Paul Menton Centre's Virtual Make the Cut 2020:
Video #5 - AT Q&A Session - Transcript

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JORDYN TREMBLAY:
That is the assistive technology presentation, guys. I hope you enjoyed. I'm going to invite Amanda on, uhm, 'cause she is going to be asking, well, telling me all of your different questions.

AMANDA BLAIS:
Jordyn, wow! I know our students love working with you. Especially right now. I mean, always, but really right now because it is an online platform with everything.

Uhm, there, I wanted to recap for everybody, the technologies you have talked about were Gleane, One Note, Google Voice Types, Microsoft Editor and Read and Write. Correct?
 
JORDYN TREMBLAY:
Yes. Oh! Microsoft To-Do was in there as well.

AMANDA BLAIS:
Microsoft To-Do, okay! 
Uhm, so, there was a question early-on that asked about what an IS processor is.

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
Okay, so, that is basically the core processor on your computer. You'll typically see, like, when you're purchasing a computer it will say something like "Core i5" or "Core i7." It will literally be on the specs of the computer listed on the Staples or Best Buy webpage when you're looking at a computer. Additionally, there is usually a button; not a button; a sticker, on the base of a laptop that will identify whether it is a Core i5 or Core i7.

AMANDA BLAIS:
Amazing. And is one better than the other or does it matter?

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
I7 is a little better, but I wouldn't say in terms of assistive technology that you need to go for the computer that has the i7.

AMANDA BLAIS:
'Kay.

Somebody asked the question, on One Note can you make practice quizzes for things other than math? Like criminology or any other arts-based courses?

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
So, yes. You definitely can. So, it's through the insert form feature that I used. For that, though, you will probably have to manually write-out the questions for yourself. It won't automatically generate them like it does for math.

AMANDA BLAIS:
Okay, and, uhm, the next question is: will the technology, uhm, so, will you as an assistive technologist provide training on the technology that the student chooses, or how do they go about connecting with somebody or navigating that?

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
Oh, 100%. Usually at Carleton a student will come in, they'll meet with their coordinator and then you would just let your coordinator know during that first meeting you're interested to talking to someone about assistive technology and then they would make the referral to someone like myself.

We'd have some kind of one-on-one meeting and whether it be that you have a technology in mind or you want to explore your different options, we talk from there, we'd go through training sessions and then it's completely up to you. If you feel like you're good to go, you can proceed to enjoy your technology and just reach out to me if you need some tech support.

But, if you feel like you need some more sessions or you want to learn more about how to integrate your technology with learning strategies, just mentioned that to your assistant technologist and whether your institution has someone like myself who pairs the technologies with strategies, or you would be sent with a learning strategist to, kind of, incorporate the strategies with the technology, you'd have the support through the entire process.

AMANDA BLAIS:
Awesome, and... I kind of knew this question was going to be asked, but-and you're kind of going to chuckle when I say it, but, uhm, so, you suggest that a Microsoft laptop because it has this editor feature, correct?

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
Well, so, you can definitely have a Mac and still access the editor function because, uhm, as long as you have the, uhm, Microsoft 365 office suite you will be able to access the editor functions. So you don't need a Windows computer for this.

AMANDA BLAIS:
And it's kind of built into the next one which is: are all these technologies that you're mentioning already built into MS 365 or Google Docs or is it something that has to be added for extra cost?

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
Uhm so, out of all the technologies, so,  Read and Write, is something that is separate and like I said, some institutions like Carleton might have a site license for that. 

AMANDA BLAIS:
So they wouldn't keep to pay for it in that case?

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
Yeah. But, uh, others, uh, like I said, talk to your assistive technologist because if they don't use read and write, they might use a reading software like Natural Reader, or they might have licensing fur Kursweil. Glean, uhm, is another software that is not already built-in. Uhm, so, depending on whether your institution decide to get a site license or with notetaking technology just because there is such a broad variety and people kind of really want to customize that technology to the way they take notes, usually, not many institutions get a full-on site license for that.

But, you can talk to your assistive technologist and we'll find something that will, like, hopefully have all the features you want but be at a price point that is going to be ideal for you.

AMANDA BLAIS:
Awesome, and they can always talk to their disability coordinator too, and others about finding supports, right?

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
Oh, exactly! 100%

AMANDA BLAIS:
Okay! Hmm. The next question has to do with the MS To-Do. Someone says, how is MS To-Do different from Tasks in MS Outlook, and is one better than the other?

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
I'd say they're very similar. One thing that's kind of fun with Microsoft is they have very similar features, uhm, across their different tools. Uhm, so, I wouldn't necessarily say that something is better than the other, especially with list-taking, time management and organization-based applications. I say it's very personal. If you feel it's better to have your to do the list, like, literally embedded in to your Outlook email, then that is the best tool for you.

[cellphone ringtone playing] Sorry, apparently a telemarketer is calling me-

AMANDA BLAIS: 
[laughing] That's okay!

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
-and I thought I had my phone off

AMANDA BLAIS:
During my presentation, I was talking about that collegeinfogeek.com and I think they do a lot of comparisons between different checklist as well, right? Like, he's, uh, he's, Thomas Frank, I think, is his name, he is pretty knowledgeable on a lot of things, right?

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
Oh yeah. He has a lot of tools. So, like, explore what's out there. I will never, kind of, say okay, you definitely want to use this one over the other.

AMANDA BLAIS:
Okay, so, hopefully that collegeinfogeek, (link) has been put in there, I can see that it has so that is awesome. 

Somebody asked about whether a Chromebook is a good idea to purchase.

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
I personally would not recommend a chrome book for coming into postsecondary education just because it's usually not powerful enough to handle, even, like, beyond assistive technology, sometimes in certain programs you need to be using particular software. And so, usually it is not powerful enough to do it. I would not recommend a Chromebook.

AMANDA BLAIS:
Okay, and I think this is the last question that we will be having today: does assistive technology support technologies used to assist the visually or audibly impaired, such as somebody who might use a FM system?

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
100%. All post secondary institutions you go to, there should be FM systems in place. Yet again, go to your accessibility centre or your centre for students with disabilities and your coordinator/assistive technologist will be able to help you out with that.

Uhm, embedded on a lot of tech devices, like, there's magnify features, uhm, there's features to kind-of help increase audio volumes or customize those to best suit your personal needs. 

So yes, there's a bunch of different options to support a wide variety of disability-related needs.

AMANDA BLAIS:
Amazing. 

That was a lot of info and I know a lot of students always come to you for, you and Jason, for support with regards to technology and how to best support themselves through university.

I think that is all we have for now. I think, uhm, Jordyn and other staff will still be answering questions that are coming in that we did not have time to address publicly, but Jordyn thank you so much for, uhm, speaking today and I hope students find you if they come to PMC.

JORDYN TREMBLAY:
Brilliant! Okay, thanks guys, it was a pleasure talking to you. Best of luck with the rest of the day! Enjoy Make the Cut 2020.

PADDY STEWART:
Fantastic Jordan. You know an awful lot. And you, you are so good, I brought in a special guest to give your thanks. Hold on a sec. I'll go get him.

Well, well thank you. Thank you ma'am. Thank you Jordyn. Thank you very much. 
That was first-class information. So let's give Jordan a round of applause, everybody. Come on now, here we go. Come on, give it up for her - all the way around. Loosen up!

Now give her a big hand like that. Yeah! Now give her the other big hand like that. And say "your mama." 

And give her a big O-o-o-o. O, for the ovation.

Just a sec, I'll get the - uh- hold on.

Thank you Jordyn, that was spectacular. 
And thank you Elvis for dropping in like that. We do appreciate it.

Now, I'd would like to move on, uh, Jordyn was talking about technology and I know an awful lot of you spend a lot of time on screen. Uhm. You're watching TV, computer, and *inaudible* and it's time for us to relax a little and do some yoga. 

Hold on a second.
Ommmmm.
Relax with me, now. 
Om.

And because so many of you watch so much and your eyes get a little tired watching the screen, so, we're now going to do some special eye yoga. 

Get up close with me, now. Get up close with me. And first thing we do, everybody do this please, first thing we do. 
Rub your eyes; nice little massage. Oh yeah.
And then we go like this; not too hard.
Now what we do is we exercise our eyes. 

Up, down, up, down. Do it with me.
And then we go left to right. Left, right, left, right. 
Now we go crazy. Up, down, left, right. Up, down, left, right.

Alright, next we do z's. 

Go like this: Up here, across, stay with me! Down there, over, up, across, and back the other way.

Perfect. 

Now, we do the lovely flutter.
Very nice. 

We do the teenager angst where you do *tongue clicking sound* and role the eyes. 
And back to the other one.

And finally, I have a challenge for you. 
Can you, without squinting, close one I like this... Or the other one like this.

Very good. 

The main thing is that you're giving it a try because next year when you're off to university or college you'll be trying all kinds of new things.

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