Course announcement: ADAPTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY (fwd)

[Karen Ozmun]

This message is forwarded from Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler of the University of
Washington DO-IT Program.  karen


 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON DISTANCE LEARNING
 OFFERS "ADAPTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY"

 - An online course for those who work with people with disabilities
**********************************************************************

Course starts June 25, 1996.  Registration deadline: June 21.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE: Rehabilitation couselors, physical therapists,
occupational therapists, teachers in K-12 and post-secondary
education, librarians and educational technologists.

COURSE OVERVIEW: This online course surveys the field of
adaptive computer technology as it impacts the lives of people
with disabilities, including the performance of tasks related
to employment, education and recreation.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
* To understand the benefits of adaptive computer technology

* To identify the costs of adaptation and possible funding sources

* To understand the federal laws related to disability accommodation

* To design a physical environment to accommodate adaptive technology

* To identify the technological issues for individuals with disabilities

* To explain compensatory strategies using adaptive computer technology

* To use the Internet to locate information about course topics and
  stay current with developments in the field

TECHNOLOGY BENEFITS:
 Electronic discussion list provides a structure for regular
 online discussion with others interested in the same topic.

 Students can use a World Wide Web page to access disability-
 related resources.

 Anyone who has access to the Internet can participate regardless
 of disability.

INSTRUCTOR:

         Sheryl Burgstahler, Director, Project DO-IT (Disabilities,
         Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology), University
         of Washington; Vice Chair, EASI (Equal Access to Software and
         Information).

COURSE START DATE: January 16, 1996.
Students must be registered one week before the start date in
order to receive an online survey which will help determine
that you can receive the course materials electronically.

ACADEMIC CREDIT: Participants may earn three (3) academic
quarter credits of either REHAB C496 or EDC&I C494.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For a brochure or more information,
call UW Distance Learning at 543-2350 or 1-800-543-2320,
(TDD)206-543-6452, or email your request to:
instudy at u.washington.edu

[248] From: adapt2 at u.washington.edu at Internet 1/17/96 7:32PM (9230 bytes: 200
ln)
To: CHARMER at ese.washington.edu, adapt2 at u.washington.edu at Internet
Subject: Introduction to the Course
------------------------------- Message Contents -------------------------------

Text item  1: Text Item

                             UW DISTANCE LEARNING
                         ADAPTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

Introduction to the Course

   Instructors
   Course Materials
   Course Procedures
   Course Description
   Objectives
   Who Should Attend
   Major Topics to Be Covered
   Assignments
   Final Exam
   Grading
     _________________________________________________________________

  Instructors

   Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler (sherylb at cac.washington.edu)
   Dr. Norman Coombs (nrcgsh at rit.edu)
     _________________________________________________________________

  Course Materials

    Text

   Joseph J. Lazzaro, Adaptive Technologies for Learning and Work
   Environments (available in alternate format from Recordings for the
   Blind and Dyslexic).

    Video

   People with Disabilities and Computer Technology, DO-IT, University of
   Washington (open captioned).

    Course Home Page

   http://weber.u.washington.edu/~instudy/ACT/
     _________________________________________________________________

  Course Procedures

   This course is being delivered through the University of Washington
   Distance Learning program, and, on successful completion, students
   will receive three college credits for their work.

   The course will make extensive use of electronic mail: students are
   required to interact with their teachers and peers using e-mail on a
   regular basis. Lessons and readings will be delivered to class members
   on a weekly basis both by e-mail and postings on the class home page.
   Assignments can be submitted either by e-mail or fax. Assignment
   reminders will be disseminated at least two weeks before an assignment
   due date. The final exam will be administered according to regular UW
   Extension procedures (see "How to Complete Your Independent Study
   Course" on the UW Distance Learning home page for more information).
     _________________________________________________________________

  Course Description

   This course surveys the field of adaptive computer technology as it
   impacts occupational and educational roles and tasks in work,
   self-care, and recreation. Topics include interface devices, computer
   applications, augmentative communication, sensory enhancement, access
   to information technology, and computer network applications.

   Students will learn to use the Internet as a means of locating new
   information about all the topics in the course and staying current
   with developments in the field upon completion of the course.
     _________________________________________________________________

  Objectives

   At the end of this course, you will be able to
     * understand the benefits of adaptive computer technology;
     * identify the costs of adaptation and possible funding sources;
     * understand the federal laws related to disability accommodation;
     * define a physical laboratory environment for adaptive technology;
     * identify the technological issues for blind, visually impaired,
       physically impaired, hearing impaired, speech impaired, traumatic
       brain injured, and learning disabled; and
     * explain compensatory strategies using adaptive computer
       technology.
     _________________________________________________________________

  Who Should Attend
     * rehabilitation counselors
     * physical therapists
     * occupational therapists
     * teachers in K-12 and higher education
     * librarians
     * educational technologists
     * people with disabilities
     * parents of people with disabilities
     _________________________________________________________________

  Major Topics to Be Covered
    1. Introduction and Definitions
    2. Disability-related Internet Resources
    3. Why Adapt?
    4. Lab/Worksite Environment
    5. Access Issues for People with Disabilities
    6. Adaptive Technology
    7. Compensatory Strategies
    8. The Human Factor
    9. Specific Solutions and Resources
   10. Planning
     _________________________________________________________________

  Assignments

   The four assignments listed below will be tailored to fit the special
   interests of each student. This will require that the exact assignment
   be developed in close consultation with the course instructors.

   1. Write a one-screen bio about yourself and send it to the course
   distribution list. Include your name, position, and organizational
   association. Comment about your interest in computing access for
   people with disabilities and list one thing you hope to gain from this
   course. (10 points)

   2. Ten lessons will be delivered to you via electronic mail, on
   average one lesson per week. You are required to contribute one
   electronic mail message to the discussion about each lesson. Your
   message can be a response to another person's message, information
   about an interesting Internet resource related to the topic, comments
   about the text material, or a question you want to ask the group. You
   will receive one point per lesson for meeting this expectation. (10
   points)

   3. Write a paper based on research done over the Internet on either
   the topic of disabilities, technological assistance to transcend
   disabilities or prevention of disabilities. The paper should be five
   printed pages or ten screenfuls. It should list Internet resources
   consulted (it must include at least five) as well as any non-Internet
   resources you use. After submitting the paper to your instructors,
   post a one-screen message to the group to summarize your findingas and
   your experience using the Internet for research. (For example, did you
   find more or less information than you expected? What types of
   resources did you find? How does using the Internet to do research
   compare with using a library?) (20 points)

   4. Visit some local institution or organization that is making use of
   adaptive computer technology for its employees, staff, clients, and so
   forth. Write a report on your findings, including an evaluation of how
   adequate the equipment is and how well it is being used. The
   organization might be a school or district; a college or university; a
   large company; a government agency; or a library. If you cannot find
   any organization that uses adaptive technology, then you could visit a
   unit electronically by posting a message to a listserv asking for
   someone to interview.

   The report should include the name of the organization and general
   description of function, clients, and so on; use of computers and
   networks; specific uses of adaptive technology in the organization;
   evaluation of use; and recommendations for improvement. You are
   encouraged to work with another student in the class, perhaps
   comparing the results from two similar organizations. After submitting
   your assignment to the instructors, post a message to the discussion
   list summarizing your experiences.(20 points)

   5. Write a paper that is to be a plan for systematically providing
   appropriate computer access for an organization which you know well.
   This should be a business, educational institution or non-profit
   agency with which you are familiar either as an employee, a student,
   or a client. The plan will include assessing the needs, estimating the
   costs, and estimating the benefits both to the institution and to the
   persons using the adaptive systems. It should include a step-by-step
   plan of how to accomplish the program in an orderly manner.

    Organization
     * Overview
     * Description of organization
     * Description of its use of computers and networks
     * Summary of access issues regarding individuals with disabilities
       working there or as clients
     * Recommendations of AT/other accommodations
     * Implementation plans
     * Budget
     * Expected impact

   (20 points)
     _________________________________________________________________

  Final Exam

   The final exam will consist of two essay questions. Part a and part b
   of the exam will each permit the student to select one of two
   questions on which to write his or her essay. (25 points)
     _________________________________________________________________

  Grading

   This course will be graded "credit/no credit" (CR/NC). To receive
   credit (CR) for the course you must complete all assignments and the
   final exam and receive a total of at least 70 points.
     _________________________________________________________________

   To post a message to the Adaptive Computer Technology mailing list,
   send mail to adapt2 at u.washington.edu.