In this course I we are discussing so many great assistive technology tools that could be utilized in all First Nation schools, but some do not have the access (financially) to this. Also, teacher training on AT is just as important as the financing. If teachers don't have proper training, whether it be Kurzweil, or iSpeech, or Dragon, what's the point in having it?
Of the 13 First Nation communities in Nova Scotia that I work with, some would be considered remote. However, there are communities in this country that can only be visited by plane, or my using ice roads in the winter time. So, even if you have the fund to purchase great AT for your school, how accessibly is the training for teachers on this AT? I will admit, that now of days, teachers can use things like Skype and Webinars to take training, but its certainly not the same.
As mentioned above, iSpeech, is one that I found very interesting from last weeks class:
Speech for developers
iSpeech offers mobile developers a free way to integrate speech into their applications. The iSpeech cloud combines powerful text to speech (TTS) and automated speech recognition (ASR) technologies with easy to use APIs and SDKs. With 100% uptime in 2010, while serving over one half-billion audio files, iSpeech is the go-to solution for quality and stability.
I find that a major problem with some districts is their geographical location. Technology needs to be supported, physically, in order to maintain a functioning supply. Technical support and maintenance is a must. I also find it necessary to have some desire to integrate. We need to explore and allow our students to explore programs even if we are not totally comfortable with them. One big thing I have learned is to let the children teach me. They are like sponges when it comes to technology and using them as a professional resource is the way to go!
ReplyDeleteI agree Allan, First Nation communities have a lot of obstacles to overcome when accessing Assistive Technology. I love the idea of technology being accessed by First Nation communities but that is not always a reality. If they are lucky enough to have the technology, unfortunately it is not always utilized. Lack of training is such a problem for many educators. Upcoming initiatives in Assistive Technology should include training; it should be mandated.
ReplyDeleteI agree Allan that it is shocking how few resources are available in some areas. I also agree that there is little point in having technology and programs if teachers are not trained to use them. So often, programs and assistive technology are left unused because no one knows how to use it effectively.
ReplyDeleteRemote areas have many challenges to face with regards to technology and strong internet connection. We so often take for granted the availability of the internet and how we can so easily become connected. Accessing the internet, for assistive technologies or not, should be a priority for our governments. So many aspects of my daily routine depend upon the internet and I do not know how I would do without it.
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