Assistive Technologies in the Classroom

In my first artifact proposal, the objective of the assignment was: given the class hour and the examples presented from the online authors, the students will be able to create their own work of poetry based on the explanation of satire used in modern day 21st Century. I had come across a website that allowed the students to access a history and explanation of satire and see applications of satire in poetry composed by regular citizens. Their task was essentially to use a Word Processor and create their own poetry utilizing these satirical techniques that they read about.
However, now I am presented with a challenge. I come across a student who has a unique profile that forces him to make use of assistive technologies in the classroom setting. Here is his challenge:
"Ben has low vision and as a result has difficulty reading printed text. He needs documents to be magnified greatly in order for him to be able to read them, or he can have the documents read to him."

Naturally, with low vision, the website of satirical history and poetry will be excessively dificult for him to read, therefore assistive technologies will be necessary for him to use to make the assignment easier to complete. As it is an online, computer based assignment, a computer running on a Windows system driver, has the ability to magnify what is being seen on the comptuer screen, as well as adjust the contrast so it will appeal to the senses of all individuals.
By clicking the "Start Magnification" tool in the "Ease of Access" folder of the Control Panel, Ben will be able to magnify his screen to the appropriate size that will allow him to read the words on the website more clearly for how vision.

Productivity Reflection

Thus far, one of the most useful tools that I have seen available for classroom usage of any kind is the Google Doc. When students use a Google Document, they can work alone and allow their document to be published and viewed by others as a website. They can collaborate with as many other students as necessary to complete a combined assignment or even to just share ideas with other students. Using a Google Doc, a student can trade documents with one anther, which is particularly useful in terms of editing and revising papers. This is generally an extensively effective method of peer review.
The Google Doc also will save the time of the teachers by not having to worry about creating copies and copies of worksheets or tests/quizzes. By simply creating one online template of an assignment, the teacher is able to pass the "worksheet" to students without unorganized paper copies to deal with. This will save teachers an abundant amount of lesson plan preparation. No student has to worry about losing their copy of the assignment because it will always be available online for individual or group collaboration and work. Also, online templates may increase a students attention span for a particular assignment simply because they are using some form of current technology that is different from traditional paper and pencil work.
Another tool that is a good example of a productivity tool, is an online survey or poll. A teacher created survey that is used to poll students will save time in vainly attempting to figure out what students prefer to study/how students prefer to study material. Surveys can be done anonymously to protect the identities and insecurities of students who may me hesitant to submit a hand-written survey. A survey that is done as a collaboration of information for students eliminates the tedious and often boring task of data collection throughout the classroom. Students can instantly put their information together without having to wait for others to complete their work. The information is organized in a single manner so every student cannot save their work in a different way, making the information exceedingly difficult to analyze.
Overall, most productivity tools that have been shown in the lectures display appropriate manners of increasing efficiency and effectiveness within the classroom.