Tech Tools

 1.  Moodle  (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is a free open-source learning management system or e-Learning platform, that serves educators and learners across the globe. It is the most widely used LMS in the world and currently has over 68 million users world-wide and growing! Moodle was developed in 2002 by Martin Dougiamas to help educators create online courses with a focus on interaction and collaborative construction of content. Since then, the main development of Moodle is led by Martin and the core team at Moodle Headquarters, as well as hundreds of other developers around the world who have helped fuel the growth of Moodle through contributing and testing code, and being active participants in community forums. Through out my college life, I have used moodle (the University go Guam Moodle) for online courses that I have taken and I believe it is a great tool for online education. I will give this Tech Tool a 5 out of 5 because it has helped me through my college career and is easy to navigate to. 

2. Google Chrome is freeware web browser developed by Google. Google Chrome combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the Web faster, safer and easier. The Google Chrome browser offers features including access to favorite pages instantly with thumbnails, desktop shortcuts to launch web applications and independently run tabs within the browser to prevent browser crashing. Chrome is designed to keep you safer and more secure on the web with built-in malware and phishing protection, auto-updates to make sure that you have all the latest security fixes, and more.There are tons of ways to customise Chrome and make it yours. It's easy to tweak your settings and add apps, extensions and themes from the Chrome Web Store. I have always used Google Chrome way before I started my ED271 class and it has always been one of my favorite web browser. I still use it up to now. I just love how easy it is to get to and how I can customise  my own web browser. I will give Google chrome a 5 out of 5.

 3. Google apps Google Apps is a package of cloud-based services that can provide your company or school with a whole new way to work together online—not just using email and chat, but over video conferences, social media, real-time document collaborations, and more. It includes Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and other core Google Apps services, as well as additional services like Google+, Hangouts, Blogger and more.There are four different versions of Google Apps: Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Google Apps for Government, and Google Apps for Education. I think google apps is very helpful to help students keep assignments or work organised and it is all in one Tech Tool google apps. I give this a 5 out of 5 as well. 

4. Live Binders is a virtual 3 ring binder that you can put pretty much anything in. Webpage, PDF, image, video, text: they all can go into a page organized for you. Each item can be on it's own tab or you can further organize by using sub-tabs. My first time using live binders is in my ED271 class. I really liked it because you are able to put your favorite links from the internet onto your live binders. You can also organise it and share it with future colleague in the future. I found this tech tool helpful in the future and see myself using when I become a teacher. I give this tool a 4 out of 5. 

5. Prezi is a new and fun way to present presentations. Prezi is a presentation tool that can be used as an alternative to traditional slide making programs such as PowerPoint. Instead of slides, Prezi makes use of one large canvas that allows you to pan and zoom to various parts of the canvas and emphasize the ideas presented there. Prezi may seem overwhelming to you due to the blank canvas but once you try it and play around with it you will get the hang of it. I give this a 3 out of 5.

6. Wix is the biggest player in the website builder landscape and hosts a whopping 80 million websites. The visually impressive layouts are designed for small businesses, restaurants, online stores and artists such as musicians and photographers. AlthoughI think Wix is a great website creator, I found it hard for me to navigate and put things together for my group project. I guess as you play with it and get used to it you get in the hang of it. I give this a 3 out of 5. 

7. Whatsapp WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. WhatsApp Messenger is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia and yes, those phones can all message each other! Because WhatsApp Messenger uses the same internet data plan that you use for email and web browsing, there is no cost to message and stay in touch with your friends. In addition to basic messaging WhatsApp users can create groups, send each other unlimited images, video and audio media messages. This tool is my absolute favorite. It is a great way to get ahold of your group members or colleagues because you can create group chats and what not. Another cool thing about it is that you do not need a phone. There's whatsapp web which i just figured out not to long ago. I give this a 5 out of 5.

8. Emaze is an online presentation platform built on html5 technology. Users can create, manage, and share presentations through a cloud-based SaaS system. Emaze offers a variety of presentation templates including formats using 3D animations and video backgrounds to make online presentations stand out.When I first used this online presentation tool, it took me a while to get used too. However, with this tool I delivered a creative, colourful presentation for one of my classes and I really liked how it turned out. I give this tech tool a 4 out of 5. 

Assistive Technology in Education

            In the video, Assistive Technology: Enabling Dreams, a young college student from the University of Washington named Susanna Sweeney-Martini states, “ Assistive Technology is the major foundation of my life, without it I could not exist as I am today…” (The George Lucas Educational Foundation, 2005) Being able to utilize the AT, she no longer has a difficult time with her learning ability. Susanna is able to continue with her daily school and social life.

            Everyone learns differently. Being a teacher you would have to consider in a lesson plan how the lesson could be modified if a student is having a difficult time with the lesson. Classroom lessons should be effective to improve students’ performance.  No child should be left behind which is why I believe that it is important for a teacher to create an equal opportunity for student learning.

            For my ASL class, I got to go to the Guam System for Assistive Technology located at the University of Guam Dean Circle.  According to Guam System for Assistive Technology, “GSAT provides assistive technology–related services to the Guam community to help children and adults with disabilities live productive, independent, and quality lives.” (GSAT, n.d) When I first heard this program, I did not know what it was and when I got to the place and learned the many things that it offered I was amazed. I got to experience the different assistive technology provided. I also got to hear stories about how the people that works there have changed many people’s lives on Guam. It was such a great experience.

            In conclusion, educators must be aware of the different kinds of learners present within the classroom to ensure that every person has their needs provided for. With assistive technology at our fingertips, Teachers should make use of it because it is what’s going to help a child with disabilities succeed with education.

Guam System For Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2016, from http://gsatcedders.org/about-us/what-is-gsat/

How Assistive Technology Enables Dreams. (2005). Retrieved May 16, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video