4/13/2023
Topic:
Students With Disabilities
John Aho
|
In the past I have had several students that did not have the fine motor skills to do some of my drawing assignments. So instead of having them work on 9” x 12” drawing paper I had them work on 18” x 24“ newsprint. By using larger paper, they were able to use larger hand and arm motions and still create a suitable drawing. I also would demonstrate to the students what could be accomplished with the use of larger arm movements, and that they could be successful in drawing. The students are usually very happy with the end results. |
4/17/2023
Topic:
Tools and Strategies
John Aho
|
2. Describe at least one way you have used technology to meet the needs of a student with a disability in your classroom. Be sure to describe the specific technology and how it assisted the student with a disability.
I have used both tablets & classroom computers loaded Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes both Photoshop & Illustrator. I will allow students (with disabilities) to create digitally when it is best for the students. I have noticed that students that have difficultly drawing using a pencil can sometimes draw with more ease using an electronic device (tablet, computer or even a smart phone). I know the skills are activated differently; the control of the line drawn is often controlled extremely differently. I am a very talented illustrator in traditional media, but I cannot draw to save my life in some digital programs. They require a different set of skills. Often that difference is what makes it possible for students with disabilities to be successful in art. I have seen outstanding outcomes on many occasions. One student that comes to mind, had a slight hand tremor. When they drew with traditional tools their lines would be very wobbly, and they would get very frustrated because the drawing was not turning out how they wanted it to. I suggested they try either the computer or their tablet. They had some art programs on their tablet, so they choose to use it instead of the computer. The software was not as sensitive to the student’s unsteady hand and they were able to draw the line they wanted for their assignment. This student also could have used a program like Illustrator which uses bézier curves to create lines and then allows limitless editing of the line to make the shape the student envisioned. |
4/21/2023
Topic:
Assessment of Learning
John Aho
|
I had an ASD student (I know this differentiation does not exist anymore, but this student had Asperger’s Syndrome) who claimed he did not like to draw; he said he was not very good. I told him the drawing is a skill that takes time to master, and that if he would try to do the assignments and practice a little in his spare time, he would see improvements. I also told him drawing time can be used as quiet time, and that these drawings could be just for him, and if they did not live up to his expectation no one ever had to see them, but if the were successful he could hang them on his wall, or turn them in for extra credit.
He was not too excited about drawing at home, but a few of his tablemates were talented artist and they did draw in their free time. The other students were also kind of shy, but they used art as their means to socialize. I wish I could take credit for the seating arrangement, but I was just trying to get my ASD student as close to my desk as possible and the other students happen to fill in around him. They slowly started to talk to one another (it was almost to the semester break before my ASD student and the tablemates would really carry on a conversation). They hand many interests in common. The tablemates started to rub off on my ASD student; he learned more from his tablemates than he did from me. He was receptive of their suggestions that he practice; they even started to teach him to draw using his tablet.
When I would go over the assignment’s objectives, I would take time to highlight what I wanted to see in each assignment.
All of my assignments have written instructions along with the PowerPoint presentations I used to explain the assignment; these are available to the students through Student Portal and Schoology; Schoology will even translate my assignments into other languages should any given student need it. |