Assistant Technology

I would like to introduce my students a website named ICDRI--The International Center for Disablility Resources on the Internet. (http://www.icdri.org/News/signtel.htm). It’s a website that provides a lot of free software and allows people who are deaf to communicate with hearing. Usually we don’t have students who are hard of hearing. I'll take the chance to introduce the website just in case. Besides,it is also an informative source to my students.

I would also introduce the Signtel Interpreter software, which was developed with over 100 deaf and hard of hearing employees, to my students. It is a technology that translates text into sign language viewed on a computer screen in real-time. If I had a student who is deaf or his family member who has hearing disablility, I am sure the website and the software would help.

Pictures taken in MOMA

About Portfolios

I use portfolios to collect, select and reflect documents about teaching. I put my grammar handouts, curriculums, important information of my school, documents and assessments of my students, written records of school and class activities in portfolios.

My students use portfolios to record activities they have accomplished such as speech contests, dacing and singing competitions. They put in photos and all written information they gather, and then edit and showcase them on special occasions like the school anniversary. Many of my students also have portfolios prepared for their applications for high schools.

If I were granted US$2,000 to use in my school for educational technology, I would recommend my school to buy at least four kinds of software including speaking, listening, reading and writing on English learning. I would also ask to post them on the website of the English department which is on our school website. Of course, I have to learn how to facilitate the software first. Then, I would use my computer to demonstrate it in class and encourage students to try them on line.

Pictures taken in MET

Multimedia

Multimedia
I sometimes edit my handouts of grammar and use PowerPoint to teach students with my colleague’s help. I also play American and British movies to teach students the differences of American and British accents. It works better after telling them the differences of pronunciation. I want to use PowerPoint to design an English lesson of asking for directions. I take photos and record my students’ activities such as camping, dancing and singing competitions, and speech contests with my digital camera. My colleague usually helps me to edit and show the VCR as a gift for my students on their graduation day.