First Class

It was great so see familiar faces when I arrived at Acadia this morning for our Assistive Technology class! Assistive technology is a new learning experience for me. I don't have any experience or knowledge with devices from the past or present; however, I have already taken the leap and purchased an iPad and an iPhone. I am very excited to learn how I can incorporate these into my classroom!

With the new forms of technology developing rapidly, we are seeing a convergence of technologies. This convergence requires us to create a new perspective towards assistive technologies, new theories, new products and new practices. The iPad, iPod and iPhone are being labeled as disruptive technologies. Disruptive technologies are known as new products that replace previously existing technologies. They are universally designed learning devices. This means that due to the high number of people who are buying them, they are more affordable and accessible. They are also portable, functional, inclusive and attractive for children.


The apps we explored today were Pic Collage and Book Creator. They were very user friendly and could be easily adapted into any classroom and used with all students.

This is my Pic Collage that I created in class today. It represents all the things that are precious to me. This was a very fun activity that I would like to do with my students in September. I think they would enjoy it just as much as I did!

Book Creator is a very interactive program that allows students to create personalized books. Students can insert text, images, personal pictures and audio. Once the book is complete, students can publish their book and export it to iTunes. This allows students to feel like a real accomplished author author. Below is a tutorial video on how to use Book Creator.