[etni] Fw: MP3 vs text reader
- From: "Ask Etni" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: "Etni" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:19:55 +0200
Subject: MP3 vs text reader
From: Renee wahl <wahlrenew@xxxxxxxxx>
It is always enlightening to read Sharon's clear and thorough messages and I
learned a lot about the use of MP3 devices for testing - Sharon even did the
research about the costs, where to purchase, suggested a way of getting the
info to the schools efficiently and at short notice and other logistic
details. Very interesting and definitely an option to think about.
Having just decided to convert my old tapes to a more compact and modern
tech format, I definitely agree with Sharon that CD's are wasteful of time
and money. It takes too long to burn them, you have to check that they
recorded properly, they can't be re-used and they can only be played on a CD
player which is a sensitive device - how many of you have tape/radios with
CD players at school where the CD player is the first to break down?
I still, however, favor the text reader option. There seems to be a
misunderstanding here. I am not advocating sitting a whole class in front
of computers during a test. Are there whole classes of LD pupils that
consist of more than 10-15 kids? I thought that's not according to Ministry
rules! So how many LD kids are in the average 35 kid regular classes? I
seriously doubt that the average is more than 5, and even if some classes
have 10, it is still workable. The setup I see is a computer lab with 10-15
working computers, headphones that plug into individual LD pupil (Often the
same headphones they use for their mobile phones, can be used with the
computer and you can bet they don't forget their phones - but the school or
parents can purchase headphones for 1-5 Shekels in almost any dollar
store). If the pupils have been using the text readers to do their
homework, or are accustomed to using them over time, they will know exactly
what to do, and you can even sit them right down in front of the computer as
soon as the class enters the room. The rest of the class sits in the middle
of the room at desks or chairs and does the test in the usual way. If you
have a computer room that isn't big enough to accomodate that many pupils,
then since tests are usually level wide, you can get together with another
teacher giving the test at the same time. You take the LD kids from both
classes to the computer room and the other teacher monitors the rest of the
kids. You need more monitors for the LD kids? Why not enlist the parents
of the LD kids? After all, it's their kids who will benefit.
What I've written above is for regular testing, not Bagrut, but I see no
reason why a similar arrangement can't be worked out for regular Bagrut
testing.
Regarding the issue of the kids using some of the WORD help options
(dictionary, spell check, etc.) I don't see any problem. The kids are
allowed to use an electronic dictionary anyhow. The WORD dictionary is
inferior to most of these dictionaries, so why would a kid use it, or if
they do, so what. They are exempt from spelling errors anyhow, so no
problem using the spell checker either. And if there is any other software
that the kids might access to help them do the test - it can be disabled for
the test. Anyhow, what's the problem here? We give these kids
old-fashioned (paper dictionaries, electronic dictionaries) help, but refuse
to let them use more modern tools which they will have access to and need to
use in real life??!!! What's the logic here?
So, no need to purchase MP3's, batteries, disk on key, remember to bring
appropriate cables, etc.
Once again, I'd like to emphasize the importance of teachers who are
technophobic making some effort to overcome their problem (just as you
expect the LD kids to overcome theirs - be a good example!). And in cases
where this is not feasible, every school that has computers, has a person
who is paid to maintain the software as well as the hardware. Why should
their job be limited to working only for the computer teachers? (Have you
ever seen how much time is put into preparing the computer labs for the
Bagrut in computer courses?) Preparing computers for text readers is a
piece of cake compared to that. Turning off the internet is just a matter
of knowing where the switch is located. Have you spent extra time setting
up the computers and materials for the LD kids? Then you are entitled to
being paid for your time according to the new agreement that was discussed
here several times. It comes under the heading of 'reading the test to the
kids" and "the monitoring them during extra time accomodation". Report it
as such and you will get paid for it. No more need for home-studio
recording facilities!!!
Renee
See Sharon's message at -
http://www.freelists.org/post/etni/Fw-media-change-for-LD
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