Teachers Using Technology
Do you know of a great use of technology by a Westfield Teacher? Share your own technology tip with me or nominate another teacher!
Teacher of the Week: Sandy Beaty, CRES Resource Teacher
Tool: Assistive Technology Tools
In this edition of “Teachers using Technology,” I interviewed Sandy Beaty about Assistive Technology. Here’s what she had to say.
Hi Sandy, I understand that you’ve been on a bit of a digital journey in the last few years. Could you give us some background about how you approached technology before this?
Honestly, I tried to embrace it, but it made me anxious. I used it when I had to but certainly didn’t feel comfortable stepping out and trying new things.
Ok, so recently you were working with a student who was really struggling. Can you share some of the general learning difficulties this student was having?
This student, a first grader at the time, was able to identify letter names and sounds in isolation but could not blend them. As such, he couldn’t read (in the conventional way) and he was unable to get all of his thoughts/knowledge down in writing because he couldn’t spell. We tried all kinds of programs/strategies to help him. Nothing was working.
And then you decided to try some Assistive Technology with this student. What was that technology and how did it help?
I called in the AT team to do an observation and then the uPar assessment. They set him up with talk-to-text for writing. He uses an app to get his classroom worksheets read to him; he is also able to write or talk-to-text on them to record his answers and then forward his completed worksheets to his teacher’s Google Drive. We were able, through technology, to determine that although his independent reading level was kindergarten, his comprehension level was mid-fourth grade. He is now able to read books at his comprehension level via a text reader and participate in Accelerated Reader ‘contests.’
So how is this student doing now? How has technology helped the student to learn and grow? How has this made a difference for the student’s parents?
The AT team and technology changed this student’s life. I don’t say this lightly; I mean they changed his life. Once given the technology, he looked at me and said, “Mrs. Beaty, I am smart, aren’t I?” He didn’t realize how much knowledge he did have; he was just stuck in not being able to read and write. Prior to getting this technology set up for him, he felt defeated...as a 6 year old. Now, he has access and is able to respond to grade-level material. His parents, of course, were very concerned. They realized the struggles he was having with reading and writing. When we shared the results of the computerized reading assessment (that reported his comprehension level to be mid-fourth grade), they were relieved and excited! This is a work-in-progress, but we (student, parents, teacher, AT team, Resource team) are working together to use the technology to help this student.
How did this experience shape how you think about assistive technology?
It has completely turned around my anxiety with assistive technology and opened my mind to jumping in and trying new things. I am amazed at the almost immediate, positive effect assistive technology has had on this student’s life and others that are using it as well. This has motivated me to keep searching for assistive technology tools to help our students. This experience has been a game changer!
How do you see yourself growing and using technology as a tool to increase learning and make learning accessible to students in the future?
I am learning something new everyday right along with my students. I am really excited about learning new tools and being able to help students show what they know and feel confident in their abilities.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us today!
Connect with Sandy: beatys@wws.k12.in.us Phone: 317-867-6256
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