Take The Pencil Out Of The Process/ AT and Writing / Dysgraphia
The idea that modifications should be made in a classroom so that all students have equal access to learning seems to make sense to me. Clearly this is not the case in general. The fact that this article exists proves just that. I don't understand why students would not be given the assistive technology to perform a task that otherwise cannot be pro formed. To me this brings up the question of what are we really teaching and why are we doing it. Are we teaching students that the writing process must be learned/completed at some point using a pencil? Why? If education is preparing students for the real world then why would we place this stipulation in the process?
Is there really a difference in this picture? Does the use of the tools on the left make you more proficient in literacy? Why do we treat our students as if it does?
The second article discusses the use of assistive technology in writing. The article mentions that there are different degrees of AT to use in the writing process depending on student need. Low tech solutions modify the writing process by making the traditional methods more accessible.
Mid to high tech solutions incorporate the keyboard and computer assistive technology to aid the student through the process.
The point to me is that the technology exists and has been created to aid students in the literacy process and not take over the process for them. Students will still learn the importance of literacy and obtain the skills required to progress through the process.....in their own way.
The final paper discusses dysgraphia and some interventions that can be taken. The basis of the article is that writing disorders exist and assistive technology has been developed to help combat the problems. It is our job as educators to show our students that options do exist and that they are capable of being successful. They just need to find their own way of doing things.
Jonathan. I really like the images you added to illustrate the low, medium, and high tech solutions for assistive technology in writing. Reading your post in conjunction with the article really had me thinking about the future of hand writing (printing). Like you said in your post, is there really a difference between the use of a pen and paper and an ipad or computer. If this is the direction our society is moving in, do you think we will see schools abandon lessons around printing? will it be shelved the same way as cursive writing? I also liked your question about how we place value on literacy. Using assistive technology to help a student with literacy does not make them any less proficient in reading or writing and they should be judged on the same playing field as someone who did not use assistive technology.
The images you used were powerful. It's true. Is there really a different between pen and paper vs a computer or iPad. Does one really make you more proficient in literacy than the other? I used to think it absolutely did. Now I'm not so sure. I think if we can set students up for success and confidence through the use of technology then WHY NOT ?! :)
Jonathan. I really like the images you added to illustrate the low, medium, and high tech solutions for assistive technology in writing. Reading your post in conjunction with the article really had me thinking about the future of hand writing (printing). Like you said in your post, is there really a difference between the use of a pen and paper and an ipad or computer. If this is the direction our society is moving in, do you think we will see schools abandon lessons around printing? will it be shelved the same way as cursive writing?
ReplyDeleteI also liked your question about how we place value on literacy. Using assistive technology to help a student with literacy does not make them any less proficient in reading or writing and they should be judged on the same playing field as someone who did not use assistive technology.
The images you used were powerful. It's true. Is there really a different between pen and paper vs a computer or iPad. Does one really make you more proficient in literacy than the other? I used to think it absolutely did. Now I'm not so sure. I think if we can set students up for success and confidence through the use of technology then WHY NOT ?! :)
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