D J Cole UWI WEBSITE

Activity

by Deanna Cole - Saturday, 2 November 2019, 12:33 PM

Number of replies: 0

Assistive technology are tools that allow individuals with special challenges to be able to learn, develop and participate despite the challenge they by face. Challenges can be based on physical or mental impairments of conditions. Assistive technologies are tools designed to allow people to participate in areas they would no be able to given the conditions they face.

 

As a teacher we must be able to identify and appreciate such challenges within our students and be able to assist by introducing and executing the use of the assistive technology that is most applicable to the specific challenge at hand.

 

For example a child that has a hearing problem can be assisted with hearing aids that allow him or her to be fully able to participate in the class room by using the hearing aid. Children that are blind may be able to be very productive by using special keyboards designed with brail to allow them to communicate effectively.

 

Assistive technology is not only used in the classroom but is increasingly used by adults in society. These technologies are important as we have a responsibility to allow all members in our communities and schools to be able to learn and develop as productive members of society. In assisting children with assistive tools we also help all children understand the need and use of assistitive technologies as a part of modern society.

 

 

Reference

 

EDTK2030 Information and Communication Technologies in Education - Unit 6: Assistive Technologies in Education UWI, Mona Open Campus

Discussion 1 

Topic 1

by Deanna Cole - Sunday, 1 September 2019, 2:19 PM

Number of replies: 1

In researching affordances i was frankly overwhelmed by how complex the various sources i found explained "affordances". For example Amal AL- Ibrahim advised that "Educational affordances can be defined as the relationships between the properties of an educational intervention and the characteristics of the learner that enable certain kinds of learning to take place. This study defines an affordance of education ICT as an action that the learner can/ cannot perform based on the properties of the ICT environment and his/her prior knowledge, needs and the situation in which learning takes place".

 

I though to myself... so what does that really mean. Does it mean an affordance is the synergy of what a student and or a educator can create by actively using s technological tool as they seek to work with the tool on a particular educational interest. For example, if a child is learning math times tables and uses a calculator to check his mental answers the child can learn faster and become more confident by checking his or her work using a calculator? I think that in effect affordances are based on the combination of the tech tool and the person using the tool to action a topic.

 

Affordances in effect can create faster understandings of knowledge, confident in the student and a enhanced go forward position for the learner.

 

Convergence is seen in today smart phones which can facilitate voice communications, access to the internet, applications and much more.

 

A new form if communications are smart tvs which have "alexa" type interactive capabilites. In addition the smart tv's can allow access to the internet, educational applications and various tools like on line calculators, online educational channels that teach like discovery for kids and much more.

 

 

References:

 

Amal-Ibrahim, THE PEDAGOGICAL AFFORDANCES OF SOCIAL NETWORK TECHNOLOGY AMAL AL-IBRAHIM*. 2017. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b86a/0e5fee230489e1c582c4a4bf3e4754f736f9.pdf

 

Discussion 2

by Deanna Cole - Sunday, 15 September 2019, 8:32 PM

Number of replies: 1

The key new theories in learning are the constructionist and behavioral theories. The constructionist theory advocates the point that children learn from being engaged in information that is shared with them and their interpretations and processing of the information. In this theory children are actively engaged. They experience, think, and come up with the understanding that is subject to there processing and engagement with the information. In this theory many times children are allowed to work in groups and they discuss the information. This active participation and discussion furthers the children to learn and each process the information.

 

Please note this video on the constructionist theory:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWKyGa5emwQ&t=2s

 

 

 

On the other hand the behaviorist theory advocates that children are taught information and they take the information as it is. In this theory the children can be encouraged to adopt the information based on them being given the information repetitively and being rewarded to believe the information.

 

Personally i believe the constructionist theory is more in tune and successful with today's children. Given the interaction of children with today's environment, media and many influences i believe children are more motivated if they are part of the experience as opposed to being just " told" a lesson. Granted rewards can be a positive impact i still believe active participation and engagement has a stronger positive impact in learning.

 

 

 

References;

 

Katrice Morris, 2017; Constructivist teaching in kindergarten. Classroom. Retrieved from https://classroom.synonym.com/constructivist-teaching-kindergarten-34467.html