Assistive Technology

For many of us, we need not think about how we will adapt to a world that is not made for us. We walk out the front door each morning with two working legs, two perfectly good eyes and ears and the knowledge that society caters to us. This is not the case for everyone though. Some people must go above and beyond the norm to experience all the parts of life some of us take for granted.
Able-bodies people rely heavily on eyesight for everyday life. Those who are blind or visually impaired have to find ways to overcome this obstacle. A brailler is a type of technology that helps them do so. This machine is similar to a typewriter except it types in brail and then speaks what is spelled out loud. In the case of Mason, an elementary school student, it allows him to keep up in class during writing assignments. Mason also utilizes an iPad and a SMART board that use sound and big lettering with contrasting colors, which his vision still allows him to slightly see, to participate in class with the other students.
Another example of adaptation is a 14 year old girl named Elle who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She uses a Dynavox device to speak as she is no longer capable. With this technology she can keep up with conversations in real-time. She selects words or phrases from a screen that sits in front of her with a sensor located on her forehead. Then by gazing for a certain amount of time at what she wants to choose an automated voice speaks it for her. This technology makes it possible for Elle to communicate with her family, peers and teachers.
Lukas is a disabled student musician in Spokane, Washington and because of technology he is able to perform in his school's jazz and marching band. Due to his perseverance and the innovation of a local instrument repair shop Lukas can play his instrument despite having limited use of his limbs. This situation just goes to show that with human passion and technological power this world can cater to more than only the privileged majority.

Creative Technologies

Keeping yourself current in technological advances is important in the classroom. Not only can it keep your students more engaged, it can increase creativity and efficiency. For example, if I were conducting a class that was learning about a historical landmark in Germany, such as the Brandenburg Gate, I could use an augmented reality tool to create a 3-D image that can be manipulated by the students with their iPads. Below is a picture that explains the idea.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/viewar-augmented-reality/id629689579?mt=8

By using certain apps, students could create scenes of how this iconic landmark looked throughout history or how they think it might appear in the future. This would be a more interactive and meaningful learning experience.
Staying with the theme of 3-D learning tools, a possibility when taking my students on foreign exchange trips is using mobile augmented reality apps. When standing at a historic site, mobile phones can be used like a time machine. An awesome example is shown in the video below.