Don Johnston
From IAE-Pedia
Contents |
Introduction
Don Johnston has focused on developing assistive technologies (switches) for physically handicapped kids for over 30 years.
His first product was the Audio Scan; a computer device that provided non-verbal students and those with multiple handicaps a resource to help them communicate using switch technology. For the first time, many of these students could speak in complete sentences using this device that spoke in different audio prompts selected by switch technology.
He also developed Co:Writer (word prediction tool) and Write:OutLoud (word processing tool with writing supports) for struggling learners, now used by over 5000 school districts in the country.
Regarding awards, Don just received a pioneer award at C-SUN for his focus in the assistive tech field and rec’d a leadership award from the TAM organization (Technology Access Materials) for his many contributions to special education.
Here is a rough outline for a Pioneer page. As you create such a page, please make appropriate use of main headings (surrounded by == on each side) sub headings (surrounded by === on each side) and, if you feel it to be appropriate, sub sub headings (surrounded by ==== on each side).
1. General demographic types of information such as birth date and place, education, employment, and so on.
2. Setting the scene. This might go all the way back to the Pioneer's childhood. Try to capture the essence of how the world was before the pioneer began to do his or her pioneering work. Pay particular attention to the levels of Information and Communication Technology, and their use in education, at the time.
3. Major pioneering efforts and contributions. Try to capture the essence of the Pioneer's legacy contributions to the field of ICT in education. Be factual. Provide references if possible.
4. Up close and personal stories about the Pioneer. These can be contributed by many different authors. Try to flesh out the pioneer as a person and his or her contributions as part of the overall human endeavor of developing the field of ICT in education.
5. Autobiographic materials written by the pioneer in the past and/or written especially for this IAE-pedia document.
6. Interview. If the Pioneer is not deceased, try to gather interview information via face to face meeting, phone, or email. Here are three sample interview questions:
Q. Looking back over your pioneering activities, which do you feel best about? What is your legacy?
Q. Drawing upon your years of experience and accumulated wisdom, what do you think are some of the very best ways to improve our current informal and formal educational systems?
Q. What else do you want to say to today's students, teachers, parents, and other people?
Author or Authors
Valerie Chernek
