Second Life with Autism

"The internet has been to autistic community what sign language has been to the deaf community." This is a quote from a video I watched on YouTube called Second Life with Autism. In this video they talk about how the internet has impacted the lives of people with autism. Things such as blogging and a website called Second Life have impacted two of the people in the video.

Joshua using blogging as a source of communication and uses it to stand up for himself. Amanda has autism too but she, along with many people who have autism, does not believe that it is a disorder but just another way of living. She can still communicate through the internet and uses Second Life as a sources of communication. I think it is awesome for someone like Amanda to be so proud of who they are. 

People with autism want it to be seen as a personality trait not a disability. However, people are worried that it will take away from the emphasis that they do need guidance and assistance. 

So how can we as teachers help students with autism in the classroom? They say they internet has been a great way for them to communicate with other people who are autistic and to stand up for themselves. We should encourage students to feel good about themselves and love who they are. I think things such as the Second Life website and blogging are a great way for students with autism to get their voice out there.

Learn more about autism at http://www.autism-society.org

Watch Amanda's video as she takes us into the life of autism. 

photo: flickr.com/pathfinderlinden

That's SMART!

When I was a senior in high school we got these electronic whiteboards they call SMART boards. We oohed and aahed when our teachers showed us some special things the SMART board could do. That was the first year we got them and never really used them so that was the end of that.

A couple days ago I went home for Thanksgiving break. While I was there I went to see a friend who now teaches at the elementary in my hometown. While I was in her classroom I saw the SMART board on the wall! That got me interested in learning more about the SMART board and the company itself. 

I could tell you about the entire website but I want you to take a look at it yourself. I do however want to talk about the SMART board since that is the reason I am writing! First off it is a touch screen white board and can connect to your computer or digital projector. You can access the internet, show pictures, draw on it, and many more things! The newest models even allow you to switch modes automatically so you do not have to go through all that other junk to get where you want to go! So you many wonder how this board is beneficial in the classroom? Here are a few reasons that I gathered from the website:

• Visual learners can easily see colorful, movable images and diagrams that the interactive whiteboard displays, even from the back of the classroom
• Kinesthetic learners can interact and explore by moving letters, numbers, words and pictures with the touch of a finger
• Auditory learners can be immersed in a complete multimedia experience using optional USB speakers or SMART audio

You can see that this board is for all learning styles. I think it is great that school are using these boards in the classroom as technology continues to grow!

To learn more about SMART products visit http://education.smarttech.com/

photo: flickr.com/meddygarnet

New Devices in the Classroom

When I was in school and iPods became a huge hit, and soon after they came out my school banned them from being used in the building. You see, iPods are really neat and you can put almost anything on them. When they came out, my school decided not to allow them in the building saying we could use them to cheat by putting answers on our iPods. For example, the name of a song could be the answer to a certain question. I do not know how kids did it, but they did. 

Recently, I was reading Tony Vincent's "Learning in Hand". It explains all the new hand held devices that are being used in schools. One that caught my attention was the iPod. I thought to myself and could not believe they were letting students do that when I had heard they could cheat on them. This thought led me to read farther. Students are not using their own iPods! They are using iPods the school provides. With these iPods, teachers can create Podcasts and students watch and listen to these Podcasts. It is a fun and creative way for teachers to teach and students to learn. Technology is advancing so rapidly that we need such things as these iPods to get students learning. I think it is really cool and would not mind trying this out in my classroom some day. However, I will be teaching lower elementary so I do not think this will work so well but it is a good idea for junior high and high school teachers!

Visit Vincent's website at http://learninginhand.com/about.html

photo: flickr.com/raneko

One Laptop per Child...How Awesome!

I learned about this whole "One Laptop per Child" deal in my Educational Technology and Design class. I think it absolutely fantastic and could not believe I had never heard of this before! For some of you who do not know what I am talking about, it gives children in developing countries the opportunity for education! Who wouldn't be happy with that? Their mission is "to provide a means for learning, self-expression, and exploration to the nearly two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education." I do not see how anyone can stand around and watch TWO BILLION children go without the education they need and deserve. I think this is a great way for everyone to get involved in our children's education by providing some of what we have toward these laptops! 

I forgot to mention how cool these laptops are. They are low-cost and have wireless internet built into them! Awesome, right? Well you know how it is almost impossible to bring you laptop outside and still be able to read the screen? The laptops they are giving to these children have special screens so they are readable even under sunlight! I was amazed when I read this and how it is helpful for children who go to school outside! 

I highly recommend visiting OLPC's site at http://www.laptop.org. See what you can do to help!

Here is what you will learn about:

• OLPC's vision,
• What the laptops provided are like and how they are helping,
• How you can participate, and
• The kids you are helping out!

Watch Zimi's story!

photo: flickr.com/laihiu

First Blog!

Blogging is going to be so much FUN! 

Just like the picture to the right of the boys having fun playing in the bubbles together!

Check back soon for more blogs!!

photo: flickr.com/ernestmoeksis