exemplar activities

Unit B Activity 2 - Organize the positioning of equipment - Exemplar 2

The use of I.C.T. to communicate, to learn and reinforce skills and to make sense and interprete the world is a key issue in the education of the children in our school. The position and ease of access to the computer needs to be adaptable for each child. With this in mind I decided to audit and then reorganise my I.C.T. provision with in the classroom.

Since September I have taught a class of 5, year3 children of mixed ability, all of who have profound physical and multiple disabilities. All the childrens development is significantly delayed. The children are non- verbal and are learning to communicate in a number of ways, including symbols, expressions, gesture, vocalisation and signing. Some children have visual and hearing difficulties. One child has behaviour difficulties that can affect her ability to access the computer safely. All of the children are in wheelchairs and have a variety of equipment, including standing frames and switches, to support their learning.

The start of a new school year with new children and their differing needs from the previous class demanded a re think over the positioning of computers. Considerations about assessability, position, height, light, safety, glare and distraction from other activities needed to be reviewed.

I started by standing in the doorway of the classroom and taking an overview of the two computers we had. Both were in positions that were on frequently used route ways within the class. Both were side ways to the wall and allowed other activities to distract a child's vision and focus to task. One of the computers was situated by a door and both were hard to adjust for height. There were also issues over wires, leads and assorted switches and storage.

I next sat at each computer to check on the reflection on the screens and to look at light sources. I checked where the natural light came from and looked at the position of our lights and then the power points if extra light was needed. Our classroom can be extremely bright during the morning and dark during the rest of the day. The lights are needed for most of the day, all year around.

As a result of the audit I decided to re-position one computer against a wall, putting a screen to one side and allowing open access on two sides. This allowed space to wheel or allow a child to wheel themselves to the computer. The computer is now easily assessable to allow adjustment of height and plugging in of individual switches. The computer is at the end of the room with the most natural light and there is a light socket if more light is required. The glare from the lights and windows has been reduced.

Wires and leads have been tidied away wherever possible to allow the minimum of distraction from the screen. This is also safer for pupils who have a tendency to grab and pull at wires and equipment. Switches are now being stored in individual named bags in a small trolley by the side of the computer.

The second computer has been re-positioned in a corner with access from two sides. Considerations of height of the trolley, light, glare, wires, and safety have been reviewed. Staff are able to position a pupil quickly, to adjust the trolley if necessary and plug in and adjust switches to their optimum position.

The audit and review of my I.C.T. equipment with in the classroom made me find the time to stop and look closely at I.C.T. I found time to relocate the equipment, to refine the resources, to store switches for easy access and to make computers a more integrated part of our learning activities.

This has impacted on the children's learning. Children and staff can quickly access our equipment. The children are able to focus on the screen with less visual distraction from other activities. The screen has reduced glare and can be positioned at the best height. Children can move from their activities more smoothly without the awkward procedures of moving wires and equipment before starting work.

Individual records are kept in a file by the side of the computers with photos of children's switch positions. This enables unfamiliar staff to set up the children's work easily.

This work has made me reflect on my practice and given me the incentive to review and refine the use and location of I.C.T. within the classroom.

I have taken photos with the digital camera of the computers before and after the audit.

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