Join Together

1
Join Together Technology Use in Deaf Education

• Shelley Popson Ardis
• Technology Specialist/Consultant
• Resource Materials Technology Center
  Deaf/Hard of Hearing (RMTC) (w/ FDLRS)
• ardiss_at_fsdb.k12.fl.us

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Levels of Technology Competence Master Teachers
Faculty

• Rated themselves proficient in using or doing
• Internet searches
• Presentation software
• Online discussions
• Cochlear implants
• TTY/TDD

Survey, Fall 2003
3
Things they WANT to learn

• Electronic portfolios
• Wireless handhelds
• Digital cameras, video
• Web page development
• Video conferencing Video Relay Service (VRS)
• Content Specific Software

4
Things they WANT to learn

• Innovative deaf-related technologies
• Sign Smith (3D signing characters)
• VREAL (3D senarios)
• Baldi (3D speech training)
• Voice-to-Text (or Sign) Systems such as the
  SignTel Interpreter or iCommunicator

5
How They WANT to Learn

• Preference of Instruction
• Workshops
• Face-to-Face with email or phone follow-up
• Mentoring/Coaching

People in education want to work with people!
6
Teaching Strategies Technology Connections

• Goal 2.2 of the Join Together Grant studied Best
  Practices in instruction in the Content Areas
• We looked at technologies that support those
  instructional practices

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Other concepts investigated

• Professional Development Schools
• Distance Learning Models
• Learning Communities Study Groups (online and
  local f2f)
• PT3 Grants, Faculty Development Models
• Lack of research regarding technology and deaf
  education at the K12 level

8
Classroom Technology Research

• Recently, technologies making a positive impact
• Studies with students who are at-risk, ESL,
  disabled
• Few to no studies focusing on Deaf/HH students
• Deafness related studies and educational projects
  end when the money runs out or are never
  replicated

9
Classroom Technology Research

• Looking into doing comparison and other studies
• SmartBoards (Digital White Board systems)
• eInstruction CPS (Individual Response Systems)
• Inspiration Kidspiration
• Picture, or Sign, to Text programs

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Collaboration Opportunities

• What, or Who, is the Join Together Grant?
• Eight Topical Teams
• Faculty
• Pre-service Teachers
• Master Teachers
• Nationally Certified Teachers

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How to Get Involved

• Nominate Master Teachers
• Seek opportunities by making yourself available
  to Topical Team Leaders - look into the team that
  works on activities matching your own interest or
  area of expertise

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Current Activities

• Virtual Study Groups
• Eight technology topics
• Co-facilitators - 1 Master Teacher and 1 Faculty
• Participants -
• Faculty
• Master Teachers
• Pre-service Teachers
• Collaborating through
• Bulletin Boards
• Email
• Video Phone Conferences

13
Current Activities

• Deaf/HH College Student Technology Interviews
• Technologies used in college courses for
  presentation and as accommodations
• Communication technologies such as text-messaging

14
Current Activities

• Publishing
• Online Modules - informational content that can
  be incorporated into pre-service or in-service
  activities
• Studies - Surveys, Comparison Studies, Case
  Studies, etc.
• Conference Presentations
• Articles

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What collaborative technologies are being used?

• Deafed.net
• Bulletin Boards
• Calendar
• Document Sharing
• Videoconferencing using H.323 standard equipment
• Videoconferencing using webcams personal
  computers (Mac Win)
• Web-meeting programs

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Whats Next?

• Beginning the final year of the Join Together
  grant
• Seeking participants for Study Groups (Fall 05)
• Seeking people willing to collaborate and share
  expertise and interests

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Thank You!

• For this opportunity to share this information
• Keep in touch!
• Shelley Popson Ardis
• ardiss_at_fsdb.k12.fl.us