Final Class

Class tonight flew by. We began with time to put a few last minutes posts on our Assignment 2: Ecology Grade 7 Science Blog. Leanne updated the helpful links on the site and then she looked for Apps that would help the students with dyslexia. Dawn was responsible for the autism post and finding Apps to support our 2 students with Asperger's Syndrome. I created the post and found Apps connected to Ecology and to support our student with dysgraphia. Before we knew it, Barbara was pulling us back into class to prepare for our final assignment. I am very excited about the Ecology Blog. There are a number of wonderful resources on it that will support all students and which offer activities, which can be used both in ELA and Science classes. I really like the UDL model for planning; differentiation is so important in both keeping students engaged and assisting with their learning. I almost wish I taught grade 7 Science...notice I said almost! I am quite happy with my high school English students. Check out our Ecology Blog by clicking here.



For the second part of the evening Mary Jo and I were responsible for creating a Blog on physical disabilities. We decided to focus on Muscular Dystrophy and Cerebral Palsy. While Mary Jo searched the net, I, yes me, the technology disabled person from week 1, created our Physical Disabilities Blog, posted it, remembered the url and added Mary Jo as an author. By the time I had completed creating the Blog, Mary Jo had found videos and a number of helpful links to include as support on the site. I added the links and Mary Jo posted the videos. The night flew by as we continued to learn about physical disabilities and all the technology that is available to support their needs.

Definition
Muscular dystrophies (MD) are a group of more than 30 genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement.It can affect all muscles in the body. People with this disease often get progressively weaker as time passes.

Assistive Technology that Support the Disability

Wheelchairs



Wheelchairs are very important tools for students with MD. Wheelchairs allow students to easily navigate the school both inside and out. Students in wheelchairs can be active participants in all aspects of school including physical education classes.


Eye tracking Mouse



Eye tracking mouse emulators are tracking systems that allows users unobstructed and unlimited access to computer technology using only their eyes, which emulate the movement of a mouse. It allows the user to place the mouse pointer anywhere on the screen simply by looking at the desired location. "Clicking" can be done with an eye blink, a hardware switch, or by staring.
And the really cool news is that hands-free, motion-controlled apps and those controlled by eye gaze are beginning to emerge in iPad technology.

SkoogMusic



This techology allows students with MD to participate in music class. The Skoog is a soft, squeezable musical instrument that plugs into the USB drive on a computer. Using the software that comes with the skoog, children of varying abilities can participate in musical activities. The Skoog is a soft square with colored balls around it. Each ball has a different sound depending on which surface is touched, pressed, hit, squeezed or twisted. The Skoog has 5 touch-sensitive and color coded surfaces. Use of the Skoog makes music accessible to students who could not play a traditional instrument.


Check out or blog to find more inforamtion and to view the amazing videos: http://maryjowanda.blogspot.ca/