Technology Team Activities

MDE-LIO contracts with a group of individuals who have skills and interest in the area of technology for students with visual impairments. Team members for the 2007-08 school years include: Harold Abraham, Jennifer Krueger, Ted Lennox, Pat Love Sypho, Ann McKay-Bacon, Scott Norris, Sharon Reigle, and John Whitacre.

The team is focusing on five areas for the school year:

1. Developing and teaching regional on-demand technology classes.
   • Two classes (JAWS with Microsoft Word and Basic Braille Note Training) in this series are currently available. Information on these classes can be found on the MDE-LIO website at
     http://www.cenmi.org/msdb-lio/regionaltech.asp.
   • Two more classes in the series will be available later this fall. (Intermediate - Microsoft Word with JAWS and JAWS with Internet.) Stay tune to MDE-LIO’s website to see when these classes come available (http//:www.cenmi.org/msdb-lio/regionaltech.asp).
   • Classes under development include: Zoomtext with Microsoft Word, JAWS with Powerpoint, and Outlook Express Using JAWS. As these classes become available they will be posted on the website.
2. Creating and managing a technology listserv to further assist with enhancing and/or developing technology skills. This listserv will be available to those individuals who have taken one of the regional on-demand technology classes.
3. Developing and teaching a “train the trainers” class for potential MDE-LIO technology instructors.
   • A “train the trainers” class is being developed to train interested parties to be JAWS instructors for the Regional on-demand technology classes.
   • A second “train the trainers” class is being offered to train individuals who may be interested in becoming a Braille Note instructor for MDE-LIO’s regional Braille Note classes.
4. Implementing a student technology pilot project in partnership with an ISD or LEA.
   • The focus of this program is to work with a program for students with visual impairments to help them evaluate their technology program by using student outcomes. The focus of this program is for students in third through eighth grades. Components include student assessments, analysis of assessments for program improvement, staff training, parent training and student instruction.
5. Development of a resource section of the website.
   • The resource page will include informational articles, handouts from some of the technology classes and links to other technology resources.

For more information about the technology team and planned activities please contact:

Pat Love-Sypho
lovep@michigan.gov
(888) 760-2206 ext. 2735
(810) 760-2735