Cathleen+Rogich

This is the home page of Cathy Rogich   This home page is intended to create a space where useful information about Assistive Technology can be shared with others. My Philosophy of Technology in Education-
 * Goal-

  <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Technology in education has created opportunities         <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Impact, Charcoal, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for many students to become engaged in the world of learning and discovery. One of the misconceptions about technology is that it it is " sophisticated", "complicated" and "costly". Actually, a technological tool can range from "low-tech" pencil grips or slant boards, to "high-tech" augmentative commuication devices or instructional software. The diversity of technological options has widened the range of potential users, and has expanded the ways in which teachers can instruct a variety of students. Technology assists all students, but especially those with disabilities. Our job as educators is to make sure that our students receive the most appropriate assistive technology available. This means that we need to be informed about the wide array of products that are being offered for the specific needs of the students we are serving. ** <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**Useful websites about Assistive Technology-** <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.cac.org] <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**This website has information about the agency now known as EmpowerTech (formally Computer Access Center). Its mission is to "train, support, and empower people with physical and developmental disabilities through computer-related assitive technology." They also provide resources and links to websites that offer AT products and services.**

<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.lburkhart.com] <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This website is run by my children's former elementary school principal. Her home page is titled, "Simplified Technology". There is a great deal of information available: AT and AAC Basics; handouts; books and products; vendor lists; and web links. She discusses how technology can be integrated into both elementary and middle school classrooms **. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.edc.org/FSC/NCIP] **The National Center to Improve Practice is "an online workshop and guided tour of early childhood classrooms set up with assitive technology." The issues of students with disabilites are discussed; AT resources and weblinks are extensive.**

__<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.ataccess.org] __**This site was created by the Alliance for Technology Access. This a resource list of developers and distributors of products, services and devices for AT.**

__<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.educationworld.com] __
 * Just click on "tech intergration" at the top of the page. This section includes: "tech tips", " techtorials", "on the internet", "using technology", " Web Quests", "tech in the classroom" . A lot of resources are available for teachers.

<span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Useful websites about literacy and content- area learning- **

__<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.bookadventure.org] __
 * This site includes a free reading incentive program for students in grades K-8. There are also recommended reading lists available; students can create their own book lists.**

__<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.scholastic.com/kids] __ __[|www.kidsknowit.com].__ <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**This is a free educational learning site that has a huge selection of topics: animals, astronomy, biology, geography, math, memory, spelling, etc. It has great graphics and information, as well as activites and games**. <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 140%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 140%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Modified paper- enlarged, raised line, graph paper <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talking calculator with speech output ([|www.independentliving.com]) <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calculators with large print, keypad, embossed output (Braille N Speak) <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Computer based on-screen calculator <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adapted measuring devices (speech output, large print, tactile output)  **  <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.multiplication.com] **  <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.studyworks.com] <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.flashblaster.com] <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
 * Interactive site that includes games, learning and reading activities, software reviews, the Magic School Bus**.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AT Devices and Software that help teaching and learning math skills- **  <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 140%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mathpad ** <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">( <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.intellitools.com] <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Access to Math ** (<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.donjohnston.com] <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)

<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**AT Related Articles-** <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">   <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.ldonline.org/article/9924] <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This article is entitled,"Boosting Inclusion in After School Activities with AT and Supplemental Devices". I recommend this article because it addresses the social implications of disability in schools, and finding ways to include disabled students in extracurricular activities. They discuss how AT devices can be utilized in theater, music, academic clubs, and athletics. **

<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|www.post-gazette.com/pg/07144/788463.56.stm] <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**This article," Classrooms of the Future", discusses the use of interactive wireless computers by students and teachers during class in high school. The school claims that it has increased the pace of instruction as well as enhanced student learning.**


 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to use Wikispace-

**<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**I intend to use this homepage as a way of collaborating with a network of co-learners. As I gain more experience in the classroom, I will be able to provide more resources that will be of use to those interested in assistive technology. I believe that Wikispaces offers teachers the ability to communicate in "real time", allowing the most current information to be accessed by all users. Because the field of assisitive technology is rapidly changing and growing, it will be helpful to check in with other teachers to gain their perspective on new and interesting products.

<span style="font-size: 140%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Plans for increased knowledge of AT and homepage content usability-

I plan on learning more about the uses of AT in schools by continued observations, online support, such as Wikispaces, consultation with teachers experienced in AT, workshops and current articles related to the field. As I continue on my educational path, I will add more content to this page.**