Using Assistive Technology & Universal Design to Meet the Literacy Needs of All Learners

Name of technology:
- Reading Pen

Category of Assistive Technology for Literacy:
-READING: Reading comprehension and vocabulary
-READING: Assessing and utilizing digital text

Description of how technology works:
-Turn on
-Scan a word or phrase
-Reading Pen will tell you what the word or phrase is
-Press up arrow or down arrow to see definition of word or phrase
-Press down to change the word or phrase to another language (Spanish only)
-Reading Pen can say word or phrase aloud for pronunciation

Universal Design for Learning Principle:
-Engagement in learning: provide varied ways for students to participate in, and contribute to, the learning community
            -Student can participate in reading: to succeed in every subject, a student needs to be able to read, and with the Reading Pen, students can define words they are unfamiliar with.
            -If student can understand what they are reading, they will be able to answer questions

What types or groups of students might benefit from the use of this technology?  For what learning goals might it be most effective?
-This will help:
         -Students who have trouble comprehending words or phrases
         -English Language Learners
         -Students who speak Spanish as their first language because Spanish translations are also available on the Reading Pen
-Learning goals:
         -Reading comprehension

Concerns:
-Reading Pen may be limiting in the fact that words and phrases can only be represented by text and oral communication
-English Language Learners who speak any other language besides Spanish as their first language
         -It may be hard for students to understand defintions for words if they do not understand what words used in the definition mean
         -Must have some knowledge of English because the words and phrases are only represented in text or oral communication

Comments, Suggestions, Recommendations?
-I would reccommend using the Reading Pen if a student is struggling with reading comprehension because this is quicker than always using a dictionary
-I would also reccommend the Reading Pen for students who speak Spanish as their first language and are learning English.  The Reading Pen provides a quick and easy way to translate an English word or phrase into Spanish.

A Day In the Life of Kelsey Nesbitt

Hello! My name is Kelsey Nesbitt and I am 21 years old.  I just began my senior year of college at Western Washington University.  I am working towards getting my degree to be an elementary school teacher!  I have loved my previous three years here at Western, and cannot wait to see what this year has in store for me. 

I am from Mukilteo, Washington.  I have lived here almost my whole life and love everything about it!

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A Day In the Life...

I hear the noise of music and I immediately know it is time for me to wake up.  Every day, my IPhone is set to play Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" to wake me up at 9:00 AM on the dot.  Since I am a light sleeper, it does not take long for me to fully wake up.  After climbing out of bed and walking to my bathroom, I turn on the light, brush my teeth, and put on my face lotion.  From here, I go back to my bedroom and change into my workout clothes.  Then, I fill up my water bottle, turn on the TV, put my work out DVD into the DVD player, and begin my workout.  This usually lasts around thirty-five minutes total.  I make sure to give myself some cool down time from my workout by making my breakfast.  My favorite, and easiest, breakfast to make is cereal with toast and fruit.  Mostly, this just requires me to pour cereal and milk into a bowl, pop two pieces of bread into the toaster, and grab some fruit from the refrigerator.  I also like to listen to music or watch morning shows, like Live with Regis and Kelly, while eating.  After this, I shower.  I try to go quickly as I do not want to waste water or pay a high amount of money.  From here, I get ready for the day.  This entails a few steps: I dry and straighten my hair, decide what outfit I want to wear, and finally put my make-up on.  Usually after I finish getting ready, it is already time to go to class.

I drive my car to campus and park in the "C Lot."  From here, I walk to my class.  This usually around a five to ten minute walk.  On my way to my classroom, I stop at a store on campus to get coffee.  From here, I go to class.  Each day, I have two classes and they are each two hours long.  After class, I walk to my car and drive back to my apartment. 

Once I am back at my apartment, I turn on the light and proceed to turn on the television.  Then, I'll make dinner, most of the time using the oven or microwave.  After I'm done with dinner, I will work on my homework for the rest of the night or hang out with friends.  When the night is through, I will brush my teeth  and get in bed.  In the morning, I do everything again!

Here is a "wordle" of some of the things I love: