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BLOG POST
Assistive Technology includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices and services that help maintain a person's functioning and dependence. Individuals use these devices and services to perform tasks they might not be able to do otherwise. Assistive technology enables people to live a healthy, productive, independent, and dignified life and participate productively in social life. Wheelchairs, prostheses, hearing aids, spectacles, screen readers, pill organizers, and memory aids are all assistive technologies.
Assistive Technology is essential because it can transform a person’s life from a sad situation to a better quality of life. When people have all the technology they need to function daily, they may only need a little help or dependence from other people. Although a person might be limited in their daily activities, they can still be able to use the assistive device they need so that they can complete things on their own. With this technology, the person has accessibility.
Some persons who have disabilities may
need assistive devices. It can be
persons of any age who may have had accidents, physical disabilities, non –
communicable diseases, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, dementia, autism, and mental
disabilities,
Assistive Technology can be items to
support mobility impairments. Some
people may have difficulty moving, balance, and gait issues. Things used to
help persons with these conditions are:
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Canes
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Crutches
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Head
Wands
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Mouth
Sticks
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Prostheses
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Walkers
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Wheelchairs
Assistive
Technology can be items to support Visual Impairment. Some people may have sight issues such as
blindness and low vision. Things used to help persons with this condition are
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Audiobooks
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Blind
Canes
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Magnifiers
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Refreshable
Braille Display
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Screen
readers
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Service
Dogs
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Spectacles
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Text-to-Speech
software
Assistive
Technology can be items to support Hearing Impairment. Things used to help persons with this
condition are
Alerting
devices that give off a loud sound or blinking light will signal the
person.
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Assistive
listening devices such as a hearing loop or cochlear implant.
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A
Hearing dog that can hear and guide a person to their next step in what they
may need to do.
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A
software that has Speech to text synthesizing software
Assistive
Technology can be items to support Mental Diseases or Disabilities
In this section, some people may have
memory and cognition issues. The
assistive technology that can assist in this area is
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Pill
Organizer
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Sound-blocking
headphones
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Stress
Balls
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Worry
Beads
Assistive Technology covers a large segment of assisting persons who may have a need. It gives us a picture that many people will have their needs met. It allows us to see that no matter how big and small a problem can be, there is some technology on the way to help.
References:
Technology Access and
Assistive Technology | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues (ala.org)
“Technology Access and Assistive Technology.” Advocacy,
Legislation & Issues, American Library Association, 5 May 2023,
www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/accessibility/techology-access.
Stewart, R., Narendra, V.,
& Schmetzke, A. (2005). Accessibility and usability of online library databases. Library
Hi Tech.
World Health Organization: Assistive
technology (who.int)
TEACHING OTHERS TO USE TECHNOLOGY
Education has been
around for many years. There have been various ways in which education is
taught to a learner. Some teachers and learners have used the traditional
classroom format. Some teachers and learners are most comfortable with virtual
learning, also known as the e-Learning format, especially during the pandemic.
Some teachers and learners had no choice but to go into the virtual learning
format because many schools and businesses closed. All of this has opened the
door to teachers and students being taught the use of technology.
One of the few
educational methods being taught is through Instructional technology. According
to Scientific World Journal, Instructional technology is the branch of
education connected with instructional design and the development of scientific
study. Instructional technology is "the theory and practice of design,
development, utilization, management, and evaluation of the processes and
resources for learning.” The Association for Educational Communications and
Technology presents Seals (1994) work. The educational platform designers primarily
aim to create engaging and compelling learning experiences. Examples of the
technology can be utilized from various technical devices, such as an
electronic whiteboard for online courses, or virtual reality classrooms can be
considered instructional technology. According to the Louisiana State
University website, it is noted that although the applications and benefits of
instructional technology vary, all of the applications share one primary
purpose: to create engaging and compelling learning experiences. Although many
devices can be used in instructional technology, a few are best known and used
in these areas. The machines or devices are listed as follows:
1. Digital Interactive
Whiteboards: This device specializes in a large-screen display connected to a
computer or projector used in a classroom and corporate board.
2.
Ultra-High-Definition Television (UHDTV): This wide-screen television device
displays clear and more detailed images than standard HDTV images. It may
freeze on video playback to create high-quality still images. The video and
still images can be edited and stored for later use. Painters, designers, and
publishers use this technique. The 3D display / 3D UHDTV is used to view things
using 3D glasses, providing a high-quality 3D theater presentation. Smart
Boards - Interactive Classroom Boards: These are smaller computers with a large
high-definition touch-screen display. It has teaching aids kin instructional
technology, classrooms, meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops. It also
is part of communicating with the Internet. The user can save, store, print, or
send presentation material to others via email as an alternative if they cannot
present in other ways.
4. Digital Projectors:
This device consists of images displayed on a screen or wall from a
conventional screen. It is used for meeting presentations when viewers must see
the screen simultaneously. Projectors can be portable or carry size. These are
less expensive than a screen of a similar size. The images displayed can be
challenging to view in bright rooms; therefore, it is best to view pictures in
a dark room.
5. Tablets: These
devices are small mini-computers often carried in hand. Tablets are essential
to modern e-learning systems and have become one of the most powerful learning
tools. They can be used anywhere. This device can be part of interactive
learning resources and viewing e-books. This device can be used as an
alternative tool for viewing textbooks and managing the learning process for
the student that the teacher provides. From all research and information
gathered, it is learned that instructional technology is an excellent teaching
and learning method for all those involved. It is a convenient way for teachers
to teach and learners to learn. With the convenience of various technology
devices, these are suitable for all teachers and learners to meet, interact,
learn, and collaborate as a team in their teaching and learning journey. It is
incredible how devices and communication can reach the entire globe.
References:
“History of Education:
The United States in a Nutshell.” History of Education in the United States |
Educational Tools | LiM, https://www.leaderinme.org/blog/history-of-education-theunited-states-in-a-nutshell/.
LSU Online. “How
Instructional Technology Can Improve the Learning Process.” LSU Online, LSU
Online, 8 May 2020,
https://online.lsu.edu/newsroom/articles/how-instructionaltechnology-can-improve-learning-process/.
Seels, B. B., &
Richey, R. C. (1994). Instructional technology: The definition and domains of
the field. Washington, DC: Association for Educational Communications and
Technology.
World, The Scientific. “Educational Technology: 5 Moderntechnological Devices Used in Education.” The Scientific World - Let's Have a Moment of Science, Blogger, 11 Nov. 2021, https://www.scientificworldinfo.com/2019/08/the-most-important-technologicaldevices-used-in-education.
DIGITAL
STORYTELLING
Digital Storytelling is one of the many ways that stories can be presented to anyone of any age. This method utilizes multimedia tools to bring narratives to life. Digital Stories can explain an idea or a concept reflecting a person’s experience. It is used to retell a historical event, or it can create an argument. Digital stories can be presented as videos combining audio, images, and video clips to tell the story. Digital Storytelling is used everywhere and often used in Children’s environments. It is used to engage students in their learning and development. It is a great tool that can enhance a child’s education as they grow older to adolescence and adult hood.
References:
Lisenbee, P.S., Ford, C.M. Engaging Students in Traditional and Digital Storytelling to Make Connections Between Pedagogy and Children’s Experiences. Early Childhood Educ J 46, 129–139 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-017-0846-x
Smeda, N., Dakich, E., & Sharda, N. (2014). The effectiveness of digital storytelling in the classrooms: a comprehensive study. Smart Learning Environments, 1, 1-21.
LIBRARIES AND STUDENT SUCCESS
Libraries desire to assist students so that they will be successful in their learning and development. Libraries have had to think of ways to create a learning / educational environment. Some libraries have reached out to have technology devices to assist students in their academic work. They have added multimedia equipment in the libraries to cover many learners and teachers. This blog, it will list some of the multi-media equipment and how the schools and libraries work together trying to make this learning experience a good one.
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The type of multimedia equipment used
in the schools are Chromebooks. Each
school site has enough devices for each student enrolled and additional items
for testing. After Chromebooks, the next most used are document cameras,
projectors, smart tvs- these are in every classroom. The type of
multimedia equipment that requires the most attention and repair is
Chromebooks. Students are always adding
extensions and then having trouble accessing educational sites. Daily, the
libraries remove extensions, update Chrome, and do refreshes/restarts to these
devices to make them work properly. These
require the most repair because they are used by all students from first to
twelfth grade.
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The essential quality of a practical multimedia person in
their setting is flexibility, adaptability, and resourcefulness.
Resourcefulness helps when the workers in the facility need to learn precisely
what the technical problem is. A person
can stay open-minded and patient while figuring out how to use and
operate. A person can Google and answer
or find a video on YouTube that will walk them through the solution. When
teachers and students or anyone have difficulty using a device, it is essential
to stay calm and patient and be flexible and adaptable because a person can
encounter a new, unique problem when it is most unexpected.
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It would be great if libraries would continue to be innovative.
It would be great to see more production equipment for blogging and
podcasting. The changes in Educational Technology over the last several
years have pushed teachers and students to rely on devices for daily use:
assignments, communication, learning, etc. Districts have responded to this
trend by adding Chromebook scores to school sites, which has significantly
impacted the daily duties of school librarians. Some facilities do not have IT
people on the school sites, so libraries are the first stop for troubleshooting
technology. When schools had to transition to distance learning, libraries could
do this part of the work.
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The changes that can be made to see in
their Multimedia Center well-off is to have innovation rooms on
campuses- filled with 3d printers, robotics, and other STEM manipulatives. It would be nice to see this space and the
library share lessons and projects.
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