Educational and Assistive Technology for Self-Directedness and Independent Learning

 Technology can help us in more than just assessment and data, it can help motivate our students to become self directed through independent learning. There are two applications that I love to do that not only do I love, but students do too. 

Prodigy is an online gamified math and English learning game. Students travel through a fantasy world as an avatar encounters beasts and monsters that they must conquer. In order to fight your foe the students must complete math or English problems to be able to cast spells or gain energy. Students love this because of the gamification as well as the instant feedback that they receive while they play, which really promotes self directed independent learning. 

I love it as a teacher because I can set the math and English level for each student where they are and monitor their progress. Additionally, if your student gets stuck there are in-game tutorials that teach your students about the concept while also alerting me that they ran into something they may not understand so that I can assist them. 

Another application that I love is Splash Learn. Splash Learn, while it does have a gaming element, is much more focused on the learning and advancement of the students. Each level is its own game, with multiple types of mini games that students play to earn points and mastery stars as they work through English and Math. 

I can assign my students to a level for free play, but I can also assign them specific learning pods for things that they may be struggling with. Students have to complete these assignments first before they came move into free play. 

Students love being able to work through the problems, as well as the way that they integrate the game and points system with learning. Because of how I can control their lesson availability I can be sure that the students are accessing the problems and learning topics that I want them to focus on, which really allows them to move through independent learning, all while the system is tracing their progress and sharing that data with me. 

Beyond games and learning, the biggest success of technology is the assistive technology that it brings into the classroom.

An FM system is becoming more and more common in our classrooms. These are assistive hearing devices that provide a microphone that a teacher can wear around their neck that will transmit directly to a students hearing aid or into overhead speakers. These are immensely beneficial for students with any kind of hearing loss as it allows them to participate fully without fear of missing anything or becoming left behind. These can also be helpful for students with focusing issues as it can help drown out classroom noise and promote focus.

Text to speech, or speech to text, software and devices are another form of assistive technology that is making our classrooms more accessible. Students who have trouble with motor skills or students who have cognitive function delays can often find themselves left behind in the classroom, even if they may be able to fully participate in the lesson otherwise. These programs can help students who may struggle speaking to find a voice, or students who may have trouble writing to participate in lessons and lectures in a way they may not have been previously able. 

Technology really is a wonder. It can change our classrooms in so many ways, and not only prompt learning, but help us be the best teachers we can be.