Rationale

Context:  In my FDN3100 class, we had a workshop on meeting the needs of exceptional students.  We learned a variety of free methods to help this special population.  We accessed an application on the computer desktop that allowed us to adjust the setting, contract and font size of the computer screen; by going to START, Control Panel, “Accessibility Options”, “Display” and clicking on “High Contrast” and “Apply”.  High contrast makes the background black and the font white and larger.   We then viewed a presentation of “ReadPlease”, a program that can be downloaded for free from www.readplease.com.  This program will read anything typed into the text box, from e-mail to tests and classroom assignments.  We then visited the website www.ldonline.org.  At this website I visited a link called ABC’s of LD/ADHD where I was able to access information about various learning disabilities.  I then printed this off for my files.

            The next part of the workshop, we visited the website http://world.altavista.com/ where we used the Babel Fish Translator to translate a message written in English to a different language, I did English-Spanish.  We also were able to type in a website address and view it in a different language.  I viewed yahoo.com in Japanese.  We then visited another website dedicated to ESL, English as a second language, students.  This website had lesson plans, teaching tips and general information about diverse students.

Impact:  When I teach, I might have students with visual challenges.  I can use high contrast and the ReadPlease program to help them in my classroom. 

When I teach, I will have students with learning disabilities in my classroom.  I can use this website as a resource for myself and parents of my students.  I will also be able to access lesson plans and other information related to special needs students. 

When I teach, I will have students in my classroom with parents that speak English as a second language.  I will use the Babel Fish Translator and other ESL websites to send home e-mails, newsletters and homework assignments to the parents and students in their native language; this will ensure no miscommunications between parents and me. 

Alignment:

• NETS-T  IIA, VIB, and VIC have been met by learning a variety of ways to help students who have special needs.  It is important that I accommodate students with visual challenges, learning disabilities, English as a second language, and hearing disabilities.