Welcome to our space on the web.

As we proceed in the course, the contents of this page and site will grow.

What are the goals of the course?

• to expose participants to SEN issues - in general and especially in ICT
• to share materials and provide a database of materials for all participants and other teachers to use

Structure for the Course

The course will be delivered in three phases, as follows:

Phase One--16 hours

Opening session - Monday 21st August, 2000

Opening session - Tuesday 22nd August, 2000

Phase 2--Scaffolding SEN issues

Number of hours: 34

This phase of the course will involve participants in mastering basic principles of learning for students with special educational needs, including the following modules:

Module One: Taking control of your computer--setting display, accessibility and other options on computer and browsers and how to assess your students' needs
Module Two: Developing Browser Skills--applications of important learning theories to SEN use of the Internet & developing browser skills
Module Three: Reflecting on the use of Material in class

Reading Web Pages includes the following modules:

Module Four: Using the Babylon Dictionary as one of the simplest, but useful, assistive technology tools to aid students to understand the content of web pages
Module Five: Understanding web pages: building strategies and skills for this "new" text type
Module Six: Learning how to edit text on Word, one of the easiest and most important programs for teaching students to adapt text.

Participants will be introduced to basic concepts and links, and will be asked to address learning goals in the forum and through the production of mini-tasks that will be uploaded or linked to the site.

Phase 3: Final Reflections and Project--6 hours

Participants can choose from a wide range of issues that you learned in this course for your final reflective project. Here are some suggestions, but you are welcome to contact me about other ideas:

1. Your journal. Review the journal that you kept during the scaffolding sessions and projects. Summarize your journal: what new skills did you learn? what new perspective did you gain? how can this journaling technique assist you with working with SEN students in the future?

2. Shortcuts, keyboard commands and hotkeys For every "click" of the mouse, their is a "peck" on the keyboard, or a series of keyboard commands. Many SEN students prefer keyboard commands, because they can keep their hands on the keyboard. And some have to use the keyboard instead of the mouse, because of physical limitations or coordination problems. Investigate the use of keyboard commands, hotkeys and macros. Prepare a short training session for your students on their use, or revise previous material submitted for the course to include or substitute keyboard commands.

3. Try TTS or a talking browser. Check out these resources, download one Text-to-Speech program or the talking browser, and open your journal: reflect on how you can customize the interface of the program, and how you would use it in class: Where do I start? TTS Programs
   WeMedia Talking Browser

4. Your school environment. We have talked a great deal on the forums and list, and through these pages about how you integrate the kind of instruction we are learning here with what is happening in your schools. So now is your chance. Review your reflections on the forum. Think about how your schools trains students on computers, the grouping of students for English classes, availability of your computer rooms, the number of students in your classes. And redesign the program! Make a plan for teaching SEN students, as part of a plan for teaching English and computer technology in your school, that will ensure that they learn computer and web skills to a greater extent. The sky is the limit! Or, maybe you want to use this plan to present to your school...

Send your final project to me by the end of August 2001. And once again, post some reflections on the forum. Once the projects are finished, I will post them on the net.

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