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Calendar
Technology & Learning Connections Regional Meetings
Region 1
May 5-6, 2016
Region 2
April 27-28, 2016
Region 3
April 7-8, 2016
Region 4
April 19-20, 2016
Region 5
April 7-8, 2016
Technology Advisory Committee Meetings
Orlando
April 4-5, 2016
Virtual
May 24, 2016
Environmental Communication Training (ECT)
One-Day Overview
Jacksonville
April 7, 2016
Lee/Collier
April 21, 2016
Team Training & Facilitator Days
Tampa
March 3-4, 2016
April 14-15, 2016
Ft. Lauderdale
Feb 18-19, 2016
May 2-3, 2016
Gainesville
Feb 25-26, 2016
April 25-26, 2016
Conferences
Orlando
June 10-12, 2015
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For more information on regional meetings and training events, please contact your regional technology coordinator.
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"Technology & Learning Connections - MTSS: Increasing student
achievement through the systemic alignment of technology, policies,
and curriculum in a multi-tiered system of supports."
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Virtual Reality
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Virtual Reality has the power to completely transform education. Students can visit Ancient Rome, take a trip through the human body as a blood cell, or even visit Mars. Exploration becomes dynamic as students interact with the learning environment in ways never thought of such as navigating through the bloodstream and identifying pathogens or coming face-to-face with a Roman soldier. These immersive worlds become more than just a learning activity, but rather an experience that was lived and felt real.
From a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) perspective, virtual reality and virtual worlds offer some unique considerations.
- What does UDL look like in a place where all abilities are virtual? Virtual reality truly offers new ways to design engaging learning environments for all students.
- What does it mean to be a peer in virtual reality? In a place where everyone can run, walk, fly, swim, skydive, climb mountains, etc., who are your peers?
- Is there an impact on social interactions when a student can design the virtual characteristics of their avatar?
There are fully accredited schools operating in virtual reality where students go to school via their avatars. Consider the questions above when thinking about going to school in virtual reality. And then think about how we can make sure students with disabilities are fully included in this new digital revolution.
Welcome to 2016. It is going to be an amazing year!
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Virtual Destinations
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Pack your bags! Using virtual reality technology, students can completely immerse themselves in faraway locations and impossible to reach places. A variety of videos are also available as interactive 360 degree tours that can be viewed without headsets. Take a look at these five great destinations.
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The Wild Within 360 Wildlife Video is an interactive tour of coastal British Columbia. Viewers are able to explore breathtaking scenes that include rain forests, alpine water falls, and coastal waters. The 360 video can be viewed on most VR headset as well as computers and mobile devices.
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The North Face: Climb takes viewers to Moab, Utah and Yosemite National Park to experience the thrill of rock climbing and base jumping. It can be viewed with or without a VR headset and is available for iPhone, Android, Samsung Gear and Oculus Rift. Download information is available at http://www.jauntvr.com/content.
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Over the Alps puts the viewer in a hot air balloon over the French Alps. Navigation includes walking around the basket and looking down and around to discover mountains, cliffs, rivers, villages, farms, and fields. This content is only available for Oculus Rift.
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Ocean Rift is a virtual tour of the underwater world. A variety of sea life will be encountered, including dolphins, tropical fish, turtles, sea snakes, rays, sharks, and whales. Those that dare explore the darkest depths may even encounter Megladon. Ocean Rift is available for Samsung Gear and Oculus Rift.
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Titans of Space takes the viewer on a short guided tour of several planets and stars. The user is able to look around, zoom, read information on the celestial body, rotate the planets or moons and even enter orbit. Titans of Space was developed to be used with Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear, and Oculus Rift. It supports 15 languages.
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Choosing a Virtual Reality Headset |
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Google Maps has added a new feature to their Street View feature that allows the user, in four simple steps, to view any Street View location in virtual reality.
- Make sure your smartphone is horizontal.
- Open a location in Street View in Google Maps.
- Double-tap the icon in the lower-right that turns the image stereoscopic (split in two).
- Insert your phone into Google Cardboard.
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Math & Science Virtual Worlds
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Providing curriculum-based technology supports in math and science such as graphic-rich, interactive simulations can increase academic engagement for students.
islands. Each location has its own unique scientific dilemma where students will interact, see videos, learn vocabulary, and solve problems. Traveling to the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve students learn to protect common eiders, terns, and the moss that populate the island. They gain valuable knowledge about ecosystems and how to preserve them.
Citizen Science takes students to Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, where the lake is threatened by eutrophication. The player must not only focus on the lake's ecological needs, but the impact of the surrounding commu nity as well. Players learn about biodiversity, biology, ecology, and plants while their problem-solving capabilities are put to the test. Using all they learn, players work to restore the lake to a healthy state.
Mathbreakers is a 3-D math game for students grades 1-6. After students have named and designed their avatar they are able to freely explore a colorful and engaging world of mathematical operations or complete a lesson from the program library. As students practice math skills they are able to collect specially designed tools such as the Zooka, Multi-blaster, Multiplier, and Jetpack.
Math Blaster takes students on an intergalactic voyage where they discover other worlds while completing various games and activities covering multiple math topics. Students begin the game as a Space Cadet and create their own unique avatars. As students increase in rank and collect rewards along the way they are able to add customized items.
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Additional Accessibility Resources |
Students with disabilities can have a difficult time interacting with the navigational features of computers, tablets, and mobile devices thereby making engaging and interactive programs inaccessible. The technologies below are some examples of assistive technology that can reduce these barriers. Click here to see even more assistive technologies.
Camera Mouse is a free Windows download that enables the computer's built-in camera to control the mouse pointer. The cursor is controlled by head movement and clicks are accomplished by location dwelling. The system works best with programs that only require left clicks of the mouse and do not contain small targets that require precision pointing.
The Tobii PCEye GO is a peripheral eye tracker that enhances computer accessibility through gaze interaction and replaces the standard mouse. The user is able to navigate and control a desktop, laptop, or Surface Pro tablet using only their eyes.
The SAM Trackball is a mouse replacement with bright over-sized buttons and ports for adding switches. The device functions like a 2-button mouse, but utilizes a large rotating ball for cursor movement.
The IntelliKeys Keyboard is an alternative keyboard designed to meet the needs of students with physical disabilities. The keyboard is touch-sensitive and completely customizable, including an overlay for mouse navigation.
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News & Updates
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Least Restrictive Environment Tap
January 15, 2016 the Florida Department of Education issue the technical assistance paper (TAP), Least Restrictive Environment Considerations Related to Individual Educational Plans. Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and is defined as the placement in which an individual student can be taught and make progress in the general education curriculum to the maximum extent possible with students without disabilities. The purpose of the TAP is to update previous technical assistance provided to school districts regarding the provision of services for students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment, address other considerations that must be addressed when determining the most appropriate placement for a student with a disability, and address issues related to service delivery and scheduling methods for students with disabilities. View the complete TAP at
Free and Appropriate Public Education Update Letter
November 16, 2015 the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) released a Dear Colleague Letter on Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that clarifies that individualized education programs (IEP) for children with disabilities must be aligned with state academic content standards for the grade in which a child is enrolled. Under the IDEA, in order to make FAPE available to each eligible child with a disability, the child's IEP must be designed to enable the child to be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum. 20 U.S.C. �1414 (d)(1)(A). This letter addresses the interpretation of "general education curriculum," discusses the implementation of this interpretation, and then provides a classroom example. View the complete letter at http://1.usa.gov/1nPnCaI.
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Our Partners
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The Technology & Learning Connections Team is a part of the Problem Solving/ Response to Intervention Project. Services include the alignment of accessible instructional materials, assistive technology, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in a multi-tiered system of supports.
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The Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS): providing services in the areas of Child Find, HRD, Parent Services, and Technology; including local TA&D, professional development, and capacity building in the areas of accessible instructional materials, assistive & Instructional technologies, UDL, and virtual learning.
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Local Assistive Technology Specialists (LATS): providing local support for assistive technology assessments, evaluations, and related assistive technology services.
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Together we are working to help all schools implement a universal, differentiated core curriculum based on the Florida Standards.
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This newsletter was funded by the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services through federal assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), Part B funds. The information included does not reflect any specific endorsement by any parties involved. Please email Gary Pearcy for further information.
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