The Process 

You have selected a reading disability. You will work in groups of three. Within the group, each of you will take on one of the following roles:

Teacher

While you want to enable Cammy to be as successful as possible, you wonder just how much help she will need to function well in the course you teach online.  You notice that she has been working hard in other courses and has one of the highest GPA’s in the program. Your recommendation will be important because you are the expert in educational methodology and content in this area and it is your responsibility to be sure Cammy succeeds in your course.

Student / Parent

You want to find the communication tools and techniques that will enable Cammy (you or your child) to complete the online course and learn the necessary content to be successful in her education.  You believe that the school should spare no expense in providing the best technology available. Your recommendation will be important in insuring that Cammy gets the best education, which she deserves.

Computer Technician/ Administrator

 You are the expert in web course design and computer technology at your university.  You know very little about assistive technologies and have not worked with a student who used or needed assistive technologies.  You believe assistive technology could help Cammy, and need to t know more about specific assistive technology products, or approaches to web course design that may be most beneficial for someone with dyslexia. Your recommendation will probably be given the heaviest weight.

 

1.  Individually, you'll examine the sites below and jot down some notes of your opinions of each from the perspective of your role. Your task is to learn a little more about her problem, determine what would help Cammy achieve her potential, and determine what would be considered reasonable accommodation. Each of your team members will research possible solutions while playing a role of one of the members of a multidisciplinary team.  REMEMBER not to get out of character. 

2.  Your job will be to determine the best solution and present that solution to the Chair of the department. The chair will ask you to justify the cost of the solution based on the benefit to the student and ask you about what kind of needs you will have for the implementation and evaluation of the proposed solution. He will also want to know his legal responsibility.  Be prepared to speak to these issues

 

3.  Study the evaluation rubric before you begin so you know what is expected of you and how you will be evaluated.

4.  Here are a few resources to get you started.  Hopefully they will lead you in many interesting directions.  

Links to Helpful Websites

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/LD/Dyslex/dyssolut.htm

Accommodations

http://learninginfo.com
http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/K-12/k-12.htm

For Parents

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/LD/newpage1.htm

Learning disabilities

http://www.shefc.ac.uk/content/library/dyslexia/contetn/what.html

Dyslexia

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/K-12/k-122.htm

For Administrators

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/Faculty/otherwi.htm

Legal

http://www.dyslexice.com/database/articles/print/language.html

Assisted technology

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/Tech/photo.htm

Assistive technology

http://www.dyslexic.com/database/articles/print/rational.html

Improving readability

http://www.dyslexci.com/database/articles/print/overview.html

Software/hardware

http://www.Idonline.org/Id_indepth/teaching_techniques/teaching-2.html

Classroom accommodations

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/Tech/textto.htm

Text to speech

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/Tech/low-tech.htm

Low tech solutions

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/LD/newpage42.htm

Getting diagnosed

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/K-12/k-124.htm

For Students

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/K-12/k-121.htm 

For Teachers

http://www4.gvsu.edu/create/WWW/Technology%20Links 

Building accessible websites

http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue7/web-access/ 

Internet access and technology

http://www.gwmicro.com/ 

Screen readers

 

5.  When everyone in the group has seen all the sites, you will convene in the chat room to discuss the problem, alternative solutions and to come to agreement on the best solution for Cammy's problem. You are encouraged to use these steps in your process:

Define the Problem
Identify a goal
Gather information
Generate solutions
Evaluate the alternatives
Select best alternative
Evaluate yourself and your group

 

6.  There will probably not be unanimous agreement, so the next step is to talk together to hammer out a compromise consensus about your team's recommendation. Pool your perspectives and see if you can agree on what's best for everyone involved.

7.  One person in each group should record the group's thoughts.

8.  Evaluate yourself and your group using the evaluation rubric.    Do you think the other groups will agree with your conclusions?

 

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PROCESS-READING

PROCESS -VISUAL

 EVALUATION