Learning Disabilities and Information Technology
Learning Disabilities and Information Technology
Welcome to Learning Disabilities and Information Technology, an online class that will address how you can assist students who have learning disabilities to be successful in the postsecondary setting with the aid of assistive technology.
This course is designed for educators and other professionals who work to support students with learning disabilities by using assistive technology (AT) in the postsecondary setting. Topics include developing an understanding of learning disabilities, legislation, universal design in education, Web accessibility, and an introduction to a great variety of tools that are available. Participants will go away with knowledge and resources that will enable them to be proactive rather than reactive when approached by a student who is requesting assistance.
Cynthia Curry and Deb Dimmick are the instructors of this course. We are delighted to be here with you and look forward to sharing ideas and discussion with you! Along with the instructional team, we have a technical coordinator to assist you during the course. Dick Banks, cia EASI, will be available for online support if you experience technical difficulties.
You have a role in this collaborative effort. Through the sharing of thoughts, ideas, revelations, questions, concerns, and experiences, you will help others to increase understanding of concepts and procedures involved in determining assistive technology needs, while developing your own expertise. Your active participation in group discussions and activities will be essential in this course. In order to keep abreast of discussions and to maintain active participation, you should plan on contributing to online discussions at least three (3) times per week.
The Communication area of Blackboard will host our online learning community. Here, Discussion Board forums, specific to defined topics and issues, will be established weekly. The first Discussion Board forum is titled "Introductions." Please make your first contribution to our online learning community by posting an introduction of yourself in this forum, including the following points:
In order to participate in this course fully, you need to make sure that you have the following:
As an active participant of this course, you will learn to:
We are looking forward to getting to know each of you! To participate in the course, you need either Internet Explorer (recommended) or Netscape Navigator You also need either speakers for your computer, or headphones. Plan to schedule regular and frequent "computer time" for this course so that you may actively participate in our online learning community discussions and activities
The organization, objectives, format for communication, and activities ncluded in this course are designed to provide you with a strong foundation in understanding the educational needs of students who have learning disabilitiy in the postsecondary setting. We encourage you to go beyond the minimum equirements of participation and be a "lively and lucid" online learner!