Blog Post Assignment 3

What is Peer Editing?

The editing of your peers may not be easy but necessary in many working environments.  Peer editing is the constructive criticism of editing work of someone that is your own age.  Always stay positive and tell the nice points of the person's writing.  Compliments with suggestions on how to word or write something different can go farther than embarrassing someone.  Be specific in telling the person how you could better the topic.  Grammar, sentence structure and spelling should always be corrected in any writing.

I would try to compliment on the writing, then be positive about any corrections that need to be made.  Nice suggestions can go a long way.  Emailing the person could be a nice way to privately let the person know their mistakes.  People need to be critiqued.  I will comment publicly on the person's blog each week.  I realize it will be hard for me to do this, but I will work on it.  All criticism should be constructive not destructive.


Technology in Special Education
Lacey Cook

Technology is seen in the classroom with special education students.  Instead of pointing to letters on a sheet of paper the child uses the computer to verbalize what needs to be said.  The I pod touch is a great reading tool for kids in the room.  Power point presentations for group class work make it easier for the teacher.  The kids that are nonverbal make connections by verbalizing themselves with the use of technology.

I must tell you I have seen this work in the special education rooms.  I was a special ed aide for a period of time.  The Autistic room uses so many of these of these devices in the room.  I pads, mac computers, I pods are used daily to help these kids communicate.  They also get points to get to use these things for their rewards.  The smart board  is used a lot especially during a morning meeting situation to let them spell their name or circle what the weather is like outside. I am amazed when I go and substitute in these classes how much they know about all kinds of technology.  Sometimes I am jealous they know more than me at times.

How the I pad works with Academics for Autism
Autism Epicenter.com

An eight year old helps with interaction to model the numbers.  He can touch and see the pictures to keep him on task.  This also congratulates him as he finishes each small assignment.  Words, shapes, letters are also shown in this way.  A writing tablet with a writing instrument helps the child write different words.  Technology is helping the child stay focused and learn.

I have a good friend and she has two Fragile X children.  We were talking about how she brings a tablet to church to help them get through the services.  Fragile X is a genetic disorder but falls under the umbrella of Autism.  The boys are learning so much from technology.  The tablet keeps the child's attention and they learn also.  I think it is a must have for any Autistic child.

First and Then Visual Schedule
Application of Choice

First and Then is a huge part of the day for a lot of nonverbal children.  The paper version is a laminated piece of paper that is divided by a line and has written first and then.  Visually you may see a stick person doing certain things like listening to music or a cup for a drink.  Everything that is shown is sort of a stick figure way.  Under the first word would be a picture of what to do first.  Then is what will happen after you do this work.  It might be a computer type picture for a reward.  This is what the teachers would use before this application.

This application would be great in the classroom.  Instead of seeing these stick figure people you could see a more appealing application.  These Autistic children usually love television and computers for the more life like view.  I have had to carry around a first and then piece of paper to help remind these children what is going to happen next.  It would be fantastic to just walk around with an I pad to remind them what will go happen next.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
Vicki Davis

This teacher is bringing rural Georgia into a world of technology.  Vicki Davis has won the best teacher blog.  She wants to be comfortable with any new technology in the classroom.  Students can teach you as well as their peers.  A digital citizen program was created by her classroom and has been shown all over the world.  Students create a blog to post their thoughts.  Technology is shown in the classroom and worldwide.

I was amazed at the class participation.  The class was engaged and helped teach the class.  They worked on the citizenship project together and everyone had a say in the program.  This would be a model classroom.