Social Networks and Assistive Technologies

[David Hayward]

I need your help! My background is in elementary education and currently I work for a non-profit organization in central Ohio helping teachers to integrate technology into the classroom. Recently I was asked if I could present/recommend reasons to use social networking sites as assistive technologies. I have been researching the topic and came across your social network. Is anyone using social networks with students and are there resources I should be reading to gain a better understanding of how Social network sites may be used as assistive technology?

As I learn more about this topic I hope I can become a contributing member of this group. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Mark Oehrlein]

I'm not in a classroom, but I'll toss my 2 cent worth in.

1. A social network is usually much larger than a classroom or even a school. That means that the student is more likely to find connections that match them, making it easier to engage the student.

2. If you don't put your picture on the site, nobody knows what you look like, so you aren't judged by that. If you use a screen reader, nobody knows. If it takes you 10 minutes to type a sentence, nobody knows. If you use word prediction to type your message, nobody knows. If you're using a communication device, nobody knows. Put simply, it levels the communication playing field.

3. If you want to express yourself with pictures, or audio or video, you can. That means multiple means of expression.

I think social networks fit better under the banner of Universal Design for Learning that AT per se, but most consider AT a part of UDL.

[David Hayward]

Thanks. That gets me started. I'll look further into UDL.

[Mark Oehrlein]

Here's a good place to start: CAST.org

[Laura Leigh]

I wanted to reply, but Mark said it all so well. Thanks Mark!