Adaptive Technology

After thinking about what kinds of adaptive technologies are out there, I decided to find one that I could learn about and possibly use some day with visual impaired. The one that I researched was a screen magnifier software using Zoom text 9.1. This software helped people that had low vision. It had two sections, one was the magnifier, and the other was the reader. Under the magnifier they person could zoom text, adjust magnification, adjust colors (background and font), adjust the pointer, font, and cursor, and can help them check for focus. Under each section there were different options depending on what that particular person needed. For example some may want a dark background with light writing font, and another might want a light background with dark font. Then the person also had control over the reader section. This could be turned on so that it would read everything that the person was pointing to, helping them get through each section, or the software program could be set up to read what that person was typing. This program has been upgraded, and keeps improving as it advances, allowing more options for people.
If i had a visual impaired student in my class, I would definitely consider getting this software. I think that having both options for that student is very beneficial and will help them in a classroom. I would have to make sure that my materials were accessible on the computer for that student to access, and I would also need to make sure that this person is comfortable with this software. I do think that as a teacher you need to be aware of how you would use this in a classroom, and I would definitely have this set up for my student to use at anytime they felt it was necessary. I would also have to update this each day for the following day. This would be a lot of work but feel that once you got a handle on the program it would be easy. I also think maybe you could scan things into the computer that you might be using to make it quicker. I would probably use this on a laptop that I would have available to this student, because I would want this student to be able to use this, but also be part of the group. Therefore, having a laptop they could bring it with them where ever they needed. I also think that this might be easier for the other students because you would have the class as a whole group and would not have to divide your attention between the two, which may cause some disruption. My strategies would also change in that if I had a hands on activity, I would have to make sure that student could join along with us. I also think that things in my room would change as well, such as making sure that things were labeled differently so that this person could read/or see these as well. For example I may have to create things in braille or I just may have to adjust the colors for this person. If I was doing a reading lesson I would have to make sure that this was available in text for the program, and the student. The arrangement of my class would have to be set up differently as well. So not only do you have to change your strategies in the classroom, but the entire dynamics of it as well. I will do my best to accommodate any student with any difficulty in my classroom. I found this software program fun to learn about, and also very beneficial for the classroom.

Here is a website that I visited that I learned a lot from and found it interesting to actually see a clip of it being used.

http://www.aisquared.com/