High-Tech Devices Help Kids with Disabilities

     I enjoyed reading this article because I have seen students with disabilities use technology to enhance their learning or daily life skills.  It is amazing to see a child advance when they are provided with the right tools to learn with.  I have seen a child use a CD player during class to help with focusing and getting use to loud background noises.  I have also seen a child use an FM transmitter that is hooked up to the teacher.  I think it is great that schools provide these assistive technology tools!

Banning Student Containers

     This article was very interesting because everyone would be lost without a piece of technology/electronic that they depend on or use on an everyday basis.  For example, a cell phone, computer, internet..etc)  The article is acknowledging that schools are taking technology away from the students because they think it's more distracting then useful.  I think technology is helpful and an excellent tool to use to educate children if utilized and monitored properly.  Children respond better to technology over listening to a teacher lecture.  They would rather watch a movie about the American Revolution than read about it in a textbook.  I don't think school's should take away the resources that children enjoy learning with.  Just putting a child on a computer math game to reinforce addition skills will help a child learn math.  Technology should be used to the students advantage, whether it's for learning or to help a child with a disability.  If technology is being used as a disadvantage to students learning or abused by students then it should be monitored or prohibited.  For example, if a student is using the internet to search for something unrelated to school while in class.
     There are certain electronics that I think should be prohibited or monitored during class, like cellphones.  I don't think children should be texting in class because they are there to learn.  I also don't think they are mature enough to text and learn at the same time.  Kids usually text to escape what they are supposed to be doing or are bored so that technology is a disservice to learning in the classroom.  On the other hand, Skype and video chat is a great educational tool because the students can chat or learn about certain topics from other parts of the world.  I know that scholastic has a video tour of Plimouth Plantation during the fall where they explain and tour the plantation live.  It's incredible that we have this kind of technology today.  It makes learning fun and interactive and that's what kids respond to.  That's why they play video games because they are fun and engaging.  I agree that some electronics should not be used in school or monitored closely, but taking the resources away that could be used for learning is a bad idea.
     Teachers and schools should give students guidelines and boundaries just like parents should utilize parental controls for their kids.  For example, only listing a certain amount of websites when assigning a project.  Even jobs and companies have certain websites blocked so their employees can't use them, so that's what schools need to do.  They should have the appropriate technology available but monitor it or teach the students how to use it responsibly.  We have learned that technology will enhance and engage students learning, so as educators we should not take away a tool that we know is useful.