Motivational Monday: TED Ed with Luis Perez

TED Ed talks are often known for their ability to inspire, promote new ways of thinking or offer insights into worlds unfamiliar to our own. For me, the TED Ed talk, What losing my vision taught me about accessibility, did all of the above. Luis Pérez delivered this TED ed talk at the 2018 ISTE Conference in Chicago and has been a major topic of conversation since then. It brings to the surface the ever important discussion of accessibility and being able to view the world outside of our lens. Through Luis' own personal experiences lives between two worlds he was able to understand the important of accessibility and how to "be the spark and light the path" for those students we work alongside. 

A little background about Luis Pérez, as stated on CAST.org, "As a technical assistance specialist for the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials, Luis promotes the creation, delivery and use of high quality accessible educational materials and technologies to support equitable learning opportunities for all students.

Prior to joining the AEM Center, Luis was an independent consultant focusing on mobile learning, UDL and assistive technology. He was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) in 2009 and as a Google in Education Certified Educator in 2014. Luis is President-Elect of the Inclusive Learning Network of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), which named him its 2016 Outstanding Inclusive Educator. He also serves on the board of the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)."

ISTE's 2018 Back to School Technology Guide

As teachers around the country welcome new students through their classroom doors, there is no time better than the present to begin thinking of how you can enhance past practices to create a more engaging learning environment for all learners. 

ISTE's Back to School Technology Guide provides manageable ideas to get your students learning with technology. Whether you want to personalize learning, gamify your classroom or help your students become better digital citizens, there are lesson ideas and educator-tested resources to help you get started.

A Must Read: The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome For All! by Chris Bugaj

In keeping with my resolution of bettering myself both personally and professionally, I've made a promise to read more this year, and the book, The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome for All! by Chris R. Bugaj sits at the top of my books to read.

 

My previous post, The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools: Building or Improving Your District's AT Team, highlighted Bugaj's other book and is another must-read if you haven't delved in already. Be sure to click the link above for more information. 

The New Assistive Tech is a catalyst for breaking down walls between special education and general education, and with the desire to support educators in realizing they possess and can build upon the technical knowledge which can be used to support students with disabilities. Bugaj shifts the focus also onto school districts who often struggle to develop consistent practices for meeting the assistive needs of special education students. Strategies and information presented in this book will help public school educators select, acquire and implement technology to help all students, with particular emphasis on those with special needs.
Book highlights include:

• Details how an educational team can request assistance to determine technology needs.
• Explains how to conduct and document assessments to help an educational team make informed decisions about technology needs.
• Describes a proactive approach to professional development for individuals and for those who train others on the use of technology.
• Assists individuals or teams in creating an action plan for developing a culture of inclusion.
• Interweaves stories, songs and other exciting features to make learning fun!

About the Author
Chris Bugaj is a founding member of the Assistive Technology

Team for Loudoun County Public Schools in Ashburn, Virginia, and co‐author of The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools (ISTE). He hosts the award-winning podcast A.T.TIPSCAST; has presented over 200 sessions at local, national and international events; and has designed and instructed online courses on assistive technology.

Cost
The book can be pre-ordered through the ISTE website. 

ISTE members pay $26.22 and non-ISTE members pay $34.95

Be sure to get your hands on a copy today! 

ISTE's List of 14 Edu Books Worth Reading

14 edu-books worth reading

The new year is upon us and for many in the education field, we are often seeking ways to enhance our professional practice. If you’re one of those looking for inspiration or ideas in an education-themed book then look no further! ISTE members were polled to share their favorite edu-reads. The list created contains books that cover a wide array of topics, and there really is something for everyone. Be sure to read the full article written and compiled by Jennifer Snelling to get a complete description and explanation behind each of the titles suggested below: 

1. Courageous Edventures by Jennie Magiera 

2. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink

3. Equity 101: The Equity Framework by Curtis W. Linton 

4. Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student by A.J. Juliani and John Spencer

5. Lifelong Kindergarten: Cultivating Creativity through Projects, Passion, Peers, and Play by Mitch Resnick 

6. The Media Lab: Inventing the Future at MIT by Stewart Brand

7. Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas by Seymour Papert

8. Qualities of an Effective Teacher by James H. Strong 

9. Start With Why by Simon Sinek

10. Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess
11. Technology and Problem-Based Learning by Lorna Uden and Chris Beaumont

12. The Ten-Minute Inservice: 40 Quick Training Sessions that Build Teacher Effectiveness by Todd Whitaker

13. The Truth Matters: A Citizen's Guide to Separating Facts from Lies and Stopping Fake News in Its Tracks by Bruce Bartlett 

14. Weaponized Lies: How to Think Critically in the Post-Truth Era by Daniel J. Levitin

Source: ISTE

ISTE's Back to School Technology Guide

As teachers around the country welcome new students through their classroom doors, there is no time better than the present to begin thinking of how you can enhance past practices to create a more engaging learning environment for all learners. 

ISTE's Back to School Technology Guide provides manageable ideas to get your students learning with technology. Whether you want to personalize learning, gamify your classroom or help your students become better digital citizens, there are lesson ideas and educator-tested resources to help you get started.

Webinar Wednesday: Global Accessibility Awareness Day Mini-Conference

On the afternoon of May 18th, Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), the ISTE Inclusive Learning Network will be holding its first online mini-conference on digital inclusion with an outstanding line-up of speakers. Below is a schedule for the afternoon. 

*All times are Eastern Daylight Time*

You can sign up to receive a reminder on the day of the mini-conference. Otherwise, you can join us on May 18th starting at 1PM EDT using this link on any PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android device: https://zoom.us/j/201572783

Schedule of Presentations

1 PM – Welcome and Overview (Susie Gronseth)

1:15 PM – Overview of Design Thinking (Mindy Johnson)

1:45 PM – Accessible Learning Materials: Options for Reading (Rhianon Gutierrez)

2:15 PM – Accessible Math (Nancy Kawaja/John McGown – creator of g(Math)/EquatIO )

2:45 PM – Options for Assessment with FreshGrade (Kendra Grant)

3:15 PM – Accessible Coding with Tickle and Sphero (Luis Perez)

3:45 PM – Accessible Maker Spaces (Cindy Anderson)

4:15 PM – 3D Printing (Bill Binko, AT Makers)

4:45 PM – Accessible Seating Options (Jennifer Edge-Savage)

5 PM – Wrap-Up/Closing (Luis Perez, Susie Gronseth)

All sessions will be recorded, with recordings posted on this page after the event.

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SLIDE into Accessibility

  
As stated in an article by NEA regarding UDL (Universal Design Learning), "Educators know that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work when it comes to designing curriculum, instruction, and student assessment. Not all children learn the same way. Not all children express themselves in the same way. And, not all children engage in learning in the same way. Students come to the classroom with a variety of needs, skills, talents, interests, and learning styles."

"For many learners, the typical curriculum is littered with learning barriers and roadblocks. In contrast, a universally designed curriculum is responsive to today’s diverse classrooms and designed from the outset to meet the needs of the greatest number of students. It allows teachers to choose from a menu of tools and strategies embedded in the curriculum and instructional materials."

When working on another blog post regarding accessibility features, I happened upon another fantastic infographic created by Luis Perez. Luis created the "SLIDE" handout/infographic for a seminar at 2016 ISTE conference. SLIDE is an mnemonic device for Styles, Links, Images, Design, Empathy.  

It is important to keep in mind that document accessibility is a complex topic. The following infographic is not intended to be a comprehensive guide, but instead act as a starting point for educators to more seamlessly make their content more accessible. By using these the tips provided as a guideline, educators can work towards creating more inclusive learning environments that allow all learners  access to information.

 "When it comes to making documents more accessible and useful for all learners, small changes can have a significant impact!" - Luis Perez

 

Article written and graphic created by Luis Pérez, Ph. D. 
Click to access the original infographic