MDE-LIO continues to contract with a group of individuals who have skills and interest in the area of technology for students with visual impairments. Team members for the 2009-2010 school year include: Cathy McAdam, Ted Lennox, Pat Love-Sypho, Ann McKay-Bacon, Scott Norris, Sharon Reigle, John Whitacre and Peter Zaremba.
The team is focusing on seven areas for the school year:
- Developing and teaching regional on-demand technology classes for professionals and parents.
Seven classes in this series are currently available.
- Teaching Microsoft Word Using JAWS for Windows.
- Intermediate - Teaching Microsoft Word Using JAWS for Windows.
- Teaching Internet Explorer Using JAWS for Windows.
- Basic BrailleNote Training.
- Advanced BrailleNote Training.
- Teaching the QWERTY BrailleNote.
- Teaching Microsoft Word Using ZoomText
Information on these classes can be found on the Regional Technology Classes page.
- Four more classes in the series will be available this school year. (Teaching Outlook 2007 Using JAWS, Teaching Excel Using JAWS, and Advanced Microsoft Word Using JAWS for Windows) Stay tuned to the MDE-LIO Web site to see when these classes become available.
- Classes under development include: Using Portable Devices to Download and Access Books, Using APH Technology Products to Enhance Student's Learning, and Teaching Internet Explorer Using ZoomText. As these classes become available they will be posted on the MDE-LIO Web site.
- Developing and teaching regional on-demand technology classes for middle and high school students.
- Three classes (Hands-On QWERTY BrailleNote Training for Students, Teaching Advanced Internet Explorer Using JAWS for Students, and Advanced BrailleNote Training) in this series are currently available. Information on these classes can be found on the Regional Technology Classes page.
- Other classes in this series which will be available later this school year are: Advanced – Teaching Microsoft Word Using JAWS for Students, Advanced Outlook 2007 Using JAWS, and Advanced Internet Explorer Using ZoomText. Stay tuned to the MDE-LIO Web site to see when these classes come available.
- Developing and teaching regional on-demand American Printing House for the Blind (APH) technology classes.
Classes under development in this series are: Mobile Manager, Studio Recorder, Teacher’s Pet and MoneyTalk. Stay tuned to the MDE-LIO website to see when these classes come available.
- Managing the technology listserv to further assist with enhancing and/or developing technology skills. This listserv is available to those individuals who have taken one of the regional on-demand technology classes.
- Developing and teaching a “train the trainers” class for potential MDE-LIO technology instructors.
A “train the trainers” class is being developed to train interested parties to be JAWS instructors for the regional on-demand technology classes.
- Continuation of implementing a student technology pilot project in partnership with an ISD or LEA.
The focus of this project is to work with a program for students with visual impairments to help them evaluate their technology program by using student outcomes. The primary focus of this project is for students in third through eighth grades. Components include student assessments, analysis of assessments for program improvement, staff training, parent training, and student instruction.
- MDE-LIO is currently providing direct technology instruction to Detroit elementary and middle school students.
- Development of a resource section of the Web site.
The resource page will include informational articles, handouts from some of the technology classes, and links to other technology resources.
For more information about the technology team and planned activities please contact:
Pat Love-Sypho
lovep@michigan.gov
(888) 760-2206 ext. 2735
(810) 760-2735