Examining Web 2.0 Tools for Students with Disabilities

This is an average diagram that would be used in a third grade level classroom to introduce students to the parts of a plant.  For many students, they will find it fairly manageable to color the diagram and fill in the parts of the plants using an example from the teacher.  They will be able to look over the worksheet to study and memorize the cooresponding parts to the picture.

 

However, for students with disabilities, tasks such as this may not be as easy.  Whether they are a part of ESL or not, some students will need extra practice after filling out a diagram to learn vocabulary. Also, other students without disabilities may just want extra practice.

I chose to look at the Web 2.0 Tool, Quizlet.  This website would be a great tool for almost any subject at any grade level and could be used by all students in the classroom. I created a set of flashcards using the worksheet above as an example.  The website allows you to create a set of flashcards for any subject and then gives you or your students options to:

 



Review the flashcards:

 

Learn the words:

 

Learn to spell the words:

 

 

And play games for extra practice such as this one:

 

 

According to this video:

 

 

The internet is no longer just a tool, but a major part of this generation and the upcoming generation's lifestyle.  Technology is apart of everyday life for most students, and the amount and level of technology is just expected to increase into the future.  The opportunity to use technology in the classroom is a grand opportunity to engage students with and without disabilities and ignite their learning.  I liked Quizlet as a resource because it is easy to use and it would be easy for students to adapt to and use on their own during comptuer lab time or at home.  I also lilke that you can add text, students can read or listen, and you can add words to the vocabulary list as you progress throughout a unit of study.  The interactive games also cater to the younger generation as students are engaged in learning by doing something fun and exciting to them.  For students with disabilities who tend to have a loss of self-confidence when it comes to completing different tasks or studying specific subjects, an interactive site such as this one would be a great tool for them during their learning process.  Students can also work at their own pace and can take their time, reviewing as many times as they would like.