blogs that may be applied to any demographic.
 * Article 1**

[|Rocking the Cyber Canoe: Blogging in English] This article shares an interesting viewpoint regarding the involvement of reluctant learners. First, the article poses the problem of how many students do not participate in in-class discussions. Second, examples are provided as to how blogging has encouraged participation and interaction with classroom content. Finally, the author provides tips, suggestions, and examples of how to include all types of learners, and resources to get started.
 * Article 2**

[|Blogging is History: Taking Classroom Discussions Online] The focus of this article was on a blog set up by a teacher to be used as a book discussion forum. The blog connected the teacher’s class to other classes in the U.S., as well as to the author of the book they were discussing. Students benefited from being able to directly converse with the author, as well as each other. The blog included podcasts, adding an auditory element to the experience. Each post/comment was monitored directly by the teacher, so any identifying information about the students or any inappropriate content was removed, creating a safe environment. The learning experience culminated with a final project with a special incentive: the best projects would be posted on the blog for all to see. This incentive increased student motivation and creative-thinking. The blog became a jumping-off point for differentiated instruction, as well, and the teacher offered several options for completing the final project, rather than traditional, written projects.
 * Article 3**

=﻿Assignment 4:= [|Evaluating Web Sites] This lesson plan is geared towards middle school students and begins by having the teacher ask the students if they think all of the information on the Internet is true and how they evaluate the accuracy of content on the Web. Students then learn the six criteria for evaluating websites: coverage, objectivity, currency, origin, accuracy, and purpose. The students will then apply what they've learned by choosing and researching a topic by choosing six websites related to their topic, three websites that are useful for doing research and three that are not. Finally, students are asked to justify their choices for why the websites are either good or not good for research. This is an important lesson because, in this day and age, students are doing so much of their research online, and they will need to learn how to tell when an online resource is valid and when it isn't.
 * Lesson Plan 1**

[|Task Cards: An Easy Internet Integration idea] This site provides a lesson idea that may be applied to several different content areas and grade levels. There are several lesson examples included for use with readers, non-readers, and different grade levels. In order to direct student learning, it is important to make sure the content is focused and efficient, so the students don't get overwhelmed or off-task when utilizing the Internet. A good way to do this is to make Task Cards containing Bookmarked websites with two or three questions/activities relating to that website. This is a great idea that can be made into a lesson within itself, can be used to support research-based projects, provide additional resources and information to support classroom content, or used as a way to provide constructive free time for students who may finish an activity early.
 * Lesson Plan 2**

[|Study Skills Unit Plan] Although the site is presented as an entire unit plan, I found the first two lessons to be the most useful. The lessons are aimed at middle school-high school students and focus on putting together an effective study environment and taking efficient notes. The lessons utilize specific websites and word processing software to help students learn about and apply important study skills. The website does caution the teacher to check the given websites ahead of time, to make sure they still work. I did this, and some of them are no longer working. However, some of the links do still work, and a teacher would be able to find their own content-specific websites, as well, to use with these lessons. It is very easy for students with visual impairments to easily become disorganized, and without the advantage of good vision, it can be time-consuming to locate materials when they are needed. Organizing a simple, neat, and easily accessible study environment is a very important skill. Extended periods of reading (both visual and auditorally) can be fatiguing, and students also need to learn how to find the most important information to organize into clear and helpful notes. If I could change one thing about the note-taking lesson, it would be to add an auditory component where the students listened to a podcast (content-specific to something they are learning at the time) and took notes from it. Students with visual impairments gather much of their information in class through auditory learning, so any practice they can get with this skill will be very helpful.
 * Lesson Plan 3**

[|Internet Safety] This lesson was written for Special Education at the elementary school level and utilizes Kidspiration to create a picture/word web of the information they should not share on the Internet. The lesson also provides accommodations and adaptations that support differentiated instruction. New tools and technology provide exciting and relevant information, but students need to learn how to access that information in a safe and appropriate manner.
 * Lesson Plan 4**

[|Positional Butterflies] Although I was unable to download the full lesson, this SMART lesson is about learning/using proper positional language and concepts through moving butterflies around a background template of a park scene. Students with visual impairments rely on verbal feedback and instructions, not only when learning information, but when safely navigating an environment, as well. It is important for these students to learn positional concepts and language very early on, since they are fundamental skills that provide a basis for future instructional concepts.
 * Lesson Plan 5**

=﻿Assignment 5=
 * Lesson Plan**

**Timeframe of Lesson: ** 2 sessions, each consisting of 30 min. || [] |||| **Subject Specific: **
 * **Title of Lesson: ** Accessing RSS Feeds Using JAWS || **Date: **
 * **Author(s): ** Erin Vande Hei, TVI || **School District: Campus: ** ||
 * **Subject Area(s): **Expanded Core Curriculum || **Grade Level(s)/Course: **Grade 12, Special Education: Vision Services as per Student IEP  ||
 * **State Standards **
 * ELA: Writing Standards 6-12 W.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.

**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Technology Specific: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">access and transmit information
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">A.12.4 Use a computer and communications software to
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">B.12.2 Develop information-seeking strategies.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">C.12.1 Pursue information related to various dimensions of personal well-being and academic success.

**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Expanded Core Curriculum Areas: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Assistive Technology
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Independent Living Skills ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Stated Objective(s) ** |||| <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The student will access the APH blog, Fred’s Head, via RSS Feed, through the use of JAWS.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Student will define, “RSS Feed.”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Student will utilize proper JAWS commands to subscribe to the Fred’s Head blog via RSS Feed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Student will access the RSS Feed for Fred’s Head and read a minimum of two current blog articles. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Procedures for Lesson ** |||| <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Session 1
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The student will log onto a computer that has JAWS installed.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The student will open Internet Explorer and locate the APH website, [|www.aph.org]
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The student will locate the tab titled, Fred’s Head: []
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Once on Fred’s Head, the student will then locate the “What is RSS?” link, which redirects the student to a Wikipedia article. The student will read the article and verbally explain to the teacher what an RSS Feed is.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The student will then navigate back to the Fred’s Head homepage and press the Internet Explorer keystroke ALT+J to move to the Feeds button on the Internet Explorer toolbar.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The student will then press ENTER on the type of feed and that will open the feed page to be read.
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The student will then open the JAWS list of links on the webpage and choose “subscribe to this feed.”

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Session 2: · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Press CTRL+J to open the Internet Explorer Favorites Center and display your web feeds. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Press UP or DOWN ARROW to move through the list. Feeds that have been updated are marked with "(New)" beside their name. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">If there are feeds in the feeds tab of the Favorites Center that you do not use, you can press the DELETE key to remove them. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">If no feeds have been updated, press ESC to close the Favorites Center and return focus to the Web page you are on at the time. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Press ENTER on a feed that you want to read and the corresponding feed page opens. Use standard reading commands to read the page. Again, many feeds have new articles with headings that are also links to the full article. Use the navigation quick key H with JAWS to move from one announcement to the next. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">When you are finished reading the feeds page press ALT+LEFT ARROW to move back to the page where you were before going feeding.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The student will complete the following steps in order to access the RSS Feed they previously subscribed to:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The student will select one current blog article to read. The student will then formulate a personal connection to the article, to be posted to the blog entry in the form of a comment. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Assessment or Evaluation ** |||| <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Successful completion of this lesson will be supported through anecdotal records and completion of a checklist. The checklist will be comprised of each step listed in the Procedure section of this plan. The checklist will be completed by the Teacher of the Visually Impaired during each session. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Enrichment ** |||| <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The student will set up Internet Explorer to provide auditory feedback when it finds an updated feed.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Press ALT+T to open the Tools menu in Internet Explorer 7.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Press O to open the Options dialog box.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Press CTRL+TAB to move to the Contents tab page.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Press ALT+N to open the Feed Settings dialog box.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Press SPACEBAR to check the checkbox for "Play a sound when a feed is found for a webpage."
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Press TAB to move to the OK button and close each dialog box until you return to Internet Explorer. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Materials ** |||| <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">See below. ||
 * |||| **__<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Technology Resources __****<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">: **//<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">URLs, Software, # of Computers, Printers, etc… //
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">1 PC with JAWS (any compatible version)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|www.aph.org]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[]

**__<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Other Resources __****<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">: **//<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Book Titles, Art Supplies, Manipulatives, etc…. // <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">N/A ||

=﻿Assignment 6= [|Fred's Head] This is a blog through American Printing House for the Blind (APH). It contains information written about, by, and for people with visual impairments. There are several posts with articles, products, tips, tools, techniques, and other resources relating to almost any aspect of being blind or having low vision. The site was named for Fred Gissoni, who works in the customer relations department of APH. The following is an excerpt from a link on the Fred's Head home page:
 * Web 2.0 Site**

"Since 1988, Fred Gissoni has been with the customer relations department of the [|American Printing House for the Blind (APH)]. That was a job he took, incidentally, after a 30-year career and retirement from the technical services unit of the state agency that was then called the Kentucky Department for the Blind. He provides tech support for various APH products, but he also just generally answers questions. So renowned is he for answering questions, the popular APH database and blog created to disseminate tidbits of information of relevance to every aspect of blindness was named for him: [|Fred's Head]."

I have used this site with my students in the past and have found it to be extremely informative and helpful. I also share this resource with my students that graduate high school so that they can utilize it for assistance when I am no longer providing services to them. Fred's Head creates a feeling of community for people with visual impairments and is an excellent, easily searchable forum for information that is usable and applicable to daily life.

=﻿Assignment 7= [|HelpKidzLearn] This site provides free online games, stories, and other information to reinforce basic educational skills and concepts for young learners. I use the tab marked "Early Learners" with my students with multiple disabilities. Cause and effect is a basic skill that I teach, usually trying to encourage the student to visually acknowledge, locate, or identify a particular stimulus. I love these games because they are interactive and incorporate the use of switch skills (switches are external buttons that can be connected to battery-operated or switch-specific toys and software to allow participation of students with physical disabilities that are unable to manipulate an interactive toy or computer program). I have the full version of Big Bang and Big Bang Patterns on CD and installed on my laptop, as well. On this particular site, the Big Bang Patterns and Pop the Bubbles are my favorites.
 * Educational Game or Tool**

=Assignment 8= Please see the Marian Online 2 Moodle for responses to the discussion questions.