Dance group, Autism with Attitude, will brighten your day. Enjoy the video below.
Image Source: Newsner
Category: Special Education
Inspiration from the “Differently-Abled”
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Music video by X Ambassadors performing Renegades
Directed by: ENDS and Alex Da Kid
(C)2015 KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records
http://www.vevo.com/watch/USUV71500809
Talking Ed.: Overcoming Challenges through Social Media
Talking Ed. with Lisa Durff
Episode 004 (View entire series)
Earlier this week I had the opportunity spend time talking with Lisa Durff (@durff, +Lisa Durff). She discussed her special needs and the importance of social media and her personal learning network (PLN). In particular, Lisa makes heavy use of Second Life and Twitter as they enable her to interact with others in meaningful ways.
You can visit Lisa’s blog to become acquainted her work, interests, and thinking. Especially note this post for a bit of background on her physical challenges and insight into ways that technology helps her overcome them.
I think that you’ll find that Lisa’s ideas and experiences will open your eyes to new possibilities about technology’s ability to empower us. I know her story inspires me.
An Especially Beautiful Version of Pharrell Williams’ Video, Happy
Here’s another remake of Pharrell William’s video, Happy. This one is especially beautiful as it’s a celebration of World Down Syndrome Day (March 21st). Lance Ulanoff, aptly describes the experience of watching this video.
“Watching people dance to almost any song is usually a happy experience. Watching those living with Down syndrome dance to the snappy beats of Pharrell’s soon-to-be-played-out “Happy” is something approaching joy” (Source).
Student Film from Perkins School for the Blind
(See Part 1)
I recently blogged about one of the producers from the hit TV show, Friends, teaching filmmaking at Perkins School for the Blind. It’s a remarkable example of how technology continues to empower those that are “differently-abled.” The NBC news story that served as the primary source for my blog post included a reference to a student-film that resulted from this class. Enjoy this powerful message from three Perkins students.
Screenshot Source: PSB1829
Related articles
- “Friends” Producer Helps Blind Filmmakers Find Vision [Must See Video] (clifmims.com)
- Blind filmmaking students may lack sight, but not vision, says their teacher (rockcenter.nbcnews.com)
“Friends” Producer Helps Blind Filmmakers Find Vision
(See Part 2)
“If you think that the ability to see is the first requirement for being able to make a movie, then you haven’t been to Kevin Bright‘s film-making class at the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston…Bright was the executive producer of the wildly successful show “Friends.” Now, he teaches students how to make films – even though many of them are completely blind. The videos they made show that while the students don’t have sight, they do have vision, and they provide a rare window into the world of the blind” (Source).
Technology continues to empower those that are “differently-abled.” While there are specially developed technologies that provide much needed assistance, beneficial uses of more commonly available tools continue to emerge. I frequently hear first and second-hand accounts about individuals’ lives being positively impacted by the opportunity to work, communicate, and move about in more efficient ways with the help of technology. The state of innovation marches forward and it is important that educators are aware of these kinds of technological contributions. They may lead to new opportunities for our students.
You can view one of the resulting student films, Seeing through the Lens, here.
Screenshot Source: NBC’s Rock Center
Related articles
- Blind filmmaking students may lack sight, but not vision, says their teacher (rockcenter.nbcnews.com)
- Lend An Eye App Lends Your Vision to The Blind (techinasia.com)
- Visual Art Touches Blind (thecrimson.com)
- Running blind: 40 sightless runners competing in Boston marathon (todayhealth.today.com)
Mobile Technology Can Be Assistive Technology
“Mobile learning is seen by many as a disruptive technology. This is because it has been identified as a technology which holds great potential to transform the learning and teaching within a classroom. What follows is a mash-up presented at the NSWDEC 5th Biennial Equity Conference in 2011 which explains some of the issues.” (Source)
Related Articles
- Thoughts on the state of mobile learning (techcommgeekmom.com)
- How Hot is Mobile Learning in 2012? (bostinno.com)
- Does Technology Improve Learning? No! (brightfutures4me.wordpress.com)
- 25 Ways To Use iPads In The Classroom by Degree of Difficulty | Edudemic (sharingtree.wordpress.com)
- Combining 21st Century Skills, Project Based Learning, and iPads (speedofcreativity.org)
The Left Thumb Blogger
Glenda Watson Hyatt shares her experiences living with cerebral palsy to motivate and inspire others to think about how they perceive their own situation and their own world around them. She does all this by typing with only her left thumb! (Source)
Writing Letters to Santa: A Lesson Plan
Teachers can take advantage of the holiday season to help learners practice writing personal letters since many children are excitedly waiting on Santa’s arrival. Here are a few suggested resources to help you with this lesson.
- Writing a Letter to Santa Claus: Primary Writing Lesson Plan
- Letters from Santa: Understanding Punctuation and Word Families
- Letter to Santa: Writing a Persuasive Letter
- The Letters to Santa Project
- Letter to Santa
- Animated Postcards
It would also be a good idea to teach the students about writing thank you letters once school resumes after the holidays.
Please also consider being a part of The Challenge.
Related Articles
- Letter to Santa (fulltimesahm.wordpress.com)
- Letters To Santa Piling Up At Post Office (chicago.cbslocal.com)
- Children: Keep Writing Letters To Santa Claus (gloucestercitynews.net)
Call for Chapters
Dr. Soonhwa Seok shared the following information with me during the 2008 AECT Convention. I thought some of you might also be interested in contributing to this text.
Handbook of Research on Human Cognition and Assistive Technology: Design, Accessibility and Transdisciplinary Perspectives
Proposals Submission Deadline: 11/25/2008
Full Articles Due: 2/10/2009
“The handbook will address the relationships among human cognition, assistive technology and its design, and the consumers of assistive technology. The book will also suggest ways to enhance the accessibility and adaptability of assistive technology by implementing human cognition into the design. The discussion of human cognition and assistive technology belongs within the discipline of cognitive psychology because human cognition will be implemented into the design of assistive technology. For example, human-computer interaction, user interfaces, and cognitive theories will be discussed. As included and defined in section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the subject area of assistive technology falls under special education.” [more…]