Technology And Special Education

Article 1: Teachers and Technology Article 2: Assistive Technology for kids

with Learning Disabilities Article 3: Teaching Special Kids: Online

Resources for Teachers

Summary/reflection 1 Summary/reflection 2 Summary/reflection 3 Conclusion Resources

I chose to read articles that dealt with technology and special education. The three articles I chose were Teachers and Technology, Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities, and Teaching Special Kids : Online Resources for Teachers.

SNAP! There is a new way of teaching in special education, computers and no book! This type of technology allows the kids to work at their own pace and ability level with no group pressure. Not only has it improved academics but it has improved behavior as well!

Special Needs Alternative Program

This article talks about how difficult it is to teach to special needs children. Not only do you have to deal with multiple disabilities, but you have to teach multiple subjects to different grade levels and ability levels. By using the SNAP program the kids were allowed to use computers allowing them to work at their own pace level and ability level. It also eliminates group pressure. No one has to worry about doing the same thing, at the same time, and the same pace.

I thought this was a great way for the children to learn. I feel that this would even be useful for general education. There is no telling how well kids can do when the pressure is taken off of them. I feel the children will be more knowledgeable working at the their own pace and ability level because no matter what they learning or fast they are learning it. When it is forced I don’t feel that it sticks with them.

There are many disabilities that cause cognitive and physical impairment. One disability is a learning disability which can have many components. For Example; listening, math, organization, memory, reading etc… A way to help kids with a learning disability is by using technology. According to the website there are many types of technology that would help someone with a learning disability. Once you click on this site you will see the following links! Website(http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/2286)

What Kinds of Assistive Technology Tools Are Available? The term assistive technology usually applies to computer hardware and software, as well as other electronic devices. AT tools that support kids with learning disabilities include:

Abbreviation expanders Alternative keyboards Audio books and publications Electronic math worksheets Free-form database software Graphic organizers and outlining Information/data managers Optical character recognition Personal FM Listening Systems Portable word processors Proofreading programs Speech recognition programs Speech synthesizers/Screen Readers Talking Calculators Talking spell-checkers and electronic dictionaries Variable speed tape recorders Word prediction programs

This article talks about learning disabilities. It says what they are, types, and what kind of technology can be used to help someone with a learning disability.

I thought this was a great site for teachers. Sometimes we feel like we have tried everything. This site gives many technology ideas for learning disabilities that some of may not have known about or thought of.

There are so many lessons and activities we can think of. Sometimes it is good to collaborate with other teachers about lessons and activities they have done. Maybe you can use ideas that have worked for them in the past. One way to do this is online! here are just a few of many helpful links once you are on the website! http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr139.shtml

Teachers Helping Teachers Resources for Early Childhood Special Educati

on Special Needs, Special Kids

This article allows teachers to get lesson and activity ideas from other teachers in special education. Also there are informational links as well. It provides a variety of links and is easy and quick to use.

This was my favorite website of the 3. As a future educator I feel that I will use this website one time or another for creative ideas or thinking starters when planning my lesson!

I thought this assignment not only allowed me to dig deep into my major (Special Education), but I also learned something new on PowerPoint. It took me about two days to find the action buttons. It may have been frustrating at times, but I got to learn something new! Also I got to use slide share which I also found frustrating, but by the end of the assignment I was able to figure out both.

I feel that this project has made me more knowledgeable and in the long run will allow me to a better teacher. If I would not have done this assignment I may not have found many of these useful tips and resources. I hope that this information is as useful for you as it was for me!

Neal Starkman, "Teachers & Technology: June Weston," T.H.E. Journal, 7/24/2008, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23000

“Teaching Special Kids: Online Resources for Teachers: Linda Starr,” Education World, 9/15/2008, http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr139.shtml

“Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: Kristin Stanberry & Marshall Raskind,” Great Schools, February 2006, http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/2286