Week 12, Module 3

California State University AT Services
One normally associates assistive technology with education, but it serves its place within public places, including public libraries.  California State University offers an impressive amount of assistive technology.  Funding for libraries is becoming a daunting topic.  It is difficult to many libraries to muster up the funds just to stay open, I would imagine it would be difficult to add assistive technology due to it's usual high cost.   This drawback does not make assistive technology any less important, only more difficult to acquire.  


If I were to integreate AT within my small public library, I would focus on audible books as well as screen enlarging software and/or hardware.  Vision quality typically decreses as we age, thus with an aging population as our highest population we serve, this AT would be adventagous to purchase.  Thankfully there are laws set in place for all public buildings to be handicap accessible, address the needs of those in wheelchairs.


Built in Accessibility Features
The accessability features and demonstrations created by Microsoft is impressive.  However, I have recently become a "Mac girl."  I thought I would try my luck at finding these similar features on Apple's website.  Apple accessibility features are equally as impressive.  Click here for options for visual impairments, hearing impairments, physical and motor, and for literacy and learning for those using a Mac OS X.


InfoEyes
InfoEyes proves to be a valuable resources for people with visual impairments.  The website offered large text for low vision and a librarian for live chat during buisness hours.  However I felt the greatest resource they offered was the link to participating libraries, including the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped through the Free Library of Philadelphia that serving people in Pennsylvania,  Delaware and West Virginia.


Kurzweil 3000
Unfortunatly my efforts to try the read out loud software was unsuccessful.  The program is only available to Windows users, I have 2 Macs.  I suppose this is the downside to having a Mac.  Though I believe the software company should make their software available to both Mac and Windows users.  Owning a Mac is not uncommon.


Inspiration Integration
The second discover activity asks us to create a lesson using the software program, Inspiration.   I have chosen to create an extension of my WebQuest focusing on genealogy.   This lesson could also be utilized as a library lesson to practice using dictionaries both in text form and on the Internet.

• Students will learn the origin and meaning of their first name utilizing either a print name dictionary or online version.
• Students will continue to practice finding meanings of family members names
• Finally, students will create a web of family names and meanings using the Inspiration software (see screen shot example below)

Software for Students with Cerebral Palsy and Low Vision

Identified Disability: Cerebral Palsy (CP) For the fictional student this assignment requires, he has low vision, poor intelligibility (understanding his speech), and limited dexterity.  People with cerebral palsy may have any combination of the following:

• seizures
• mental disabilities
• auditory problems
• visual problems
• communication problems
• dexterity problems

Software

The software products chosen for comparison, address the poor vision often associated with cerebral palsy.  For the purposes of this assignment, the fictional student has low vision, needing a combination of large print text and audio for his studies.  

The first product chosen is the ZoomText 9.1 Magnifier/Reader.  This software offers screen magnification of computer programs, menu options, websites, files, anything the screen displays.  It’s ability to also “read” the screen to the user makes it unique.  Many software products can produce audio of books, however not many can produce audio from an Internet webpage, a highly attractive attribute of the software since the Internet has become a valuable resource for students.

The second software product is the Dolphin EasyConverter.  The software is able to convert a variety of input formats into DAISY digital talking books, MP3 audio, CD audio, large print, Braille, or text format.  It’s versatility makes it attractive, as it can serve as a resource for many teachers needing to provide assistive technology, aiding those from low vision to blindness.

Please see the comparative chart of the two software products.

Comparative Chart: 

	Software Product: ZoomText 9.1  Magnifier/Reader	Software Product: Dolphin EasyConverter
Company	Ai Squared www.aisquared.com	Dolphin www.yourdolphin.com
Pricing	Through www.tfeinc.com, online cost is approximately $560.	Through www.enablemart.com, online cost is between $840 and $4,250.00
Features	Magnifies and reads all text and applications on a computer screen Automatic Reading Automatically speaks menus, messages, dialogs, email, webpages, etc. Choice of 3 verbosity levels to choose how much information is spoken Typing echo, each typed word or key is spoken Mouse echo, text is spoken when pointed to text	Creates auditory or large print materials for people visual disabilities. The following formats can be imported for conversion: Microsoft Word Documents PDFs HTML Text documents Loose Leaf Paper Rich Text Format Kurzweil Project Files Image Files NIMAS DAISY XML Generates output in the following formats: DAISY Digital Talking Books MP3 Audio CD Audio Large Print Braille Text format
Advantages	Offers visually accessibility to the Internet Offers screen enlargement  Many students can take advantage of this resource Relatively low cost	Offers many options for both input and output Can be used for multiple disabilities (blindness, low vision, nonreaders) Compatible with multiple Braille Application Software
Disadvantages	Not Macintosh compatible Minimal output options (enlarged text and audio) Solely for people with low vision, not blindness	Cannot be used on Macintosh operating systems High cost, this is dependent upon the number of users and installations of the program, thus the wide range in pricing listed above Can only be used for documents or files (not Internet webpages)
Software Justification for Cerebral Palsy Population	The Internet has become an important tool in classrooms.  People with low vision need to access this tool as well. With only a point of the mouse, a student can hear what is on the screen, whether email, simple text, or a webpage.  A software tool that combines auditory and large print text is essential for a student with cerebral palsy and low vision.  This software is not only adventageous for students.  It is also appropriate for all ages of those with cerebral palsy and low vision.	People with cerebral palsy often have low vision or blindness associated with their condition.  This software is quite versatile, addressing both low vision (large print) and blindness (audio format and braille).  Thus a single purchase can serve an entire school building, addressing the needs of all students, needing visual support, especially those with cerebral palsy.  The excellent output options make this software attractive for those with low vision and cerebral palsy.

Week 11, Module 2

While searching the Enablemart website, I was reminded of my undergraduate studies in speech pathology. There was an emphasis on communication devices, both low and high tech. One of the major differences between humans and animals, is the ability to verbally communicate. For as long as humans have walked the earth, individuals who were unable to communicate had very few, if any, tools to communicate. It is amazing that technology has given these individuals a way to have their voice heard. When viewing the second video in module 2, I thought how wonderful that woman must feel to finally be able to express herself.

I came across the hearing section of the Enablemart website and realized hearing and visual impairments are probably the most common disabilities found in a workplace and school. The level of impairment will of course vary greatly. I would expect technology devices aimed at these 2 impairments would be quite advantageous. Keeping in mind of course that other disabilities will need to be addressed depending on the needs of the workplace or school.

Module 2, discovery exercise 2 asks us to provide 3 simple accommodations in an environment to assist a co-worker.

• For someone bound to a wheelchair, creating an open environment free of clutter is essential. Moving furniture and eliminating unnecessary floor clutter will accomplish this.
• For a low vision impairment, making sure workplace signs are in large font sizes is a simple environmental change
• having appropriate furniture for persons with wheelchairs is also an essential for the workplace environment (i.e. low filing cabinets, appropriate height desks, etc.)

Assistive technology is without a doubt, helpful to those who need it. However each assistive technology device whether low tech, high tech, software, hardware, needs to be properly evaluated. What may work well for one student, will not be the right choice for another even if they share they same disability.

It is also important for the caregivers and teachers to understand and receive training on the assistive technology. It will only serve as a help if the student, teachers, and caregivers understand the device.

Week 10, AT & Module #1

Through the media and famous individuals who cope with disabilities, those with disabilities can have an example of success.  They too can have great success.

The National Federation of the Blind offered many tips for teaching with a visually impaired student.  However I believe the activities are also highly beneficial for students without a visual impairment.  Content is not learned by using a single teaching method.  One must teach content by accommodating those that are kinesthetic, visually, or auditory learners.  Keeping these learning styles in mind, is how I would approach a class with a visually impaired student.  Another key for visually impaired students mentioned by the NFB are braille books with tactile graphics.  One example is a tactilely organized book of the universe including constellations and planets.  These activities and resources can also be a help to other students. 

If I were introducing to students what it is like to be blind, we would tap into their other 4 senses during a sensory activity.  The activity would involve a fun activity followed by an actual lesson so they may grasp the feeling.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities offered so many resources and suggestions for working with LD students.  One particular section stood out.  They suggest a few key points that can easily be overlooked:

• Help them to create and maintain a positive image of themselves
• Maintain high academic standards
• Do not lower academic standards to help their self esteem
• When possible, refer to the student's IEP plan for specific accommodations

Other suggestions included:

• teach explicitly while instructing on the writing process
• provide feedback on the positives and negatives of their writings
• Coordinate for students with disabilities to tutor younger students, with close monitoring
• Peer mediated reading

This website offers wonderful resources for teachers, something I wish I would have known of during my experience in the school system.

Week 9, Thing 23

I can't believe our 23 Things are complete!  Growing up with technology and the Internet, I thought I knew what I needed to regarding websites and tools.  How wrong I was!  This served as an eye opener to the amazing tools available on the Internet, tools that can specifically be applied to libraries.

Resources and exercises I enjoyed most, and continue to use, are:

• Delcious.com (After learning of this website, I use this tool at work on a daily basis)
• Web 2.0 Award Winners Website
• Podcasts

There will always be new tools surfacing, thus I will rely on the Web 2.0 Award Winners and a website I discovered through a search on Delicious.com called www.Mashable.com.  If the CSLA offers a continuation or updated version of this class, I would love to enroll.  

To improve upon the course, I would like to see more "how to's."  Such as, how to make your own podcast.  

If I were to describe this journey in one sentence (as requested)..."23 Things afforded me the opportunity to become more efficient and creative while offering my library patrons technology resources a step above a typical and dull library website."

Week 9, Thing 22

World eBook Fair site certainly has a lot to offer with over 500,000 eBooks in pdf format.  I question the portability of the eBooks.  Can they be uploaded to portable devices?  If patrons prefer digitized books, this is definitely for them, especially at only $8.95 per year.  Though this seems like a great deal, I would rather help my local library and download their audiobooks, giving them increased circulation numbers.

Our library has recently offered downloadable audiobooks through a vendor called Recorded Books (check out this link).   I expect many libraries have or are investigating adding downloadable audiobooks to their libraries collection.  It is important to choose a vendor that can supply you with circulation statistics as they too are important for monthly circulation reports.

Week 9, Thing 21

Podcasts are new to me.  As librarians, we love organization yet the websites I visited didn't seem to organize the Podcasts efficiently.  On www.podcast.com they organize them by genre.  Wonderful!  But you're on your own from there.  Podcasts are simply listed in alphabetically.  Not even a summary or caption to accompany the link.

My thoughts on www.podcast.com are completely different.  I love the way they organize the Podcasts along with images to help guide users.  Check out this neat podcast series called B & N Meet The Writers Audio Interviews.  How neat this is!!  I definitely plan on incorporating a a few of these podcasts on my library's Facebook page and blog.  Someone created their own podcast on children's storytelling (a job and hobby I adore).  Perhaps I will consider this option!

Here is one of my favorite podcasts I found: Fall Children's Book Review with the NYT.  Check out the RSS feed links on the right for more New York Times book reviews.

Week 9, Thing 20

YouTube is yet another fantastic web 2.0 tool.  I have used the website in the past for recreational use, however there are many educational uses as well.

I explored the video suggestions given by the Classroom Learning blog.  I loved Introducing the Book, a parody of technology and new users.  YouTube is a relatively simple website to navigate, as long as you know how to properly perform a search, otherwise you will be inundated with nonsense.  I especially love the ability to customize how embedded videos are displayed in blogs.  Very neat!

I chose to share a video entitled The Economy and Libraries (see video below).  It is a CBS broadcast of how library circulation has increased dramatically with the demise of our economy, and also highlights how libraries are struggling and even closing, even when usage is at an all time high.  I'm pleased that libraries are receiving the recognition they deserve, especially when facing the threat of closing.  (Click here for a list of articles in the Reading Eagle due to 3 branches set to be closed by December).



There are certainly many videos on YouTube that could be beneficial to share with patrons, teachers, and even students (check out this child friendly video about getting a library card Arthur Library Card)

Zoho Writer Test

Testing one, two, three...

Let's try inserting a picture...

Not difficult, make sure you click on "fit width." You can't adjust the picture by simply clicking on it to resize.  (PS: My doxies waiting for the trick-or-treaters to arrive).

Let's try a table insert...

Pretty easy!!

Now let's try exporting to my Blog (oh boy)

Week 8, Thing 19

LibraryThing is a great concept.  I especially like the idea of librarians using the site to recommend books to students and patrons.  It was mentioned in the Classroom Learning 2.0, that LibraryThing has become a tool in cataloging collections for small libraries.  Perhaps I am old fashion, I believe cataloging should be done by a librarian with a specific cataloging program.  There are too many exceptions and special cases of items that make cataloging an intense ongoing task.  To put this in the hands of a website is frightening.   What if the Internet connection is down? However,  it does offer a great platform for anyone to contribute to book discussions.  Sometimes it is nice to hear outside opinions regarding book choices.  LibraryThing also gives the option of customizing how your books and their details are displayed.  I love customizing!  I chose a simple format, book cover, author, title, and ISBN #.  Overall it is a fantastic website for librarians and patrons alike.

I have used LibraryThing in past projects.  It is easy to navigate and offers different ways for your library to be viewed.  Click here for 5 books appropriate for my WebQuest focusing on Genealogy.  A few of the books I chose seemed to be popular, some titles more so than others.  I'm sure publication date plays a factor in popularity.