Activity

The activity for this session consists of two parts. Please post your responses to each activity within their individual sub-sections on the menu panel on the left.

1) Please share a technology that you have seen in use or can think of that could help a person with disabilities live independently or improve their life skills. Briefly describe the technology and its use, purpose, or function, and then add a link to the technology's website, or to a video (e.g., YouTube) that demonstrates its use.

2) Please respond to one of following questions pertaining to this module's readings and session. Use an innovative technology, such as the animations we have used throughout this session, to communicate your response. Follow the instructions below (or use any other technology you would like to try out!) to animate your response, and copy & paste the video link to the Comment Box within the Activity #2 page listed in the menu panel on the left.:

  • How does cost impact access to and ownership of assistive technology? 
  • What ATs would be useful in helping someone with a disability be successful at his/her job?
  • What role does technology play, if at all, in preparing a student for transitioning to higher education, employment and/or independent living after graduatiing from high school?

XTRANORMAL

We used a free animation development website, www.xtranormal.com, for our instructional session and have provided instructions below on how to use it, but if there is another technology you would like to try out, feel free to do so! Other animation sites that you could use are also included below.

 

Instructions for using Xtranormal:

1. Create a free account at www.xtranormal.com 
2. Choose a “collection.”  This determines the basic features of your actor. 
3. Click the ONE actor button under your chosen collection. 
4. Choose one voice for your actor from the drop down menu.
5. Optional: choose one background sound or music.
6. Write the text to describe your selected AT.
7. Choose one motion (drag the icon into the text box to determine when your motion occurs).
8. Choose one camera angle (drag the icon into the text box to determine when your angle occurs).
9. Choose one point option (drag the icon into the text box to determine when your point occurs).
10. Preview your animation.
11. Publish your animation. You will be prompted to give your animation a name. Wait a few minutes for the animation to upload.
12. Once your story is published, click on the thumbnail.
13. On the right side of the page, click "Embed the Xtranormal Player" and pick the largest size (640 x 360), then copy the code in the bottom box.
14. Return to our website and follow the instructions above to post your response in the Activity sub-page.
 
Other animation sites: