Christopher Wickham

About Me

My name is Chris Wickham and I currently teach at Penn Yan School district as a K-2 Self-Contained Special Education teacher. My wife Jackie and I live in beautiful Canandaigua, New York with our cat Geva. We are currently in the process of adopting our puppy Garth from a local shelter. I love spending time outdoors and staying active by playing sports such as basketball, football and golf. I am a huge Buffalo Bills fan and hope to someday see them return to the Super Bowl. I look forward to continuing my growth as an educator and learning throughout this course.

My Topic/Purpose

This course will focuse on the current Assistive Technologies available to our students within the English Language Arts subject area for primary to intermediate grade levels. These technologies provide students with engaging learning opportunities that when used appropriately with a corresponding ELA curriculum, may help students achieve at a higher level.

Learning Outcomes

Learners will be able to:

1. Define Assistive Technology.
2. Evaluate Assistive Technology Tools/Programs.
3. Assess the Role of Assistive Technology in Inclusive Classrooms.
4. Create an ELA lesson using assitive technology or specific programs/software to assist with the instruction.

Needs Assessment

Instructional Problem: Within many classrooms throughout the country, teachers are attempting to introduce new digital technologies throughout their classroom. These introductions can be completed within a blended learning environment. Many teachers are unaware of the assistive technologies available to them and miss out on these valuable resources. Teachers should develop their knowledge and be kept up to date and about the up and coming assistive technologies available to teach subjects within the classroom, more specifically ELA curriculum.

What is to be Learned? The learners will participate with an exploration of the most beneficial and up to date assistive technologies. These will be exposed through a presentation that informs the learners of the pros and cons of the identified technologies.

Analysis of the Learner Context

The Learner: The learner of this mini course will be any individual looking to grow their knowledge of assistive technology. These students will be focusing specifically in the subject area of English Language Arts and how they can incorporate a blended learning environment to provide rich academic experiences for all learners. They will be viewing and evaluating several programs that use digital technologies to help students learn the ELA skills.

Instructional Context: The information that the learners will learn will be completed online through a web quest type of learning situation. They will be exploring several different programs that could potentially be used within their classrooms. The learners will ultimately have to decide which programs best meet the needs of their learners and be able to provide reasoning to why this is the case.

Exploring the Instructional Problem and Solution: Although the learner will be focusing on the assistive technology that will best suit their own classroom, it is also important for the learner to think long term towards what programs they feel are most suitable for their teaching style.

Goals of Mini-Course: -Students will take away one assistive technology program to improve their ELA instruction. -Learners will understand how their own teaching style will impact the assistive technology program that best suits their own classroom. -Learners will use research based information to drive their understanding of why an assistive technology program is successful within a classroom.

Performance Objectives

Learners will: -Read and summarize articles that define specific assistive technologies. -Complete a web quest to determine what assistive technologies best meet the needs of all students. -Read and summarize articles of the use of assistive technologies within inclusive classrooms. -Create an implementation plan for specific assistive technology programs and justify a districts spending towards buying the program itself.

Task Analysis

Assistive Technologies, Software, and Programs to Improve ELA Instruction

Unit One: Self Reflection and Experiences Using Technology in the Classroom

Lesson One Objectives:

• Participants will complete a survey stating the digital technologies/programs they use to teach ELA curriculum.

• Participants will reflect on their own experiences when using assistive technology within their classrooms.

Lesson Two Objectives:

• Participants will explore the history of Assistive Technology programs.

• Participants will reflect on the impact of these programs within the modern day classroom.

Unit Two: Current ELA Programs, Software and Assistive Technologies

Lesson One Objectives:

• Participants will explore ELA technologies and evaluate them based on their characteristics.

Lesson Two Objectives:

• Participants will design an academic lesson/learning task that incorporates one use of technology.

Essential Prerequisites

• Participants must have the capabilities to navigate internet browsers.

• Participants must have background knowledge of how a blended learning environment can impact learners.

Supportive Prerequisites

• Participants should be skilled readers and writers.

• Participants should have a some understanding of the basic computer skills needed to navigate a wiki-based course.

Curriculum Map

Integrate Technology into ELA Instruction

1. Unit one: Self Reflection Process on Technology Use in the Classroom
2. Complete Survey
3. Explore Technology Integration History
4. Unit Two: Evaluate Technologies Available to Integrate
5. Modify/Create a Lesson using a form of Technology

Reference and Resources

• www.youtube.com
• www.google.com/images