Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 2
TECHNOLOGY INTHE COMMUNITY
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TECHNOLOGY INTHE COMMUNITY
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Computing
Class: JHS 2
Term: 1st Term
Week: 8
Grade code: B8.1.2.1.1
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: B8.1.2.1
Indicator code: B8.1.2.1.1
Theme: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING
Subtheme: TECHNOLOGY INTHE COMMUNITY
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In our communities, we live with friends, family, and neighbours who have different abilities. Some may find it difficult to see, hear, or use their hands. Technology is not just for playing games or watching videos; it is a powerful tool that can act as a bridge, helping everyone, regardless of their physical challenges, to access information, communicate, and participate fully in our digital world. Today, we will explore the amazing technologies designed to make computers and mobile phones usable for people with special needs, ensuring no one in our community is left behind.
This lesson focuses on Assistive Technology. Definition: What are Special Needs? "Special needs" is a term used to describe challenges or disabilities that can make it difficult for a person to perform certain daily activities, including using a computer. These challenges are often categorised based on the part of the body they affect. Definition: What is Assistive Technology? Assistive Technology refers to any hardware (physical device) or software (computer program) that is designed to help people with disabilities to perform tasks that they would otherwise find difficult or impossible. It helps them to be more independent. A. Categories of People with Special Needs
For our lesson, we will focus on three main categories: People with Visual Impairments: These are individuals who have difficulty seeing. This includes: Low Vision: People who can see, but not clearly. They might struggle to read small text on a screen. Blindness: People who cannot see at all. People with Mobility Impairments: These are individuals who have difficulty with movement, especially using their hands and arms. This could be due to an accident, an illness, or a condition they were born with. They may find it hard to type on a keyboard or use a standard mouse. People with Hearing Impairments: These are individuals who have difficulty hearing. This includes: Hard of Hearing: People who have some hearing ability but may not hear sounds clearly, especially from a computer's speakers. Deafness: People who cannot hear at all. B. Assistive Technologies and How They Work
Let's look at the specific tools that help each group. Technologies for Visual Impairments Screen Readers (Software): What it is: A program that reads out loud every piece of text and every icon on the computer screen. It describes what is happening on the screen so a blind person can "hear" the screen instead of seeing it. How it works: Using the keyboard, a blind user can navigate through menus, websites, and documents. As the cursor moves to a new item (like an icon or a line of text), the screen reader's computerised voice announces it. Example: A student who is blind can use a screen reader like NVDA (which is free) to listen to their online notes, type an assignment in Microsoft Word, and even browse news on GhanaWeb. The software will read the text of the articles to them. Screen Magnifiers (Software): What it is: A program that works like a digital magnifying glass. It enlarges a portion of the screen, making text and images bigger and easier to see. How it works: A person with low vision can move their mouse, and the area around the cursor becomes magnified. They can control how much bigger things get (e.g., 2x, 5x, or even 10x magnification). Example: Your grandmother who struggles to read messages on her smartphone can turn on the "Magnification" feature in her phone's settings. This will allow her to zoom in on WhatsApp messages from her children. Most operating systems like Windows and macOS have this feature built-in. Technologies for Mobility Impairments Voice Recognition (Software): What it is: A program that allows you to control your computer or phone simply by talking to it. How it works: The user speaks commands into a microphone, and the software translates the speech into actions. You can say "Open Word," "Type 'My name is Ama'," or "Scroll down." Example: A JHS student who has injured their arm and cannot type can use the voice dictation feature on Google Docs or Microsoft Word to write their homework essay. They speak, and the computer types for them. This is the same technology behind "Hey Siri" and "OK Google." On-Screen Keyboard (Software): What it is: A visual keyboard that appears on the computer screen. How it works: Instead of typing on a physical keyboard, a person can use a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, or even a single switch to click on the letters on the screen. Example: A shopkeeper who has limited use of their hands can use an on-screen keyboard with a special mouse to enter sales data into their computer. Technologies for Hearing Impairments Subtitles and Closed Captions (Software Feature): What they are: Text displayed on the screen that shows the dialogue and important sounds in a video. How they work: As people speak or as sounds happen in a video (like a phone ringing), the words or a description of the sound appear at the bottom of the screen. Example: When watching an educational video on YouTube or a movie on TV, a student with a hearing impairment can turn on captions to read what is being said. This ensures they don't miss any important information.
Guided Practice (With Solutions)