Through my class I was introduced to an article about a new form of technology. This comes through using ipads and ipods in the form of assistive technology for children and students in classrooms. Not only are there many applications that can be accessed and used for different situations, but they are also very easy to store, are portable, and very light for younger students. As defined by Andrea Prupas: Assistive technology is a broad term for any device that helps an individual bypass the challenges associated with their disability. There are multiple categories of assistive technology, designed for different populations and different purposes. The assistive technology that inov8 Educational Consulting uses can be divided into two categories: “learning and educational aids” and “augmentative communication aids.” Learning and educational aids are specifically designed to help an individual actively engage in the learning process and overcome academic difficulties. Augmentative communication aids are technologies that provide individuals with an alternative method of understanding or communicating language. Assistive technologies must meet the specific needs of an individual that requires it, and not the other way around. Our key guiding principle with assistive technology recommendations is: person first, technology second. It is very interesting to see these new types of tecnology that can be used in many different situations and with the wide array of downloadable applications, there are many new amounts of information that students can access.
Another type of assisted technology that could be considered along these realms would be the new nook. This is a type of technology that can help students who struggle with reading because it bring books into computer form for students who have trouble reading. The text can be many different kinds and allow for students to zoom in if they have trouble with reading. This also allows for portability and ease in storage.
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