Assistive Technology Application in the Classroom

1. We have talked about how you can use some of the software tools (like WP, SS, etc) for your students with special needs. This chapter discusses some of the classroom tools. Now, please find one piece of Assistive Technology (AT), give the web address, and explain how it can be used in the classroom - This can apply to something you already use or something you would like to use or get more info about. This AT can be applied in the classroom for special needs students or for regular ed.

　Recently, digital diagrams, including concept maps and idea maps have been used in some of the schools in Taiwan and are verified to be successful and effective in students’ learning especially for those with learning disabilities. One of my colleagues recommended the use of the software, Mind 42, which is accessible from the web address http://www.mind42.com/. Mind Map, also called Graphic Organizers, makes use of lines, images, colors, key words and symbols to make students’ left brain and right brain work together simultaneously. It has some advantages: requires only basic skill, easy for teachers to apply to cross-curriculum programs, student-centered, helpful for cooperative learning, quite flexible and easy to use in academic settings because of its diagrammatic languages.
I’d like to use this software as an assistive teaching tool in my classroom to teach students how to classify ideas and group discussions by developing tree maps, circle maps, bubble maps, etc.


In the followings are some examples for Mind Map.
1.Brace Map：
http://www.mapthemind.com/thinkingmaps/themaps/brace/index.html
2.Bridge Map：
http://thinkingmaps.myteacher.dvusd.com/stories/storyReader$11
3.Bubble Map
http://www.mapthemind.com/thinkingmaps/themaps/bubble/index.html
4.Circle Map
http://thinkingmaps.myteacher.dvusd.com/about
5.Double Bubble Map
http://thinkingmaps.myteacher.dvusd.com/classwork
6. Flow Map
http://thinkingmaps.myteacher.dvusd.com/stories/storyReader$9
7. Multi-flow Map
http://thinkingmaps.myteacher.dvusd.com/stories/storyReader$10
8. Tree Map
http://www.mapthemind.com/thinkingmaps/themaps/brace/index.html




2. Give the web address of one piece of support software you currently use or would like to use.

The software I’d like to use in the classroom in the near future is shown below.
Freemind 0.9.0 B20 (Mind Mapping software)
http://tzoyiing.pixnet.net/blog/post/22523096

ConceptDraw MINDMAP Pro 5.0.5
http://www.104soft.com/software/50123.htm