TREATS - Technology Resources for Education's

Assistive Technology Solutions

 

Weekly Resources for the Assistive Technology Service Provider Community

 

Volume 6, Issue #13 for Week of 3/28/05

Compiled by David Grapka (David@Trecenter.org)

 

Technology Resources for Education (T.R.E.) Center TRECenter.org

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Note: Some links are time-sensitive.  Access to some may require registration or free subscriptions.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Very few of the great leaders ever get through their careers without failing, sometimes dramatically.” (Philip Crosby, from Reflections on Quality)

 

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING WEBSITES OF THE WEEK:

  • http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5575 High-tech test for spoken English By Robert Brumfield, Assistant Editor, eSchool News. March 22, 2005. Ordinate Corp., a subsidiary of Harcourt Assessment, is offering what it says is the world's only technology-enabled, spoken-language proficiency test. Ordinate says its test uses speech recognition technology to assess the listening and speaking skills of non-native English speakers.
  • http://creativecommons.org/find/ Creative Commons Search. For those (few) of you who don't know, Creative Commons is a type of license that allows you to use other people's work for free. In other words, it allows people to share content, rather than having to buy it from publishers. What will make Creative Commons really work is the ability to find this material. The Creative Commons website recently launched a Creative Commons search and this week's big news is the Yahoo Creative Commons search. All that free stuff, no evil copyright lawyers in sight. from Stephan Downs’ “OL Weekly”

·   http://www.detnews.com/2005/schools/0502/21/B05-95404.htm Teachers know that if you get students engaged, whether it's with "Moby Dick" or the mystery of DNA, the learning that takes place is likely to be more lasting. Those same teachers are turning to a variety of technology tools to enhance that engagement. Source:  The Detroit News

 

ACCESS SOLUTIONS:

·   http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com For a wealth of information on one handed typing, go to Lilly Walters website. (Wendy Homlish)

 

ADMINISTRATIVE “SYSTEMS CHANGE” SOLUTIONS:

·   http://techlearning.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60401690 Change is scary. Read about one teacher who resisted using technology with her students and then changed her mind.

·   Computers and Achievement: The Debate Continues A recently released study published by the Royal Economic Society of Britain has sparked questions once again about the impact of computers on student achievement. In general, students with access to computers at home fared no better than their peers without computers on the standardized test. The researchers added that students in computer-equipped schools, in general, actually scored lower on the test, and speculated that schools had relied too heavily on computers, rather than teachers, for math and literacy instruction. (Free registration may be required.)

·   http://www.laptopical.com'Laptopical' provides fuel for the classroom laptop revolution

 

COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS

·   http://www.aacinstitute.org/downloads/aackeys/AACKeys.html AAC keys allows you to connect an AAC device (like a Pathfinder) to a PC and then use the device as a keyboard.  Eileen Haddon

·   http://www.distance-educator.com/dnews/Article13200.phtml Source: eSchool News Ordinate Corp., a subsidiary of Harcourt Assessment, is offering what it says is the world's only technology-enabled, spoken-language proficiency test. Ordinate says its test uses speech recognition technology to assess the listening and speaking skills of non-native English speakers.

·   http://www.cjt-yes.com/ CJT has an AAC cart already made as well as other items that you might find interesting. Jeannette Van Houten

 

CONSULTING SOLUTIONS:

·   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0142000280/speakernetnews This is the *perfect* book if you're an independent professional without a super organized secretary to keep you on track!

 

DEPARTMENT SOLUTIONS:

·   http://www.highered.nysed.gov/nclbhome.htm Site of the NCLB NYS Field Memo #01-2005, an updated fact sheet on NCLB requirements for teachers and paraprofessionals for use by local education agencies that are preparing applications for 2005-2006 NCLB funds. Information about requirements for special education teachers in the NCLB and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will be issued separately.

 

DISTANCE EDUCATION SOLUTIONS:

·   http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/11238175.htm Blended/Hyrbid Learning Growing in Higher Education Here is an article from Indiana about one college's approach to hybrid learning: From Eliot Masie

 

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

·   http://www.masie.com/xlearnlab/ Here is a 5 Minute Video report from The MASIE Center's xLEARN Lab.  Device Based Learning on SONY Portable Playstation  (Eliot Masie)

·   http://www.distance-educator.com/dnews/Article13215.phtml A Tipping Point For Online Education? A tipping point is the "moment when ideas, trends and social behaviors cross a critical threshold, causing a tidal wave of far reaching effect.” What are some indicators that this might be happening in the online environment? (Sloan-C View: Perspectives in Quality Online Education).

 

PARENT SOLUTIONS:

 

REHAB SOLUTIONS:

  • http://www.scipilot.com/index.php  Spinal Cord Injury Peer Information Library on Technology Antoinnette Verdone
  • http://workingorder.org/ I had the wonderful opportunity to intern for a small business incubator called Working Order, that focuses on helping persons with disabilities. They're located in Pittsburgh, PA () and there are a number of successful entrepreneurs there with disabilities.  The web page has a small blurb for each entrepreneur and a link to their website. (Erica Authier)

 

VENDOR PARTNER WEBSITES AND NEWS:

*         http://www.accessiblebookcollection.org              Accessible Books

 

*         http://www.aacconnections.com                              AAC connections

 

*          http://www.ablenetinc.com                                     Ablenet

 

*          http://www.alphasmart.com                                    Alphasmart

 

*        http://www.closingthegap.com                                  Closing The Gap

 

*        http://www.colligo.us                                                 Reading: Access and Comprehension

 

*        http://www.cricksoft.com                                         Crick Software

 

*        http://www.ea-software.com                                    Educational Activities Software

 

*        http://www.enkidu.net                                               Enkidu joins Dynavox

 

*          http://www.greatleaps.com                                     Great Leaps Reading 

 

*        http://www.infogrip.com                                           Home of the “BIGtrack”

 

*        http://www.inspiration.com                                       Inspiration

 

*        http://www.intellitools.com                                       IntelliTools, Inc.

 

*          http://www.kurzweiledu.com/products_k3000win_demo.asp

 

*        http://www.laureatelearning.com                             Laureate Learning Systems

 

*          http://www.magictouch.com                                    The Leader in Touchscreen Technology

 

*          http://www.madentec.com                                      Madentec

 

*        http://www.nasdse.com                                             RIATT at NASDSE

 

http://rjcooper.com/site-map#arms                                 RJ Cooper

 

*        http://www.sunburst-store.com                               Sunburst Software

 

*        http://www.texthelp.com                                          Makers of Read and Write Gold

 

*        http://words-plus.com                                               Words Plus

 

Please forward T.R.E.A.T.S. to your friends and colleagues who want to learn Assistive Technology Issues and Solutions. Thanks!

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

 

This weekly email newsletter is free and provides information useful to the community of people interested in the use of technology as a tool to help all students.  If you have information to share that would be of value to members of our learning community, including job notices, please write and let us know. We'll be happy to share it here or at our web site. Contact, reprint, and subscription information is at the end of this document.

 

As always, thank you for your interest in the TRE Center and our work.  We look forward to having you share your wisdom with the people on this list and with those you serve.

 

Sincerely,

 

David Grapka, ATP, ATS,

Project Coordinator, T.R.E. Center

NASDSE Certified Assistive Technology Specialist,

RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Practitioner

Maywood School, 1979 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12205

Phone: 518-464-6346

Fax: 518-464-6353  

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