High School Uses Innovative Accessibility

Activities to Teach Invaluable Lessons When Janadi Gonzalez-Lord, a science teacher at Bishop Anstey High School East, noticed that a hearing-

impaired student was feeling excluded from certain learning activities, she decided to take action. She

worked with her students and members of the local community to develop a specialized science

curriculum. Students used Microsoft technologies to create rich-media learning tools, including video

games and online assessments, designed with accessibility in mind for those with hearing impairments.

Gonzalez was recently recognized for her innovation with a first-place award at the 2012 Latin America

and Caribbean Partners in Learning Innovative Educators Forum in Lima, Peru.

On a Mission to Teach Science (and So Much More!)

Bishop Anstey High School East (BAHSE) was established

in 2001 as an all-girls secondary school rooted in the

faith tradition of the Anglican Church. Located in Trincity,

Trinidad, a fast-growing metropolitan area, the school

specializes in providing a comprehensive and

challenging course of study designed to prepare

students for higher education.

A major component of the school’s mission is to

recognize and promote the unique contributions of each

student. Janadi Gonzalez-Lord, a science teacher at

BAHSE, recently noticed that one student, who is hard of

hearing, was not receiving the kind of individualized

attention that she needed to succeed. “The traditional

lesson plans that most of us are familiar with are not

necessarily designed to include students with physical or

learning impairments,” says Gonzalez. “This particular

student felt isolated from her peers, and in some ways,

invisible in the classroom.”

Gonzalez wanted to raise awareness among her students

and others in the school community about the

importance of inclusiveness for all learners. She began to

work with her students to brainstorm ideas for a science

project that would incorporate content accessible to

children of all abilities. One of the key learning

objectives—beyond imparting science facts—was to help

students better appreciate the challenges that people

with hearing disabilities face each day.

Throughout the process of planning this customized

lesson, Gonzalez emphasized integrating technology into

each learning activity. Leaders at BAHSE view the

everyday use of computers in the classroom as essential

to helping prepare students for twenty-first century

careers. To move the project forward quickly, Gonzalez

was eager to take advantage of software-based

accessibility tools that the school already owned and

that the students already knew how to use.

Reaching for the Stars with Microsoft Accessibility Tools

During the 2011–2012 school year, Gonzalez and her

students devised a project titled “The Solar System:

Reaching for the Stars.” Over the course of four weeks,

Gonzalez and her students developed the activities and

learning assessments for this project, in collaboration

with students from the Cascade School for the Deaf in

Trinidad.

“By using technology from Microsoft to create

interactive, accessible learning activities, my students

ultimately came away with a better appreciation of

deaf culture. And that is something they will bring

with them out into the world, wherever they go.”

—Janadi Gonzalez-Lord, Teacher,

Bishop Anstey High School East

With guidance from Gonzalez and input from members

of the deaf community, the students created a project

with three distinct phases. The first phase involved

building a planetarium that students could tour to learn

interesting facts about each of the planets in the solar

system. The class followed instructions from the

Microsoft Worldwide Telescope product website to build

the structure. Then, students used Windows Movie

Maker, Microsoft Photo Story, and Microsoft PowerPoint

to design and create video journals to chronicle their

peers’ journeys through the planetarium.

For the second part of the project, students used Kodu

Game Lab for Windows to invent their own video game.

Kodu is designed specifically for children, enabling

students to learn basic object-oriented programming

skills at an early age—while developing interactive, rich-

media games that can be enjoyed by everyone. As part

of the lesson plan, the BAHSE students prepared

instructions for the game in both sign language and in

written-form.

The third phase of the project focused on assessing

performance against key learning objectives. Students

used a number of Microsoft technologies, including

Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Windows Movie Maker,

to create worksheets, video summaries, and more.

“Microsoft offers so many easy-to-use multimedia tools

for creating content that all learners can benefit from,”

says Gonzalez. “Because the kids were already familiar

with how Microsoft programs work, they became

immersed in the subject matter, which is enough to

make any teacher happy.”

Revolutionizing Education for Students of All Abilities

Gonzalez was recently recognized for her innovative

approach to helping students deepen their

understanding of those who are deaf or hearing

impaired. At the Latin America and Caribbean Partners in

Learning Innovative Educators Forum, held in Lima, Peru,

in September 2012, she was awarded first place in the

category of “Innovation in Difficult Circumstances.” “By

using technology from Microsoft to create interactive,

accessible learning activities, my students ultimately

came away with a better appreciation of deaf culture,”

says Gonzalez. “And that is something they will bring

with them out into the world, wherever they go.”

Students used Kodu Game Lab for Windows to develop a video

game, which was accessible to hearing-impaired students.

For many years, BAHSE has benefitted from working

closely with the Microsoft Partners in Learning program.

The purpose of this program is to help educators and

school leaders connect, collaborate, create, and share to

enrich learning opportunities and improve the lives of

their students.

Gonzalez noted how moving it was to participate in the

2012 Partners in Learning Forum in Peru. “I was inspired

by the achievements of teachers from around the world,

who understand the need for accessibility in education,”

says Gonzalez. “It is clear to me that Microsoft is at the

forefront in helping to revolutionize education. And I’m

proud to be a part of that revolution.”

“It’s clear to me that Microsoft is at the forefront in helping to revolutionize education. And I’m proud to be a part

of that revolution.”

—Janadi Gonzalez-Lord, Teacher, Bishop Anstey High School East

Accessibility in Education www.microsoft.com/education/enable

Empower all students with accessible technology.

Students with disabilities and learning style differences face unique challenges in

learning and in life. Microsoft is dedicated to building accessibility into our products,

and also providing accessibility resources for educators.

©2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES

NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.