Guide
Guidelines for submitting an article to Paths to Technology
Join the Paths to Technology community of practice! Learn how to share your ideas!
Paths to Technology is proud to be a Community of Practice for educators, parents and students who are interested in learning about and staying current on technology for students with low vision or blindness. We welcome contributions on a variety of topics tech-related topics from your favorite apps and devices, new features and software updates, teaching strategies, video tutorials and lessons. In this digital age, everyone has experience with technology, and we encourage practitioners and students to share your knowledge!
What are popular topics?
P2T posts cover a wide range of applications and devices for both mainstream technologies and technologies designed specifically for users of all ages with low vision, blindness or multiple disabilities. Here are a few popular topics:
- Step-by-step instructions (with commands if appropriate)
- Video tutorials
- Student activities/lessons
- Teaching strategies
- New features/software updates
- How to create accessible educational resources
- Adapting mainstream classroom activities
- Tech-related checklists and cheat sheets
- Sharing accessible digital materials
Educators are creative! You are teaching and embedding technology skills into daily lessons – simply share your favorite lesson.
Today’s students are tech savvy! Ask your student to show-off his/her skills by creating a video tutorial using his/her favorite device to complete a classroom assignment. Example: Create a video tutorial demonstrating how to create a Google Slide presentation using JAWS, VoiceOver or a braille display.
Need help picking a topic or narrowing down your topic? Contact Diane at [email protected].
Note to Students
Did you know that there is a Student section on Paths to Technology – written by students for students? Student bloggers who blog regularly have used their P2T blogger experience on college applications, internships and even job applications. P2T has been honored to write numerous support letters for regular bloggers.
What should be included in the submission?
- Each submission should include a title, content and an associated image. (Diane can help with the image.)
- Articles can be any length. Go wild and create a series of articles on a related topic!
- If desired, videos, additional images, link to support resources, and attachments (including documents, slide deck, ePub, etc.) can be included.
- Posts should contain original content.
- If embedding images in the body of the article, note in the document where the image belongs and send the images separately.
- If a student is recognizable (i.e. shows the student’s face, not just his/her hands or back of head) in the image or video, a signed permission form is required.
- Diane will upload the content and format the article with headings, alt text descriptions, etc. Simply email your content to Diane at [email protected].
What about Images, videos, and copyright?
Images and videos
- Images that are protected by copyright cannot be used, meaning images found in Google Images, from other websites, from internet searches or from purchased sources cannot be used.
- Creative Common images can be used. Pixabay.com has a free Creative Commons section of available, searchable images.
- Take your own photos of materials or events.
- Student images or student videos where the student is recognizable must have a signed permission form.
- Please tell us where you images are from when you submit your article.
Additional Copyright
- Adaptations of books to make them accessible to readers with disabilities are allowed under copyright law, if they are not being sold or interfering in any way with the publisher or author’s ability to sell their material.
- Authors who have written articles from newsletters or workshops can submit their articles to be published on P2T as long as the article is not protected by copyright.
- Learn about Fair Use.
How will I be recognized as an author?
- All authors will have a profile page with a photo, short blurb describing their role as a student, family member, TSVI, COMS, CATIS, or related service provider.
- Each profile page will include all the blogs written by that author.
- When submitting your article, please share how you would like your author name (or pseudonym) to appear with the published article.
Note: Young student bloggers often use pseudonyms. Student bloggers who might be interested in using their blogger experience on applications or resumes, may want to use their first name or first and last name. While blogger photos are typically headshots, the blogger may choose to use a generic image and not a headshot photo.
How can I earn Continuing Education Credits?
Blogs for credit must be original content for Paths to Technology. We cannot offer credit for a submission that has already been used somewhere else. Each post can only receive one type of Continuing Education Credits:
- Authors can receive two (2) Continuing Education Credits per post in the form of a certificate. These can be used in many states and districts as part of the recertification process or in a professional portfolio, but you should check with your supervisor to find out if these will be recognized where you work. Or,
- Authors can receive 1 ACVREP CE per qualifying post.
How do I submit the article?
Send your article to Diane Brauner at [email protected]. Contact us with any questions!
Articles become the property of Paths to Technology.
By Diane Brauner 2/14/23
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