Summary Research - Assignment 2

Lourdes U. F. Alonso February 19, 2009

ED443- Research Summary-Assignment 2

University of Guam - Dr. Jacqui Cyrus

A. Five (5) Websites: Device -

Topic: Assistive Technology (AT) Defined

1. Website: Assistive Technology to Meet K-12 Student Needs

Address: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te7assist.htm

I loved this website and also recommend it. Because our class does not use a book, the clear definition and different aspects of AT stated here helps me to better understand our subject. The valuable comparison of “low” technology items are inexpensive, readily available and simple to use because it requires no electronic equipment. On the other hand, the “high” technology device require electronic systems, are complex and expensive. In addition, this site displayed sensitivity towards inclusion of disability in the classroom by listing its devices from most commonly used and inexpensive to ensure positive outcome for better vision, communication, hearing and learning. I should hope regular classroom teachers would access to this site because it has additional support in addressing specific needs in specific content areas to ensure that all inclusion and regular students have equal opportunity to benefit in the learning process.

Topic: Speech Language Hearing Device

2. Website: American Speech-Language Hearing Association

Address: http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_

I will definitely use this website. The page has clearly bold and colored text to separate topic from other links that are compiled to only four main links; Education, Support, Treatment, History. It is simply laid out for easy reading and accessing to the desired content. I particularly like the fact that it immediately explains what a listening device is and its importance. This website delivers many different kinds of devices for the hard of hearing and describes briefly and plainly each item navigable by the many available links. It also allows access to our President with a picture of the White House to reach an advocacy site to support legislative efforts on behalf of the professions and the communities we serve.

Topic: Physically Impaired

3. Website: Snappy Dresser

Address: http://snappy-dresser.com

The maker of this specific device is family-owned and operated in Pennsylvania. The Snappy-Dresser personal aide was envisioned by a woman, born with a physical birth defect. This device helps to restore dignity and independence to anyone with mobility, reaching, bending and dressing issues. What a visionary this woman is. For many years without assistance she decided to develop an assistive technology device she and everyone else could extend, condense and discretely use at home, at work, while traveling and shopping, or visiting family and friends without embarrassing questions. The aide is for dressing up with the use of a lightweight telescopic device to perform multitude of tasks helpful for zipping, pulling over sweater, putting on pants, and little dressing-up tasks we take for granted. I certainly could have used such a device after my car accident. It was impossible to dress up myself. I recommend this website in schools and hospitals.

Topic: Deaf or the Hearing Impaired

4. Website: Precise Hearing.com

Address: http://www.precisehearing.com/assisistive-listening-devices-c2.html

Displayed at the top of the web page is a toll free number if one should not be too willing to enjoy this soft approach to managing their life. But indeed because of the web page's easy view of the products shown in large pictures and priced below in large bold letters making this website efficient. With a simple click to a desired device navigating at ease to obtain clear and brief description of each item with large text and an attractive page it is inviting to further investigate. This website is great for finding just what one needs to assist the hard of hearing.

Topic: Technology for the Blind

5. Website: Types of Assistive Technology Products.com

Address: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/types.aspx

Finally a website I surely will be able to help me in my upcoming presentation. I really like this web despite the small fonts, the plain text of the page and the simple lay out make it easy to understand the necessary aids useful to persons who are blind or visually impaired. Listed are some samples of the products; white cane, Braille and talking watches and clocks, Braille-writing equipment, magnifiers, measuring devices, large-print playing cards, games, cooking and sewing aids, and so many more items I have never heard of. Each item is briefly described and therefore easy to understand its uses. The only drawback is that the items are not linked and therefore not easily available to download. Still, this is a no-nonsense website useful to professionals or a layperson requiring the need to find the right device to assist in visual impairment.

B. (5) Organizations Websites: Assistive and Adaptive Technology

TITLE: ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS OF ASSISTIVE AND ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY

1. WEBSITE: GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

ADDRESS: http://hsls.gallaudet.edu/Hearing_Speech_and_Language_Sciences/Service_Centers /Assistive_Devices_Center.html

This website is quite appealing to an educator who seeks professional assistance in learning more about use of device for the deaf and hard of hearing. It fully explains its objective and gives just a few sites listed simply with one to two words to link on an easy to read site with just a few graphics for added interest. Although the page has a lot of text it is easy reading because it is formatted in short paragraphs and a title heading. I really like that I can easily navigate and tag on to specific subjects. I surely do recommend this site for research writing.

2. Website: Disability Information of the Government

Address: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/

This website is wonderful for research nationwide as well as world wide as it offers immediate accessibility with link to any place in the world just by keying in your country. I keyed in Guam and it immediately allowed my search site of 33 items beginning with Guam’s veteran’s facility, mental health facility and further onto medical and job directory.

I will definitely use this further in my class research and assignments.

Title: Physical Disability

3. Website: Minneapolis Public School (MPS.com)

Address: http://speced.mpls.k12.mn.us/PI.html

This site is from the Special Education Placement Policy from Minnesota State to support students with physical disabilities. I found this site very important and a great example for all schools. A model policy for school handbooks as it identifies and assists all students entering school. It will prevent students from falling through the cracks of school politics if a student’s disability is not addressed early on and may not be helped from the beginning. On the home page are links to programs available to access for specific needs. It’s quite an important model for our school to try to emulate especially with the following types of physical disability in Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Cord Injuries are examples of impairments. The educational needs of these students depend on the manifestation of the medical diagnosis. The special education student demonstrates below average academic skills because of the inability to complete motor portions of academic tasks, not because of cognitive impairment. Students with more significant physical impairments needing greater educational support benefit more from placement at a

PI “cluster site” program. This is a program in which students are assisted by a PI license teacher with specialized equipment, assistive technology, physical or occupational therapy.

Topic: Support Program for the Blind

4. Website: Iowa Department for the Blind

Address: www.blind.state.ia.us/Devices.htm

I’m going to use this site for both the categories under organization and devices as it fully delivers for both in aids for the blind and has programs available such as training in various assistive technology through computer. Its home page is so simple with a brief introduction of itself yet offers great opportunity with easy links ready for downloading. There are also links to mentoring, transitioning and employment program and toolbox for trade in cooking, sewing, shopping, and home repair. This definitely is a great site for research and use for presentation.

Topic: American Council for the Blind

5. Website: Open Door World

Address: http://opendoorworld.com/organizations.shtml

Fantastically designed, its deep ocean blue background and yellow fonts easily appeals to hours of surfing the web. Another positive note is the easy access of addresses to over 100 support organizations manageable to navigate and upload links for empowering the professional research surfer with up-to-date information. This web site can also be useful to high school students and professionals alike. I like that there are sites for organization within organizations to link to the American Council for the blind. It is great site for further use in our class assignments because of the expandable resources in assistive technology.

C. Five (5) Websites: Research - Assistive and Adaptive Technology

Topic: Research, Articles, Journals, and LLC’s

1. Website: ERIC – Educational Resources Information Center

Address: http://eric.ed.gov/

I keyed under this website for a specific search for ‘writing difficulties’ and so many helpful articles and journals are easily accessible and ready to link to a wide collection of educational materials. Indeed it is a super site for any professionals from the novice researcher to the well heeled. There is so much available information from computer use to empower every student desiring to specific content areas and curriculum. It gives analytical reviews on instructional effectiveness, computer uses, and contains extensive references. I would recommend this for educators for research papers.

Title: Second Language Learners

2. Website: Learning Language Technology

Address: http://llt.msu.edu/

There are articles and journals to update myself professionally as well as to assist me in research in the most updated tools required from this class but most importantly to prepare myself to better serve the needs of my students with challenges in the classroom. This website delivers in volumes of articles, columns and reviews related to language learning and teaching and how they are affected or enhanced by the use of technologies. A welcome note is the scholarly editorial in the field of second language acquisition.

Title: Professional Development

3. Webite: I EARN Address:http://www.learn.org/professional/online.hotmail

This website I find helpful for online teacher training as it allows you to connect with your classmates and also have face to face workshops. It is geared for professional development and designed for the hectic person who would like to get immediate results and to be able to get a job dealing with challenges in the classrooms. I would cite this for my own use as a language teacher because of its global interactive forums which this class ED443 seems to be preparing me for such technology in the classroom.

Title: Computer Language Study

4. Website: Technology-Enhanced Language Learning

Address: http://www.moliere.byu.edu/volume/intro.htm

This website immediately offers a book. Possibly for the weak in computer surfing just click for an order. Indeed this is excellent because I always like to have that choice. The website explains just tidbits of the 1996 volume in foreign language education series of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages published by the National Textbook Company, Brigham Young University. It talks of the cult of information for examples: information superhighway, information revolution, information age, internet world wide web, cybersphere, fibersphere, infosphere. Technological terms that causes intellectual disability. Still it is for anyone who has to access to any form of media for research. Although foreign, the language of computer is important because no matter where we turn, we are virtually affected by the digital technology.

Title: Advance Research for Teaching Second Language

5. Website: CARLA (Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition

Address: http://www.carla.umn.edu/technology/

Technology and second language is the project of this website. They offer vast online modules for instructions in using technology in teaching and learning a second language. I enjoyed learning more about this site with its long lists of resources and easy to upload links. There are links to content-based language teaching with technology, culture and language teaching, language immersion education, strategies and assessments. Each link offer an abundance of information, one in particular is the link on presentations and publications done by faculty, students, and staff involved with technology. A must visit for the upcoming presentations.