|
|
||
ReportsArun Tripathi passed on information about EASI, "Equal Access to Software and Information," to WAOE-Views in early March. This article takes a closer look at what the organisation has to offer.
Here are the organisation's main objectives and its claims for the attention of online and other educators concerned in particular with addressing the needs of people with disabilities:
" We cover Internet media dealing with educational technologies and/or also information technology for people with disabilities. This includes audio and video presentations on these topics available on the Internet."EASI is a project of the TLT Group (Teaching, Learning & Technology), which is an Affiliate of the American Association for Higher Education. Projects, Activities and Publications. From the WWW home page you can access a wide variety of services:"EASI's mission is to serve as a resource to the education community by providing information and guidance in the area of access-to- information technologies by individuals with disabilities. We stay informed about developments and advancements within the adaptive computer technology field and spread that information to colleges, universities, K-12 schools, libraries and into the workplace."
"Our supporters and friends comprise people from colleges, universities, businesses and other institutions. They include computing staff, disabled student services staff, faculty, administrators, vendors, representatives of professional associations, private consultants, heads of both non-profit and for-profit organizations, faculty and staff from K-12 schools, and students."
SEMINARS AND ONLINE WORKSHOPS:
In conjunction with the Rochester Institute of Technology (which offers course credits for them), two workshops are offered online several times a year. The registration fee of $275 each was a little steep to pay up for the purposes of review - and it may be beyond the means or willingness to pay of some WAOE members (although the cost is not that high by developing Internet standards) - so the following statements come straight from the relevant Web page.Barrier-Free Web Design
This is a four-week workshop offered every couple of months. It is designed to demonstrate how to create web pages that are both visually appealing and fully accessible to users with print disabilities. The workshop is largely self-instruction and self-paced, but it also includes frequent interaction with instructors and participants. It includes multimedia slides with narated audio, video clips, audio discussions and text and graphic materials. Besides teaching universal web design, it is intended to model how to use multimedia on the web in ways that enhance access for all users. By combining multiple communication modes, the workshop increases its accessibility for everyone. The guidelines recently announced by the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Access Initiative are included in the course. The workshop focus is on accessibility features in web design rather than being an in-depth course in HTML. It is aimed at people who know web design and want to understand accessibility issues, and for those wanting to understand access issues to better talk with designers.Barrier-Free Education Technology
This is also a four-week online workshop available bimonthly. It provides an overview to the topic of adaptive computing technology and is ideal for administrators, teachers, librarians, computer support staff, ADA compliance officers and service providers. The workshop is delivered using e-mail and multimedia materials on the web. Multimedia presentations both enriches the content and makes it more accessible to participants with different learning styles and different disabilities. The workshop is designed to encourage and facilitate interactions between instructors and participants and among participants.ELECTRONIC DISCUSSION LISTS:
EASI supports three major public discussion lists: EASI, AXSLIB-L and EASI-SEM. The EASI List focuses on general discussion about adaptive equipment, access issues and other disability and computer topics. AXSLIB-L is the library access list, called. EASI-SEM specializes in materials to advance access to science, engineering and math for students and professionals in those areas.We looked just at the EASI list, which has 589 subscribers and is archived back to January 1998. The following selection of topics covered in February and March 2000 looks fairly representative, and well illustrates the highly practical bent of the list:
To subscribe to the EASI list, send e-mail to listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu saying sub easi (and include your first and last names).Accessible prototyping software? Blind Community E-Mail Directory The Good Side Of Regulation - Internet World Question re accessibility features of WebCT and Blackboard au thoring tools ALA Draft Policy on Disabilities Service Braille displays with more than one line Website accessibility Appropriate typing programs Do's and Don'ts IBM Accessibility Guidelines (2 messages) Scanning with Text Bridge (4 messages) Successful Strategies for Getting What You Want from Government What comes after high school for teens with disabilities? Free opportunity from Canada: Online Learning and Students with Disabilities
To subscribe to the AXSLIB-L list, send e-mail to listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu saying sub axslib-l (and include your first and last names).
To subscribe to the EASI-SEM list, send e-mail to listserv@listserver.isc.rit.edu saying sub easi-sem (and include your first and last names).ELECTRONIC JOURNAL:
EASI publishes a quarterly electronic journal, "Information Technology and Disabilities," which focuses on technology issues that relate to people with disabilities. It is published and archived (incompletely) on the Web, with hyperlinks to articles, back to January 1994. Again, a small sampling of article titles will give some idea of the range and interest of the content and the wide professional (and geographic) spread of contributors. As with the EASI discussion list, a hands-on, down-to-earth focus is very evident:The journal is available in two ways. First, it is on EASI's web at http://www.rit.edu/~easi/itd.html. Second, it is available through a listserv list, itd-jnl. To subscribe send e-mail to: listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu with this one line: sub itd-jnl followed by your "first name last name."Apart or a Part? Access to the Internet by Visually Impaired and Blind People, with Particular Emphasis on Assistive Enabling Technology and User Perceptions. Jonathan Berry, Information Services, Cardiff University, UK (November 1999) Delivering Accessible Library Services in a Distance Learning Environment. Steve Noble, Manager, Product Development Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (April 1999) Distance Education and Individuals with Disabilities. Ron Stewart, Coordinator Northwest Center for Technology Access, Oregon State University (APril 1999) K-12 Web Resources for Science, Engineering and Math. Audio Presentation. Dick Banks, EASI Electronic Resource Manager Audio-Assisted Reading: Access for Students with Print Disabilities. Carol Evans, Graduate Student in School Psychology, University of Utah WEBCASTS:
This component of EASI is probably the one that nos obviously lives up to the project's by-line, "Students and professionals with disabilities must have the same access to multimedia as everyone else! The archive of weekly Webcasts is found on the same page as Adaptive Tech Video, Math and Graphics Video, and Lab Access Video.Here is a selection of recent Webcast items. Each is hyperlinked to an audio version (requiring RealPlayer) and a transcript.
Interview with Dianna Muldrow, New Jersey Institute of Technology. Dianna talks about personal and professional experiences with k-12 issues in educating students with special neeeds. Interview with Jeff Senge about his work in adaptive computing for students with disabilities at Fullerton in California. Interview with Tom Mcnulty on Access to Libraries for Patrons with Disabilities Carmela Cunningham talks with A mother of two autistic children and her involvement in the schools system. K-12 Monthly K-12 Assistive Technology Webcast Preview (Hosted by Carmela Cunningham, UCLA National Science Foundation Projects for Person's with Disabilities Webcast Preview (Hosted by Dr. Larry Scadden)
Adaptive and Information Technology in Post Secondary Education Preview Webcast (Hosted by Dr. Leah Vickery)
It's been quite a while since we featured this publication linked to a Website aimed squarely at schools, teachers, students and parents. SchoolWorld calls itself "The Global Internet Classroom for K-12 Teachers and Students." The "It's Happening" column from No. 2/2000 (27 February, 2000) demonstrates why by underlining the existing and prospective benefits of the site to its client groups:
Innovations Learning CenterSchoolWorld is rich with other innovative approaches to global cooperation in K-12 education. Take a look at SchoolWorld Projects such as:
With schools back from holidays and settling in over February, SchoolWorld has used this month to work on new projects and to establish our new sites for this year. The first pages for the Innovations Learning Center are well underway with Stu Cart and his team working on over 100 pages currently available. If members have suggestions for this site then please write to SchoolWorld as Stu is working hard to combine his team's new ideas with the suggestions from members.SchoolWorld Medical Centre
The SchoolWorld Medical Centre outlines are in place and this month SchoolWorld is meeting on-line with a number of medical experts from around the world to encourage their participation. By the end of the month this new site will allow members and parents to approach these experts with questions on child related illnesses and disabilities.SchoolWorld Foundation
Paperwork is nearly complete for the establishing of the new SchoolWorld Foundation. As most of you would be aware this process takes time with tax and government applications needing approval before we can go ahead. This new program has taken a little longer to establish than envisaged but it is hoped that all paperwork should be complete and approved in the next week or so. Once this is done then we will advise members what the new site will entail.Teachers' Forum
Our Education Directors are looking at a brand new site for SchoolWorld, The Teachers' Forum. Steve Bruce, our graphics artist is working on the front pages for this and our panel will be working on outlines and inclusions. This site is for our member teachers and will cover an excellent cross-section of traditional teaching, offer areas for teacher generated discussion and also cater for new ideas in which SchoolWorld will assist in implementing.New Software Program
In the next month or so SchoolWorld is looking to have a new software program available to us. This is a remote control program that allows our experts to virtually 'hack' into a members computer with their approval and then use the program to assist that member in designing projects, writing html pages for the internet and fixing any problems that member may have with their system. When complete the member just removes the clone program from their computer and access ceases. John Halse and Karen Walkowiak from SchoolWorld tested the program some months ago with excellent results. It has since been refined to provide faster access and it's a eerie sensation watching your cursor flash around your screen while another user works within your desk-top area. The program is NOT a 'hacking' program, the 'guest' member needs to place a small software program on to their computer for this to work, which means that they give permission for work to be carried out within ther system.The Great Debate ProjectAnd there's lots more, including (currently) two Special SchoolWorld Member Projects :
Debating teams from SchoolWorld member schools match wits with teams in other schools in this unque on-line, interactive debating project. Suitable for Grades Six to Twelve.The World Weather Watch Project
Learn about the climate in other parts of the world in this information gathering and comparison project.The International Cook-Book Project
On on-going project open to all grades and designed to combine recipes from international member schools into our very own SchoolWorld International Cook-Book. An excellent idea for schools to raise funds for themselves.The SchoolWorld Zoo
A combination of projects on animals and plants including the SchoolWorld Endangered Species Reports, Ask An Expert, The SchoolWorld Adoption Center and Letters From Around The World.The K12 Student Poetry Project
An international project featuring student poetry from around the world, lesson plans and resources from many countries.The Great Novel Questand a host of Selected International Projects with intriguing titles like Acid Rain; Backpack Buddy; Electronic United Nations; Generations CANConnect; Global Grocery List; Live From The Rainforest; Virtual Trip To Rome, Italy; and WhaleNet.
A new project from Australia, The Great Novel Quest looks for the most popular novels and books read by students in Grades Five to Eight. A great email based project.The International Transport Project
This project focuses on the different ways students travel to schools in their own countries. Use email to provide descriptions, tell stories and send pictures and photos.Then there is the SchoolWorld Species Adoption Centre, from which students "adiopt" and care for endangered species, with over 60 new animals being added in March, including to this program from the rattlesnakes, white rhino, lions and tigers.
And the Tek Teacher Program, in which volunteers around the world answer questions from teachers, students and parents in the classroom and at home about a compreensive list of topics: Art| Chemistry | Computer Studies |Geography | Gifted | History | Integration - Information Literacy (IT) | Language Arts | Languages | Literature | Marine Biology | Mathematics | Music | Reading | Science | Social Studies | Space Science | Special Education | The Internet |
We could go on. This is a must-see site, colourful and exciting in looks, but highly organised and very easy to navigate and, above all, full of great ideas.
Not exactly a conference or workshop, perhaps, but ITrain Internet training modules for instructors and students offer a comprehensive range of opportunities to pick up highly useful information technology and online education knowledge and skill in short bursts comparable to attending a conference but more narrowly focused and perhaps more immediately and practically beneficial. Best of all, no doubt, all the courses are free.
Many or the courses are specific to particular software like Eudora Light 3, Pegasus 2.5, Outlook Express, and the major Internet browsers, but some newer or re-developed ones - Website Construction, Effective Internet Searching, List Facilitation - offer broader challenges to people seeking to develop greater understanding of and proficiency with applications of the Internet.
The course materials are availabe in both Microsoft Word form (*.doc) and in Adobe Acrobat form (*.pdf). The Word documents are compressed with WinZip for faster downloading.** PDF files can be viewed and printed with the Acrobat Reader but are not modifiable in this form. Copies of Acrobat Reader or WinZip may be obtained from ITrain's op[ening page. A small group of courses is also available in Spanish.
** I found - sigh! for yet another failure of technical compatibility and user-friendliness in the so-called information age - that the compressed files could not readily be opened in Nestscape Navigator on a PowerMac machine. Perhaps I'll try again when I've got hold of ZipIt or some other recognised decompression software, because the pdf approach looks a bit daunting ... all those words!
About Conference (Re)Call
The Conference (Re)Call column aims mainly to provide feedback from members
on the new knowledge or other value they gained from attending a recent conference
or other event to do with one aspect or another of online education. It also
includes a Coming Events section, advertising relevant conferences, seminars,
workshops or other forums which members will be able to attend at little or
no cost. This section will concentrate mainly on online events, because that
is WAOEâs special interest, and because the idea is to promote opportunities
which are more or less equally available to WAOE members no matter what part
of the world they live in.
The success of Conference (Re)Call therefore depends very heavily on input from members. WAOE officers are already out there reporting on events theyâve attended and spotting others to come. Weâd like to see all other members doing likewise. You will see from the items in this issue that reports donât need to be lengthy or detailed, let alone polished. We think the segment will work best on the simple premise that whatever any one member found worthwhile in attending an online education event, or attractive about an event in the offing is likely to benefit and interest other members. So, letâs keep those reports and notices coming in to the WEB Editor.