Comp 080 Enabling Technology

Respond to the video Including Samuel by posting a comment on this page. Come prepared to discuss it next time.

I enjoyed this quote http://www.schuylersmonsterblog.com/2009/09/on-limits.html

You can find some interesting supporting information here: http://www.includingsamuel.com/home.aspx

The purpose of this assignment is get you thinking of ideas for accessible games.

Think of computer games you enjoy(ed). Pick one and describe it in sufficiently detail so that a person who hasn’t played can understand the game play and strategy. Include pictures or diagrams to help explain. What skills does a player need to succeed?

Then, think about variations on the game that would make it accessible to people with disabilities. Consider visual, motor, and/or cognitive impairments. Again, describe your variation in sufficient detail that a non-player can appreciate the new game play scenario.

Prepare your report as a PDF file and email it to me by 3 October.

Yesterday we watched the video POV: Freedom Machines, a film by Jamie Stobie and Janet Cole. Post your reactions, questions, and discussion as comments on this page. Come to class on Thursday prepared to discuss it. I’ve included pictures of the people in the video to help you remember them.
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This assignment will get you started with Tar Heel Reader . It has several parts.

Part 1: Due Thursday 9 September
Study the Beginning Literacy Framework .

Identify three reviewed books from Tar Heel Reader that you feel belong in the Transitional category, and three that belong in the Conventional category. That is six (6) books total. For each book, justify why you think it belongs in the category. Feel free to use the hidden index of titles at http://tarheelreader.org/index-of-titles/page/1/ (That last number is the page number; you can edit it manually to be any number to probe into the space without having to hit next page. They go up to 118 at this writing). Use the last 2 digits of your PID or something to pick a place to start looking.

Come to class on Thursday prepared to share your choices and justification. Also, email your list of books including the URL, classification, and your justification for each to me before class on Thursday.

Part 2: Due Tuesday 14 September.
Sign-up to write books on Tar Heel Reader. I’ll give you the secret registration code in class.

Write at least one Transitional and one Conventional book on a subject that interests you. Imagine you were just learning to read, what would interest/motivate you?

Post your book titles and URLs as comments to this post.

Part 3: Optional
Volunteer to review books. Email me if you’re interested. I’ll need your id on Tar Heel Reader to upgrade you to editor status. Then we’ll work out an assignment system based on how many volunteer.

Service Hours
Keep a log of the time you spend on parts 2 and 3 of this assignment to count toward your 30 hour service commitment.

Read about people-first language and come to class on Thursday prepared to discuss it.

The Language Used to Describe Individuals With Disabilities

People-first language

After carefully reading the above two links, read this one, The Face of the Other . Think about the idea of being in the “marked” or “unmarked” category and what that might have to do with the above. (I’m guessing everyone knows at least a bit about manga, if not you can read about it here and at many other links you’ll find with by searching).