Kid Link
An Internet Connection Project Involving Students with Learning Disabilities
Created by Meg Bingham through participation in the Fermilab LINC class


Learner Description
This project was developed as a piece of the instruction to be used to introduce children with learning disabilities to the Internet. The target group of children are in first, second, or third grade and receive a range of special education support services.

Subject/Content Area
This activity is related to the student's Individualized Education Plans (I.E.P.'s) for written language skills.

Purpose
The primary goal of the project is to expose these students to another facet of computer use. As very young, preoperational learners, these children are forming concepts of a computer and what it can do. The collaborative aspect of technology, a more user-driven aspect, has yet to be presented to these students. At the preoperational stage, youngsters frequently rely on magic as an explanation for the results produced by a computer. If the students are able to see any correlation between their own actions and the actions of the computer, the correlation is, at best, a limited one.

Learner Outcomes
Through participation in this project the students will have the opportunity to experience the computer as a tool rather than as predominantly entertainment. They will experience giving the computer directions and evaluating the results of their commands. The students will also have the opportunity to refine their concept of a computer to include this communication function.

Setting/Context/Environment
The Kid Link project will be implemented in the classroom for students with Learning Disabilities and the Library Media Center (LMC). Students will compose their messages during Writer's Workshop times in the classroom. The students will take turns using the computer in the LMC to send their messages. This single computer is a Macintosh Performa LC580 with a 28/8 modem connection.

Project Description

Objectives:

Instruction and Activity
1.The students will operate a Netscape session on the World Wide Web, using three pages created for this project, to successfully contact a "key" pal at West Aurora High School.

2. The students will correctly use the "Home" button in the Netscape window to reset the program for the next student.

3.The students will demonstrate their understanding of linked text by drawing a reasonable picture (map) of their progress through the sites comprising the simulation.

4. The students will successfully send correspondence to their "key" pals using "mail to" windows in the Web pages.

5. The students will locate received mail using Eudora.

Student Assessment through application
The student assessment is two pronged. The first assessment is an evaluation of the effectiveness of the information exchange. The second assessment is an examination of the students' perception of the computer.

• The students will draw portraits and write short biographies of their "key" pals using the information gained through their correspondence.
  
• The students will verbally describe how they think they can use the computer to help them in school and when they have a job.
  
  Student Evaluation of Kid Link The students will evaluate the accuracy of their information exchange when they visit the high school computer lab to find their "key" pals. Each student will try to match his portrait and biography with a high school student in order to identify his "key" pal.

Evaluation of Kid Link Project
The evaluation of this project will be conducted and reported at this site when the students have completed the project. Evaluation components will include items from Pluggin In; Choosing and Using Educational Technology, Table III: Comparing Technology Programs, Chart 1- Engaged Learning Indicators and Chart 2 - High Performance Technology Indicators.



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Background from a collection by Gini and friends