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Assistive Technology:Exploring the Experiences & Perspectives of Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions
2010 Bridges to Learning ConferenceMay 14-15, 2010Mississauga, ON
Donna McGhie-Richmond, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria
Breanne Poland, Undergraduate Student, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria
Lynsay Han, Undergraduate Student, Psychology, University of Victoria
Anne Hill, Instructor, Fanshawe College Barb Welsford, Coordinator, Assistive Technology Centre, South
Shore Regional School Board; Acadia University Diane Galambos, Professor, Sheridan Institute of Advanced
Learning and Technology Gabrielle Young, Doctoral Candidate, University of Western
Ontario
Begin a conversation…
the role of Canadian post-secondary institutions in preparing teachers and educational assistants to teach students who require and use assistive technology
One student’s experience…
Breanne PolandUndergraduate student
Faculty of EducationUniversity of Victoria
43% of a sample of BC teachers reported feeling unprepared to teach the diverse range of students in their
classrooms (Naylor, 2002)
Naylor, C. (2002). BC teachers views of Special Education issues. British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, Vancouver, BC
26% of all aids needed for children with special needs are AT devices, such as text-to-speech
software, spell checkers, touch-screen computers, laptops, computers with Braille or
speech access and voice activated software (Statistics Canada, 2008).
Statistics Canada. (2008, May 27). Participation and Activity Limitation Survey: Education experiences of children with disabilities. The Daily. Retrieved March 22, 2010, from http:www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080527/dq080527a-eng.htm
Multiple studies have shown that the majority of teachers of students with
special needs consider themselves to lack knowledge of AT (Smith, et al, 2009)
Smith, D. W., Kelly, P., Maushak, N. J., Griffin-Shirley, N., & Lan, W. Y. (2009). Assistive technology competencies for teachers of students with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 103(8), 457-469.
• Inclusive education policies and practices • increasing use and benefit of assistive
technologies• requires that AT education and training is
requisite in all classroom contexts• All teachers need to be knowledgeable about
needs of students who require AT, AT tools and strategies, and their curricular implementation
U.S. Policies
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the National Council for the Accreditation of
Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Association for Childhood Education International promote
instructional change by emphasizing the importance of the knowledge and training of
pre-service educators on the implementation of AT devices
Manning, J. B., & Carpenter, L. B. (2008). Improving Learning for Preservice Teachers. Assistive Technology WebQuest, 52(6), 47-52.
Ministry of Education Policy
…when students with special needs require specialized instruction, assessment and/or
assistive technologies, this should be done in consultation with a school or district/authority team, the parents, and, when appropriate, the
student.
• MOE Provincial Resource Program assists school districts in educating students whose access to the curriculum is restricted due to disabilities
• lend assistive technologies (reading, writing, and communication tools) where required, and
• assist school districts in providing training for students and educators in the use of technologies
Currently, how are Canadian universities and colleges preparing teachers and educational assistants to teach students who use assistive technology? – Teacher: pre-service & graduate levels– Educational Assistants– Required or elective coursework
Preliminary Investigation of Policies & Course Offerings (Lynsay Han)
• Province and territory policies on AT collected through website search of provincial Ministries of Education – 1st search of websites for specific regulations and
requirements for teacher license or certification – 2nd search of listings of workshops or courses for
teachers
McGhie-Richmond, D. & Han, L. (2010). Assistive technology training for teachers: A preliminary look at provincial policies and training Canadian university requirements and offerings. (in preparation)
University Pre-service & Graduate AT Courses
• Internet- search using Canada’s Higher Education and Career Guide (2010) of all universities that offer pre-service, graduate, post baccalaureate and diploma/certificate program in education
• Institutional websites searched for course catalogues & academic calendars for program requirements and electives
• Course titles & descriptions searched for descriptors, taken partly from Judge et al. (2009): Assistive Technology, special education technology, augmentative communication, alternative communication, adaptive technology, Braille, technology for students with disabilities and technology for the visually impaired.
• E-mail sent to the registrar’s office on whether courses in AT devices were offered or required.
McGhie-Richmond, D. & Han, L. (2010). Assistive technology training for teachers: A preliminary look at provincial policies and training Canadian university requirements and offerings. (in preparation)
What we found…
• 42 Canadian post-secondary institutions offering pre-service and graduate teacher education programs
• No institution was found to require an AT course as part of their program
• Technology courses are variably required• AT courses are variably offered as electives in
certificate, diploma, graduate programsMcGhie-Richmond, D. & Han, L. (2010). Assistive technology training for teachers: A preliminary look at provincial policies and training Canadian university requirements and offerings. (in preparation)
• 2 undergraduate (introductory) and graduate (advanced) level courses
• Electives• Hybrid and seminar delivery
Eastern Canada University & College Experiences…• Anne Hill, Instructor, Fanshawe College• Barb Welsford, Coordinator, Assistive
Technology Centre, South Shore Regional School Board; Acadia University
• Diane Galambos, Professor, Sheridan Institute of Advanced Learning and Technology
• Gabrielle Young, Doctoral Candidate, University of Western Ontario
Course Focus Topics
INTRODUCTORY
• Accessible learning• Integration of AT into
curriculum• Assessment, planning
& decision-making
• UDL• Planning & decision-making models
(SETT, WATI, Participation Model, IEP, implementation plan, unit & lesson planning)
• Common technologies: Tools for participation; literacy, numeracy & concept development; organization; communication
ADVANCED Research/theoretical Perspective: Relative to role of AT for student participation & learning
As in Introductory
Ontario College ResponsesAnne Hill, Instructor, Fanshawe College
College Course Focus Topics
FANSHAWE - DSW Augmentative Communication
Communication Boardmaker
MOHAWK - EA Computers in an Educational Setting
Introduction to basic computer programs - lab
Ministry licensed OSAPAC software
Adaptive Technology
Introductory lab to use and complete assignments based on the software
Dragon NS; Writing with Symbols and others; but for some Kurzweil - website demo
College Course Focus Topics
NORTHERN - EA Introduction to Assistive Technology
Implementation; what to look for when selecting AT; environments that need to be considered; who needs to be consulted; and who needs to be trained among other things.
Four Programs Introduced: Dragon NS, K3000, TextHELP, and Inspiration
College Course Focus Topics
SHERIDAN - EA Assistive Technology course (required)
‘Mobile’ Laptop program; required to use 24/7 to support learning
ST. CLAIR - EA Assistive Technology
Directly taught Boardmaker; visit local school and in tour see SMART boards, other AT in action
Lab: Boardmaker & assignment on one piece of demo AT software
• Laurentian University – AT course as AQ (Fall 2010)
Barb Welsford, Coordinator, Assistive Technology Centre, South Shore Regional School Board; Acadia University
Gabrielle Young, Doctoral Candidate, University of Western Ontario
What are your experiences? • Are post-secondary AT courses offered by your jurisdiction?
By whom?• What standards or guidelines are used to guide course
development? Consistency?• What knowledge, understandings, and competencies are
being developed?• What instructional models are followed? What is effective?
(Stand alone courses, infusion)• What are the opportunities for practice?• At universities and colleges what incentives, support, and
resources are available to faculty to incorporate AT into their coursework (i.e., time, mentoring, course release, recognition re: promotion, etc.)?
Roundtable Discussion(~ 30 – 45 minutes)
• Consider and discuss questions in group • Document perspectives, experiences, vision,
recommendations • Be prepared to report back
Next Steps…