Technology Savvy

Is blogging accessible to people with vision loss?

2010-03-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

I recently read an article about visually impaired people being able to blog. The article stated that the essential functions needs to include the ability of an individual to relate their own user account ; edit their user profile; compose , read, and lend style to their own blog entries; link the content of their blogs to relevant online material; and review the comments of their readers.

As is the case with most new technological advances, education regarding accessibility for computer users with visual disabilities is essential if improvements are to be made by designers and developer of blogs and related applications. Currently, a number of barriers exists that prevent blind individuals from benefiting fully from a mainstream blogging experience. One of these barriers exists in a fundamental component of the process, the creation of one's user account.

The inaccessibility of the current blogging experience represents more than just a lack of access to relevant information for blind computer users. Blogs are a rapidly growing avenue to self expression, a means of exchanging information with communities of like minded peers, and even a potential source of employment.

Online Debate

2010-03-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

Trying to find anything con about technology can be very tedious work. It made me take a second look at how I select my research topics for my students. Here we are doing an online debate and my Internet service is down. I'm going to the public Library to use their service, its going to make recording my argument interesting. I'm nervous enough without that added stress.

Technology Concerns

2010-03-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

With the up and coming 2010-2011 budget cuts that our school district must implement, the purchasing of new technology equipment and the renewal of subscriptions to sites may take a noticeable hit. So is it back to paper and pencil or do we be come innovators and create more collaborative learning assignments.

Geocache

2010-03-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

I have posted my geocache in Navicache.com under the name of jolly rancher. I had to borrow a GPS because I don't own one, so trying to figure it out was challenge for me (as is many things). But, once that hurdle was crossed it was fun . I discovered that their is other geocache hidden in that surrounding area.

2010-03-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

Dustin made a great point-who monitors the students when they are at home? Just this week one of our students was involved with an older guy (via spacebook) from California. This guy arrived in town a couple of days ago, and her parents are beside themselves which they should be. We were ask to watch her ever move, don't let her go to the restroom, Library, or lunchroom without an adult escort.The strange thing about this is that we told her parents that she was texting this guy during class and that they should look into this matter. Their respond was, she has done this before and nothing has ever come of it. I think this all could have been avoided if they took care when it they were made aware of the situation.

2010-03-06T10:37:00.000-08:00

My wiki link is http://409.wikispaces.com/

I wrote about Web 2.0 not being the alpha and the omega of social networking. With every computer program their are some cliches, and this one is not without its short comings.

This week assignment

2010-03-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

This weeks assignment stirred up some concerns about Acceptance User Policies. Each districts has some type of user policy in place, and any use of the computer can create some concerns; and we all know that we can't always predict what will be shared on some websites. I have previewed sites, and then when students go to those sites if they should type one thing wrong like .com instead of .org they are seeing something that I had not intended for them to see. Our district has blocked several sites like YouTube and others. In the past we were able to monitor what sites our students were viewing via their sign numbers but for some reason we are not able to that anymore.

Geotagging

2010-02-26T19:36:00.000-08:00

This weeks assignment has sparked new ideas for possible new lesson plans for my geography unit next school year. I was also thinking about using geotagging as a class building activity. One of our teachers uses Flat Stanley with your special needs class to study geography, I wonder if she could incorporate some geotagging into that assignment.

2010-02-23T17:18:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for your helpful advice. Our district is really pushing toward making technology our number #1 focus in integrating technology into our existing lessons, that's why I was thinking that revising all my lesson plans would accomplished this request. I can see by taking baby steps would be much better than overwhelming myself. Thanks again!

The half way mark

2010-02-20T10:16:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that we are at the half way mark in this class. We have learned a lot of useful technological applications. My problem is having the time to reconstruct my lesson plans to include these new techniques. I'm hoping that over the summer I will be able to rewrite all of my lesson to include more technology usage.

Standardize Testing

2010-02-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

In about three and half weeks our school district will start MAP testing. Every year we come up with different ways to raise our scores. This year we have our kids in what we call boot camp for reinforcement in the areas of Comm. Arts and Math. Selected students give up one elective to attend these practice sessions. I'm interested in seeing the data on how effect this strategy was. The selected students can choose to attend these three week sessions or not. Students that attend these sessions don't like giving up their elective but, we remind them that its just for three weeks and the extra help in Math and Comm. Arts will help them to better understand the curriculum not only for this year but it will also prepare them for next year as well.

New Class Look

2008-08-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

I have already started using some of the technology skills that I have learned during this course. I've used write board , and I'm hoping to use wiki pedia later on in the school year. But you all can rest assure that I will not be teaching my student webpage design, although they could probable teach me. I will be using the e-ventures activities that are located in our textbook by Alan November. I'm always excited about the beginning of a new school year, and now I'm equipped with new skills and ammunition. I can actual understand some of the computer lingo that they are using in our workshops. So, I guess I'm learning and retaining some of the information, amazing.

Reactions to Course

2008-08-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

This course was very enlighten. I travelled down avenues that I would no have attempted to pursue. Their were of course some difficult assignments, but with the help of others I was able to successful complete these assignments. During this course I experienced many different levels of frustration and accomplishments. I enjoyed working with my cyber space colleagues. I think I've gained ten pounds during this course, but when I started back to work, everyone said that I had lost weight, so maybe this course is good for losing weight. I'm going to be taking course number 7100 in the fall. I hope I will be working with some of you during that course. Here's a shocker. I want to take two classes in the Spring. When I take two classes during the summer it consumes all of your time. If you have taken two classes during the school year please advice me.

My Profile

2008-08-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

Hi , My name is Angela Copridge. I teach for the Independence school in the Midwest. I'm taking technology classes because I want to make my lessons more exciting and audience appropriate. Technology is a real challenge for me, a far stretch of my imagination.

Summer Workshops

2008-08-02T19:19:00.000-07:00

Over the summer I attended three workshops. One of the workshop classrooms had a smart board in it was I thought we are going to get some training on using the smart boards. Wrong assumption, they used the smart board screen to display their power point presentation. All of the activities that we did in this workshop was done by using worksheets. I was thinking how could the presenters incorporated technology in place of those worksheets. During the presentation our facilitator did mention the write board, but just as a suggestion for doing a group writing project, which she said we have not set up training yet for the write board usage. Our school district is constantly says that our student are behind in technological skills. So wouldn't you think that they would be offering summer workshops to help teachers incorporate more technology into our curriculum?

Mishaps

2008-08-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

I recently had some auto repairs done on my automobile. I purchased the replacement parts in advance, with the hope of saving some money. When I got to the the auto repair shop. one of the replacement parts was the wrong size. I called the auto store where I purchased the parts hoping that they would delivery the correct part, since they made the mistake( they sold me part number 335 instead of 355 easy mistake)and my car was in operable. The clerk said that they do not deliver parts to that particular auto repair shop. So, instead of paying fourteen dollars for this service I ended paying forty dollars. Upon returning the incorrect pair I was told that the store does delivery to that auto repair shop. The clerk advised me to call their central office and complete. So I did, they are sending me a check for the difference that I had to pay for this repair job and a thirty dollar coupon good toward any items in any of their stores. So his mishap had a happy ending.

Vacation

2008-07-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

July 5th, 2008

It's time to take that annual vacation. We want to go to Toronto, Canada this year. Its so expensive to travel these days. But we need a vacation. I had a friend to travel to Texas with two pieces of luggage, only to discovery that on her return trip they(airline) had change the baggage limit to only one piece of luggage. Going through customs concerns me and the mosquitoes. We love to travel, but we are going to have to limit our travelling range to the United States after this trip.

2008-07-04T06:59:00.000-07:00

July 4, 2008

It's the 4th of July. The temperature is great. We had some raining days, which makes people feel safer when they fire off fireworks. In our neighbor which is in the county, it's legal to fire fireworks. So we do it in a big way. We block off the streets with official street barricades. The fireworks start at seven o'clock and last until everyone runs out of ammo.( about midnight). The next day July 5th every ones out with their brooms and dust pans sweeping up the trash. We've only lived in his neighbor for five years, but I have not heard of anyone getting injured from this all out celebration.

Independence Day

2008-06-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

June 28, 2008

The Fourth of July is quickly approaching. I wonder how many Americans really stop and reflect on the great accomplishments that we as people have made. In my neighborhood I hear firecrackers going off and other fireworks going off. Do the fireworks represent when the bombs were bursting in the air? Who started this fireworks fiasco? In many cities fireworks are prohibited, so are they infringing upon our right to the pursuit of happiness?

What a week!

2008-06-27T08:07:00.001-07:00

June 27, 2008
I have learned so much this week ( the hard way trial and error). My biggest challenge this week was retrieving my email. I need to go on a long vacation , but I can't because I'm taking two classes this summer. My stress level is so high, that I think I'm getting sick. If I get through this summer, I'm not taking two classes during the summer again . I try to finish with one class assignment then start on the other one, hoping to free up some time to just relax, but it never happens. The summer seems to be flying by quickly.