Blog Post #8

  Adaptive technology is used in various ways to help support learners. The usage of these technologies can range from reading things aloud, writing things through voice control, and many other helpful tools. A lot of tools such as tablets, Smart Boards, and computers now have these tools built in so that learning can be easier for students who may struggle with certain things. I personally do not have any experience with someone using an adaptive technology, but I do know of people who have said translation websites/ tools have been beneficial in their education.

     While there are a lot of benefits to using adaptive technologies in classrooms, there are some struggles with using them as well. One main issue is accessibility. These tools can often be expensive and many schools do not have the funds to provide them. Also, you have to make sure that you provide these technologies for students in a fair way. If one student has access, other students that need the tool should be able to access it as well. Also, it can be a challenge for the students and teachers to learn how to use the technologies. Once you learn how to use it they are helpful, but the process of learning how to work it can become complicated at times. 

      One website a teacher could use to stay up to date with the technology trends is http://www.teachhub.com/keep-latest-tech-trends. This website has several blogs and links you can follow to learn and keep up with trends. Through the site you are able to create an account and keep up with things that you want. This is an easy way to access things such as articles and posts that will tell you more about current technology that is out there to help in the classroom. Below is a screenshot of the website: