Equitable Learning through Assistive Technologies

With the prevalence of learning challenges that are faced by children in k-12 schools, why wouldn’t assistive technology tools be as commonplace as everyday classroom devices and strategies? Come and learn about the many types of accommodations we should be making for ALL students while leveraging technology. Take a deeper dive with a few tools, and start making plans to use these tools, skills, strategies and a new mindset in your own school. We’ll also discuss how AT fits into universal design for learning, and touch on the future of Generative AI in assistive tech.

Details

Audience: All
Length: One Day Workshop
Presenter: Topher Mueller

Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to…

• Understand and explain assistive technology, accessibility tools, and universal design for learning
• Use at least one assistive technology tool in a new way to aid learners in accessing materials
• Create a plan for using assistive technologies for future lessons and units
• Use new resources to continue learning new skills, tools and strategies with learning technologies

Topics

• What are assistive technologies? And how are they related to adaptive & accessibility?
• What are the main categories of assistive technology tools, and examples of each?
• How might assistive technologies tools be used in a general way throughout education?
• How might we best match assistive technologies in response to a student’s needs?
• What is universal design for learning, and how do assistive tools fit into this practice?
• What are the tools, skills, strategies and mindsets related to assistive technologies that I can implement this year? Next year?
• What are my best resources for continuing improving these new practices?

Presenter Topher Mueller

Topher’s journey in education spans over two decades with a wide variety of roles involving instructional design and development, process improvement, programmatic leadership in STEM and Sciences, and teaching, advising and coaching of several disciplines and experiences for both K12 students and adults. As Chartwell School’s Director of Academic and Assistive Technologies, he works to empower and inspire the community with innovative practices in technology integration for teaching, learning, and life.

Topher holds a M.S. in Instructional Design & Technology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale; he is also an Apple Distinguished Educator and Google Certified Innovator and enjoys presenting at conferences and other educational organizations to share Chartwell’s innovative practices with the greater community. His other academic interests and practices include applications of STEM enrichment & CTE, universal design for learning, generative AI, and asset-based instruction.