The first group that went spoke about different types of technology that would make a good classroom Blog/Website. Here is what I discovered from their presentation:

1.Class Dojo is a great website to be able to connect with parents and students, and whats nice is that parents have the ability to see their child’s progress and assignments and forms the teacher can upload. The link for this website is  https://www.classdojo.com/

2.Jot form:

-You can add an app to your home screen when you download it you get get it on computer and phone. 

-Students can do classroom pulls and online submissions automatically go to teachers email.

-You can fill out permission slips online.

-You can make it password protected and you can also have parents sign in on it for parent teacher communication. 

-Flashcards for tests 

-Free

The link for Jot form is https://www.jotform.com/

3.Seesaw:

-Students can share their work directly with their family on this website

-Good for building communication skills

-Messages: you can create announcements that directly go to all parents 

-Conversations with parents and students 

-You can post students work to share with parents

-You can assign assignments 

-It’s all private and you can choose/approve who is added. 

What make a good class website:

Cost: free websites 

Accessibility: will parents be able to easily use it?

Privacy: can the website be private and password protected?

Check out bright space for links under assignment 2 comments

The link for Seesaw is https://app.seesaw.me

4.Google Sites:

-Public- so don’t post pictures of students

-You can post assignments, field trip forms, and information. Make sure to consider parents who may not be allowed to have contact with their child.

-You can get students to come and classroom pulls and questions

The link for Google Sites is https://sites.google.com

The second group spoke about how we can use technologies that support students with exceptionalities

1.The first technology they spoke about was Eye Gaze technology, and I found this very fascinating to learn about:

Tracks eye movement where a student’s eyes can choose what they want to do on the screen as it tracks their movement.

-students can make selections on the screen three different ways”

1 a switch

2 blink activation

3dwell 

-Very expensive

-sometimes eye tracking technology will not work with certain eyes.

Pros:

-allows students who can’t communicate to communicate

-give students a sense of independence with disabilities

-effective communication 

-present on smart boards

-games you can use with eye gaze technology

2.Immersive Reader: I think Immersive Reader can be an excellent support system for students.

Microsoft word

Read text outline

Change the spacing of words and lines etc

Allow for teachers to have their assignments read aloud to them

Can help students edit their work

Highlighting one word 

-Teachers

-add/adhd

-vision difficulties

Pros:

Free

Easily accessible

3.Breathe, Think do with Sesame Street (App):

App you can download on a phone or tablet

-deep breathing exercises

-Solutions for problems (problem solving)

-Behavioral issues (regulating breathing) 

-Building self sufficiency

Here is where you can find it in the app store https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/breathe-think-do-with-sesame/id721853597.