Introduction

         Hi, and welcome to our classroom blog. I will be using this blog to keep parents updated on the current issue in the classroom. The topic is use of technology in the classroom. The PTA is working to fund school resources to make technology readily available for our classroom. Although the PTA is working on this project, I would like to involve our classroom parents as well. I understand that not everyone can donate monetarily to this cause, so I would like to extend an invitation for you to donate your time or other resources that you feel can help the class. 

       I understand that many parents are hesitant to add more technology into their child's life. However the technology I would like to incorporate into my classroom is not for entertainment, it is to help students become successful in the class.  As Michael Behrmann has said,

“Technology can be a great equalizer for individuals with disabilities that might prevent full participation in school, work, and the community." 

Many of our students have difficulties with communication as well as understanding abstract concepts. The technology that I want to incorporate will help the students succeed in these areas.

         There are two specific tools that I would like to bring into the classroom one being a communication device, Maestro, by Dynavox, which can be found here Dynavox. 

                          
                                  Activities with Maestro

• Manding (requests) 
• Q & A - Personal Info ( Address, parents names, phone number etc...) 
• Community awareness: Communicating with the device at nearby stores,  libraries etc...

      The second tool I would like to incorporate into the classroom is a Smart Board, a white board that works much like a tablet does and that can be found here Smart Tech. 
                        
                              Activities with Smart Board

• Emotion recognition
• Self-help videos: cooking, personal hygiene 
• Social Stories: How to talk to friends or ask for help and more. 

         
        These are just some ideas on how to use the new technology in the classroom. I would like you to ask questions or post your concerns here on the blog so that we can have an open dialogue. The new tools would open so many doors for our students, and so I encourage you to become involved in our fundraising activities so that we can make these opportunities happen. 

References

Behrmann, Michael (1998). Edututopia.  In Assistive Technology for Young Children in Special Education: It Makes a Difference. Retrieved June 10 2012 fromhttp://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-young-children-special-education

DISCLAIMER: This blog is an assignment for an educational technology course at National University. It is not a real fundraising blog.