Blog Post #7

I had a great time learning about adaptive technologies! I didn't even realize how many different tools were out there to help all sorts of people. I mean between having a desktop reader for people who are blind to a pen that records lectures while you take notes on special paper for people have trouble concentrating or note taking, there seems like there is a tool for all sorts of people with different challenges. Throughout middle school and high school, I knew a girl who was almost death. She wore hearing aids to help amplify the little that she could hear, but it wasn't much, and it was still extremely difficult for her in class. So her family donated a type machine that was placed in a classroom that she was in a lot. This machine was basically a speaker, but it was put on the celling over her seat, and the teacher wore a microphone around her neck, and her voice would come through the speaker above the students desk. I know this helped the student out a lot and it was a good way to not make a big deal in class because most people didn't even know it was there, and she didn't have to ask the teacher to speak louder, go slower, say something again, etc. The only problem I can see with using adaptive technologies in my classroom is being able to understand them myself and knowing about certain programs to help out a certain student the most. I will have to spend a good amount of time playing with the tool myself so I can explain it in the best way to my students.

Basically everything I did with making this website was a new skill for me! I have never made a website before and I was really excited to do so. I ran into a lot more problems than I thought I would with formatting and adding different tools I wish were available to me, but I am very happy with the finally product! There are many different things I would want to do with the website to improve it, for example making an active calendar instead of just writing out dates, but I just couldn't figure it out with it being my first time. And also, I'm sure the more I use the website, the more I will learn about things I didn't even know were possible that I would love to have apart of my website. I'm not sure if I will actually make a website for when I am a teacher, but if I do, it would be a good place for parents and students to go and have all the information in one place. The only reason I say I'm not sure I want one is because I think there is a easier and more appealing system to have.
http://sydneytomko.weebly.com












I think Diigo is a great tool to share with older students and for sure with other teachers. It would be a great way to share different tools and websites with other teachers as you find them. You can just create a group with fellow teachers and every time one of you find something, you just post it in the group and everyone can see it and benefit from it. I say older students rather than younger because it is a little complex and doesn't look appealing. I think for younger students, the teacher needs to be able to have a list of websites easily laid out for them and an easy way for them to get to it. Also younger students aren't really going to need to share websites or tools with each other.