Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Thu, Aug 19, 2010
On the first day back to school, energized students will enter the doors with their new bookbag, lunch box, school supplies, and a renewed excitement for learning. Many students are also nervous as the meet a new teacher, new classmates, or even start at a new school. One way to make the transition easier is by starting off the first day is with an ice breaker activity. This initial need for connections is especially important for special needs students. This allows the student to begin a trusting bond with the teacher and is a starting activity to feel acceptance and fitting in with classmates. This is especially important for special education students, whether taught in the general education classroom or in pull out models.
Ice breakers can range from games, worksheets, getting to know you activities, or what you did this summer sharing. There are many different ways to start the process of getting to know your students and for them to get to know each other. I have found some great online resources that have a variety of activities for different grade levels and abilities.
A to Z Teacher Stuff: Teacher Tips with Ice Breaker Activities
The site A to Z Teacher Stuff has annotated list of ice breakers and getting acquainted activities. Teachers have added their activities which include an explanation, and a description of the activity and the appropriate grade levels. Ideas include puzzles, crosswords, collages, and poetry. Some of the suggestions included activities that can be setup ahead of time when parents and students come in for a “before school” open house. These include having students bring in pictures of their family or activities from the summer, or filling a small brown paper back with a few items that represent who they are. Many of the suggestions on this site are easily adaptable with students who may have learning or mobility impairments.
KinderArt Ice Breakers
KinderArt has a list of 29 different ice breakers for elementary level students. They range from very simple activities like having students draw a picture of their family, to very intricate like planning a classroom scavenger hunt. There are also many active ice breakers including tossing bean bags to learn names, parachute games (various ideas on the site – great for PE teachers), and matching and order games (same shoe size, same color shirt, same color eyes). A few of the activities on this site are specific for special needs students including the bean bag toss activity where students are arranged in a circle and toss the bean bag to different students and share facts about themselves.
Some Ice Breakers I have done in the past:
- Toilet Paper Game: Students are asked to take as many or as few pieces of toilet paper and pass it to the next student. At this point, no other explanation given. After the last student has taken their pieces of toilet paper, you explain to the students that they need to come up with one fact about themselves based on each of piece of toilet paper they took. The students laugh and enjoy this activity as some students will choose many sheets and others may only one. If you teach multiple classes, many students will hear about it before the end of the day – so it doesn’t work as well.
- Fact Web: Arrange the students in a circle. Holding the ball of yarn in your hand explain the activity that the students will share one fun fact about themselves and then they hold on to the end of the string and throw it to anyone in the circle. The next student says a fact, holds on to their end of the string, and throws to another student. When all students have had a turn they will have created a web. Be sure to remind the students throughout the activity to hold on to their end of the yarn. This web can then be displayed on a classroom wall or board (move it very carefully) to discuss different topics like working together, and building relationships.
- Collages: As an assignment for the first day of school, my students are to go home and make a collage including pictures of their family, friends, favorite activities, foods, TV shows, musicians, or any other appropriate pictures that help to show who they are. The next day they come back and share them with the class. This can be done digitally or with scissors, glue and construction paper. I’ve also done this activity in school using magazines instead of online or personal photos.
- Clock Buddies: Students will receive a clock with blank lines next to every hour. They have to go around the room and find one other student to pair with at each hour. Bring the class back together and then tell them that you will give them 12 different questions to ask their different buddies on the clock. You can create questions that would help the students get acquainted. Students will need a signal for when to move on to the next hour and buddy. This is also an activity used to help pair students for future activities (ie. This worksheet will be done with your 2pm Buddy).
- Pair & Share Introduction: This is a very simple and straight forward ice breaker. The students are placed in pairs and then given a set of questions they need to learn about the other person. You then come back as a group and the pairs will introduce each other to the rest of the class.
Feel free to comment your best or most memorable ice breakers or links to great ice breaker idea sites!
-Article By: Laura Ketcham
-Picture By:lori05871
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Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Mon, Aug 16, 2010
The first days back at school with your students will set the tone for the entire year. Establishing classroom procedures and expectations helps to create an environment filled with learning and success. For special education, these rules and procedures should be clearly displayed in the classroom and referred back to frequently especially when the behavior can be modeled. These rules should be discussed and established as they pertain to each new activity in the classroom. Here is my top five list of must-do’s within the first days with your students.
1. One of the first things that I suggest is actively model and explain the flow of movement in the classroom. I have my students line up at the door on the first day of school. I greet them, ask them their name and one fun fact about them, and then direct them to their assigned seat. This way I get a face to face meeting to help me learn names, along with setting up the expectation for an orderly entry into my classroom. When everyone has entered, I then explain that they should line up at the door and wait for me to have them enter at the beginning of the period.
Every day at the beginning of class I have a short activity the students complete to help them switch gears to focus on my class. I will then begin the lesson for the day or have the students continue to work from the previous day. At the end of the period, they wrap up what they are working on, clean up their area, and push in their chair. When this is completed they stand by their chair indicating that they have completed all of the tasks for the period. They then wait for the class to be dismissed. This makes for an orderly transition between periods.
Within the first days of school you should also establish guidelines for other movement in the classroom like when or how to ask permission to use the restroom, sharpen a pencil, get a book, turn in an assignment, or retrieve their work from the printer.
2. Establish a short, but clear list of classroom rules. The list should typically be between 4-6 major rules. One fun activity at the beginning of the year is to have your class help you with coming up with the class rules. Establishing the rules as a class will allow the students to take ownership of the rules and students will begin to monitor each other’s adherence to the rules. Education World has a page where they have a variety of different
activities where you can work with your students to setup classroom rules.
If you establish a rule or procedure, you must be willing to follow through with it. If you aren’t going to follow through with it, then do not establish it as a rule. If a student breaks one of the rules, there must be consequences that fit the action. All students should be aware of the consequences of breaking rules and what the consequences will be if the student continues to break the rule. Keep a check list and a written record so that communication between the parents, administration, and the student is seamless. Here are examples of behavior checklists for a variety of age and learning levels.
3. On the first day of school, students are very interested in what they will be learning in your class for the year. I try to give an overview of the major ideas and projects that they will be completing for the year. If you have been at a school for a few years, then students and parents come to expect the fun and fact filled projects that you have done in the past. This way, everyone is informed about the subject area expectations for the year.
4. The students should also know how they will be graded. Explain the grading scale and what the expectations are for their homework, quizzes, tests, projects, and group work. Make sure this policy is written so that the parents are aware as well. I send home my syllabus and ask for a parent signature that they have read it. This is then kept in the front section of the students binder for us to refer to if needed during the school year. Here is an example of a middle school syllabus.
Also be sure to set up expectations of how long home learning assignments and assessment preparation should take. This way the parents know when to except homework or time devoted to preparation for you class and can ensure the student will follow through.
5. Much of the information you will cover in the first few days of school is procedural and requires formality and lacks fun and interesting connections. However, it is very important during this time that you build personal connections with the students. Try to learn their names as quickly as possible. Students are definitely offended when you call them by the wrong name, call them by their sibling’s name, or don’t remember their name at all. One fun way to learn their names, along with a fun activity to break the ice, is to have the students create a collage about themselves that they can present to the rest of the class. The students get to know each other along with you getting to know them. In the past, my students have included items like their favorite food, sport, subject in school, TV shows or even pictures of their family vacation or sleep away camp from the summer. I also create a collage to help them get to know me better. There are many other ice breaker activities that you can check out on this site.
Many of the ideas that I have given you here have stemmed from reading The First Days of School. This is definitely a book you should read if you are a new teacher or even a veteran will benefit from reviewing it. This book provides information about establishing classroom procedures and expectations to have a fun-filled and educational year.
Final Tips
- Model the behavior you want displayed by the students
- Have a method set for how students should ask questions
- Have a plan for how students who were absent will get their work
- Setup guidelines for technology use in the classroom
Article By: Laura Ketcham
Photo By: Editor B
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Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Fri, Aug 13, 2010
Many teachers will be heading back over the next few weeks to their classrooms in preparation for the new school year and students to return. There are great hopes of going back to a fresh, clean room, newly painted, with shiny floor, ready for the learning to begin. But typically, the desks are in disarray, boxes have been moved, you find new technology dropped into your classroom, and you may not even know where to begin to get everything back in order for your students to have a positive learning environment. For new teachers, this can be especially daunting. For special education teachers, you might have to make special considerations for wheel chair access, levels or styles of desks, or even an appropriate area for a printer so that all students can access their completed work.
When setting up your classroom, the first thing that you should think about is the traffic flow of people. How will students enter and exit the classroom? Will they need to access the bookshelf at the beginning of the period or do they go straight to their seats? Where will they turn in their completed assignments? Are there centers in the classroom and how many students will work at each center? If there is a classroom set of books or a library, you need to consider where would be the best place to put these materials. This will help you to determine how to set up your classroom.
How the desks will be arranged in the classroom is also a very important for classroom flow and management. Some questions that you should think of are: How will their desks be arranged, in rows, in clusters, in a half circle? How much room can you allow between seats? Is there enough room for an aid or assistant to work next to a student? Education World has a great article about how seating arrangements can help with classroom management.
You need to make sure that you leave enough room around high traffic areas including the entry area, near bookshelves, or any other areas where many students may congregate. Thinking of the traffic flow will help you to determine where items should go in your classroom along with making the flow in and out of your classroom an easy process along with making classroom management more efficient.
One website that you can used to help to plan out your layout of your classroom is Classroom Architect. On this site, you can add the dimensions of your classroom and furniture, and then move the items around on the screen until you reach your desired design. Then you can print out your layout to use as a guide in your classroom. This tool will help you avoid having to move furniture multiple times to try to get it into the best positions in the classroom. Scholastic also has a classroom setup tool that has similar features and is easy to use.
You should also plan the placement and access to the technology in your classroom. Many classrooms now have computer learning centers with a small cluster of 4-6 computers. You may also have a shared printer, document reader, voice amplification system, DVD player, or even an interactive whiteboard. Scholastic has a guide to how to setup a classroom mini-lab that can help you with ideas on how to setup the technology in your classroom.
The computer center should be easily accessible and allow the teacher to see the screens of the students from various areas around the classroom so that the teacher can make sure that they are on task. For an ergonomically correct work area, the chairs should also be at a level where the students can sit straight forward with their feet on the ground. Modifications can always be made to make a workstation to increase productivity. One way is by placing a book on the ground for the student to rest their feet on, or by simply pushing in a chair. For special needs students there are also adjustable level computer desks and chairs to provide the correct height for computer use.
Shared printers should be accessible at a level where students can reach along with allowing accessibility for multiple students. Microphones for a voice amplification system should have a ‘home’ and be easily accessible by students so they can use them during the classroom so everyone in the class can hear answers and questions. Lastly, your interactive whiteboard should be placed at a level where the students can reach the main area of the board. Extender pens or other pointers can be used to access the very top of a white board. Making the board easy to use will help to encourage students to participate in interactive lessons.
Planning ahead to streamline the flow of traffic in your classroom has many advantages. Students will know what is expected of them, areas will be free of clutter, and students will be able to concentrate on learning with less attention on the function of their work area. Classroom management will be much easier along with the ease of use of the various resources in your classroom. It makes for a great start to the school year.
Article By: Laura Ketcham
Photo By: Extra Ketchup
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Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Fri, Jul 30, 2010
Office 2010 was released last month. One of the benefits of the new version of Office is that it combines the best features of Office 2003 and 2007 along with web collaboration features. This is great for the classroom use for peer editing and collaborative projects in the classroom.
Microsoft also strived to make Office 2010 more accessible than previous versions for users with disabilities. One way that they have updated the software is by making it easier for 3rd party software and hardware developers to integrate the use of their assistive technology within Office 2010. This makes the functionality greatly increased with use of compatible tools like screen readers, Braille keyboards, switches, and magnifying programs.
Accessibility Checker
Another new feature for Office 2010 is the Accessibility Checker. The Accessibility Checker is like spell check in the sense that it checks for problems. However, instead of checking for spelling, it checks for ease accessibility when sharing documents. Office 2010 provides all users with a list of areas that should be reviewed and corrected before sharing a document. This includes items such as alternate text for pictures, ensuring tables are easily readable, and other identification features will be checked before a file is shared like headers, author name, and dates. This makes the file easily read by individuals who use screen readers, magnifiers, or evening an individual with learning disabilities. To learn more about the Accessibility Checker, check out this blog post by Microsoft.
Office Online
The Office Live Web Apps allows users to share and collaborate with documents online. Microsoft has also made the online resources more accessible to individuals with disabilities. One way they have done this is by maintaining the presence of the Ribbon (the tool bar) online to be consistent with the desktop version of Office 2010. They have also made the online version compatible with screen readers and high contrast screen modes. The online version is also fully functional through the keyboard commands, for users who may not use a mouse.
Other features to check out in Office 2010
- Backstage View – allows many more options for saving, printing, sharing, and finalizing documents
- Video Triggers – have an effect happen on a slide in PowerPoint before or during a video you have embedded
- Automated Tasks - in Outlook 2010 to make repetitive processes easier – for example, to forward a message you just have to select one button in the Ribbon, which will include the users you most forward to
- Additional Keyboard Shortcuts – additional keyboard shortcuts have been created to reduce the need for the mouse – for example, there are now shortcuts to resize and rotate shapes along with searching through the Ribbon.
- More Cool Features
If your school hasn’t updated since Office 2003 or is using free software like Open Office or Google Apps, I would highly suggest checking out Office 2010. There are many features that make Office 2010 a better option not only for special needs students, but for accessibility, sharing, and for 21st century skills. Office is still the defacto program suite used in industry and it would benefit the students to learn the program they will be using in college and beyond.
Article By: Laura Ketcham
Picture By: San Jose Library
Free Teacher Resources | Special Education by MangoMon
Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Wed, Jul 14, 2010
Some students learn better from certain teachers over others. Some students learn better from robots, too!
The RUBI project, tested with toddlers in 2005 at the University of California, San Diego allowed students with special needs to interact with a three-foot tall robot. This robot, like many being developed around the world, is programmable; they can teach people simple skills, tasks, vocabulary and other life skills. More advanced robots can speak and recognize voices, making them almost human-like.
Click on the picture below to watch the interaction of some students with different robots.
Many developers see the benefits of the robots in teaching, especially in subjects like foreign language and therapy sessions for autism. In countries like South Korea, they have already used many different types of robots as teacher aides and class playmates and are currently experimenting with using them to teach English and practice language skills.
The study at USC involved autistic students’ interaction with a robot. From both socially engaging behaviors and acting as a toy or playmate, the robots helped increase the amount of time the children spoke and interacted. By acting as a social partner and also a teacher, the robots help to involve the children in different ways.
The approachable robots can teach students words, basic skills and other tasks. These will become richer and more engaging as time goes on. Some advantages to robots over human teachers are their patience and the extensive knowledge of a certain subject, like a foreign language. Even if not used as a primary teacher, these robots seem to serve as a great aide in the classroom.
Free Teacher Resources | Special Education by MangoMon
Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Fri, Jul 02, 2010
Encouraging Writing Across the Curriculum
Struggling readers and writers who exhibit developmental delays may benefit from authentic and meaningful reading and writing experiences on the web. The Internet has been denoted as a tool that encourages students to participate and interact actively with their learning. Various reading and writing disabilities include dyslexia and dysgraphia, along with difficulty with vocabulary, reading comprehension, decoding, spelling, or expression. As part of a balanced language arts program, teachers should be encouraged to teach both phonics and whole language lessons. These lessons can be infused with technology to increase student motivation. Below are examples of ways that teachers can incorporate authentic reading and writing experiences incorporating web-based applications.
Email Pen Pals
There are many different ways to get started with email Pen Pals in the classroom. One way would be to connect with another teacher who teaches approximately the same number of students. They could be local, in another city, state, or even country. Depending on your goals for connecting with Pen-Pals,
One student and teacher friendly site that helps to make school safe pen pal connections around the globe is ePals Global Community. Teachers and students can sign up for this free service to be connected with other teachers, students, and classrooms for authentic learning experiences. Classrooms can complete projects together, become email pen pals, or interact via video chat software like Skype. The students can share their experiences, lessons, and lives in a safe environment. This type of activity infuses reading, writing, and expression.
Another resource that I just found as I was browsing through the twitter-sphere is a Google Doc Spreadsheet that was created as part of a presentation at ISTE 2010. This ‘live' document has a list of teachers who are interested in making connections this fall with other teachers and their classrooms for pen pal interactions either via email or video chat software.
Blogs
My very first post on MangoMon was about encouraging students with special needs, including reading and writing deficits, to blog. This is definitely a great way to get your students to read and write. Students can create their own blogs, respond to a blog that their teacher creates, or read and comment on other blogs that interest them.
One student and teacher friendly blogging site is Edublogs. This site offers a management system for classroom to create and review your students' blogs. This service also has extra safety features including blocking adult content. It will also be easier for students in your classes to connect with one another along with other students around the world in a safe environment.
Online Reviews
Students can actively be involved online with reading and writing by creating and/or reading online reviews. Many sites allow users to post a review on products, books, movies, and services. For a classroom assignment, students can post online book reviews of the books they have recently read. The most popular book sites including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders all have sections for reading and posting reviews. Here is an example of a book review by teachers, students, and other readers of a top children's book for 2010: Al Capone Shines my Shoes. Another way that this idea can be implemented into the classroom is to have students read reviews of a book before they decide to read it. This way the student can make an informed decision based on their preferences if they believe they will enjoy the book.
Final Note
By incorporating the various online resources above in your classroom to encourage the development of reading and writing skills, the teacher will have to put on the "facilitator hat" on. However, the teacher should be actively involved in assisting the students by building the skills needed to close their learning gaps. Activities should also be infused with phonics instruction during these different activities. Strengthening phonic skills will help with overall reading and writing development.
Other Resources for Authentic Reading & Writing Online
1. Wikispaces
- easy to use site that encourages online collaboration
2. Google Books - read and preview popular magazines and books
3. StoryJumper - create free online children's stories (you can include your own pics & art too!)
4. StoryBird - create collaborate online books
-Article by Laura Ketcham
Picture By: pedrosimoes7
Free Teacher Resources | Special Education by MangoMon
Posted by Lauren Grossberg on Wed, Jun 09, 2010
At
Adelaide Elementary School
in Bountiful, Utah, classes can sometimes be out of the ordinary.
In Meredith Dyer's classroom, about one-third of her fourth grade students sit on big bouncy balls instead of traditional desks and chairs. These large fitness balls allow the kids to rock and roll and bounce around while they are learning.
For the three years that she has been using the balls in class, Dyer has noted that for some of her students that have trouble focusing in the classroom, the balls have actually helped them stay on task. Teachers around the country have also started using the bouncy balls instead of small, stiff chairs, noting it is also a way for students to shake off extra energy while also improving posture.
A study from the American Journal of Occupational Therapy found the balls have positive effects for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They help them stay seated and write more clearly. Other studies from autism researchers have found the balls may also help children with autism stay in their seats and be more engaged in their surroundings.
There are even companies, like WittFitt that sells these balls specifically for school use. Started by a former teacher, she originally used the balls about 10 years ago to help students become more physically active. She now sells them along with lesson plans and information for teachers on posture, health and other safety tips for students using them in the classroom.
Students will benefit in more than one way by using these balls in the classroom. Improving posture, focus and comfort are just a few of the reasons to try it out.
Free Teacher Resources | Special Education by MangoMon
Picture By: stevendepolo
Posted by Amanda Kenuam on Thu, May 27, 2010
The school year is winding down. Teachers are cleaning their classrooms, taking down decorations, and handing back artwork and final assignments. As the school year comes to a close, many teachers are a looking forward to a relaxing summer vacation most likely filled with family time and vacations. However, I know many teachers actually use their summer time not to just re-charge their batteries for the next school year, but they also evaluate the year gone by and plan ahead for next year. What worked? What didn't work? What needs to be modified? What new ideas can you plan for implementation in the next school year to reach your students better? Below is a list of tech-related ideas for you to plan over the summer for a great 2010-2011 school year.
Vodcasts & Podcasts
Video tape or audio tape yourself reading the stories that you plan to read with the students in the next school year. If you video tape you can include sign language for students who may have hearing difficulties. This will also help students who are slow readers or have dyslexia.
Stay in Touch by Email
Administrators work all summer, and will be available by email. If you think of ideas, lessons, or tech wish-list items for your classroom you can always email your administration and receive a response. Many of your co-workers will also stay in touch via email. If you have any grade level ideas or cross-curriculum plans you can always email ideas back and forth or even set up a time to meet over a relaxing lunch.
Professional Development
Many educational tech companies and non-profit organizations will hold webinars over the summer including great tech ideas, lessons, software, and hardware. These seminars over the web are usually an hour in length and allow you connect with colleagues from all over the world. Some organizations that have had webinars I have enjoyed include T.H.E. Journal and Tech & Learning.
Updating your Classroom Décor
Many of your classroom posters many need a bit of sprucing up over the summer. Keeping up-to-date print-rich decorations in your classroom is one sign of a highly effective teacher. Using a simple graphic or word processing program you can help update your "rules" posters, reading boards, interesting facts, motivational sayings, and word walls. Many local office stores will print them large scale and laminate them at a reduced price for teachers.
The Web as an Idea Generator
Use the Internet as a tool to search for any ideas you would like to update for your curriculum. You can watch videos online of how other teachers around the country are incorporating technology in their classrooms. You can also read about the newest innovations about educational technology online through websites and online journals. Lastly, you can plan day excursions in your local area to gain insight and ideas for next school year.
-Article by Laura Ketcham
What other planning strategies do you use during the summer? Please share!
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Posted by Amanda Kenuam on Mon, May 10, 2010
I was browsing through YouTube last evening, searching for videos to show my students about new and emerging technology. I was quickly side- tracked by looking to see if there were any good videos made by teachers about how they use technology in their special education classroom. I was quite surprised to see the number of results , in-depth explanations, about variety of assistive technologies being used, and how many teachers are going to YouTube to share their creative teaching strategies. Below is a synopsis of links to great videos with great ideas!
Great Videos!
Lace Cook, a vocational program teacher from Campbell Collegiate, posted a video on YouTube about how she uses technology in her special education classroom with students who are nonverbal or have physical and cognitive limitations. She believes that technology helps the students to participate in class. She demonstrates the ways that the students had to complete class assignments before and after the implementation of the new technology. Students use laptops for communication and to magnify text and iPods with audio books for students to use during silent reading time. It is very apparent from the videos that the students are far more engaged in learning when using the technology!
Lance Huebner, a Special Services Teacher from South Valley Junior High, posted a presentation on YouTube about Technology and Special Education. His presentation includes information about how he uses Blogs, Blackboard, Interwrite Pads, MP3 Players, Audacity, United Streaming, Extranormal, and Photo Story 3 to engage his special needs students in learning.
A student from Towson University taking a Special Education Courses created a video about Assistive Technology. It includes a definition of assistive technology and provides examples, definitions, and photos of different technology tools.
Kathy is a Special Education Teacher at the Holland School. In her video she shows different assistive technology devices in her classroom. She demonstrates and explains the different technology she and her students use including TextSpeak, Sign Language Videos, Partner 4 (for making choices), 7 Level Communicator (interchangeable choices for retelling for stories), step-by-step communicator (helps children participate in class), and switches.
Another interesting view I found was from the news channel WTNH who posted a video on YouTube with a special news segment on assistive technologies that make life more independent for individuals with disabilities.
There are many more great special education videos on YouTube on a variety of topics including assistive technology. If you find any other great videos to share, feel free to leave on comment on this post!
Article by Laura Ketcham
Free Teacher Resources | Special Education by MangoMon
Posted by Amanda Kenuam on Thu, Apr 29, 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking
Next week, my 7th grade Computer Applications classes will be learning about how technology can help people with special needs. Year after year, this has become one of the most interesting and intriguing lessons for my students. They learn about the ADA, hearing impairments, sight impairments, mobility challenges, and learning disabilities. This lesson opens their eyes to the struggles of individuals with special needs and how they overcome their disabilities with the advancement and use of technology.
This lesson is based around the famous scientist Stephen Hawking. He has ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. He was diagnosed with ALS at age 21 and as he has aged, he lost movement of his muscles and is now almost completed paralyzed, including his vocal cords. Stephen Hawking uses technology to help him communicate, for mobility, and for him to complete day-to-day tasks. Over his life time, the technology advances have helped him to maintain a level of independence that he might not otherwise have. I believe that a lot of the advances in technology for individuals with special needs stems from his involvement and persistence with technology companies to come up with the next best tech tool.
One technology device that Stephen Hawking uses is an electronic voice synthesizer. He uses this to communicate. This system works through his wheel chair which has an infra-red 'blink switch' connected into his glasses. By scrunching his right cheek up, it actives the ‘blink switch'
and he is able to talk, compose speeches and research papers, browse the Internet, and write e-mails.
His wheel chair houses all of the technology tools need to run his communication system along with assisting him with mobility. His current computer, a laptop, can run up to 7 hours or longer if switch to run off of his wheel chairs battery. There are also various external peripherals, a touchscreen LCD, and speakers which project his hardware-synthesized voice. The computer also has wireless Internet access that connects through cell phone towers. Through this system he can also make and receive phone calls. Lastly, he has a radio transmitter that opens doors from him in his home and office increasing his ease of movement around home and work.
All of the information that the students learn about Stephen Hawking is then connected into other disabilities and how those technologies that he uses could be adapted for students their age to help them communicate, learn, and be independent. At the end of the informative section of the lesson, which includes a reading passage from their textbook, an informal discussion & presentation, and a recent video interview with Stephen Hawking, the students are challenged to come up with their own futuristic technology that could help students their age to overcome their disabilities. Look back next week for their inventive ideas!
Article by Laura Ketcham
Free Teacher Resources | Special Education by MangoMon