Technology strikes Again! I chose to read this article because last year the principal at my school had a group of twelve teachers go down to our A.B.A classrooms and observe how the teachers in those classrooms use the technology discussed in the reading. Students in the class were using computerized tablets to communicate with the teachers and aides in the room. I found the technology to be very effective and extremely cool. The communication between the child and teacher became incredibly easier, allowing the teacher to spend more time instructing rather than just trying to communicate.
As a strong advocate for the implementation of technology in education, Assistive Technology in my opinion is a way of technology doing its job to differentiate in the classroom. With the use of smart boards taking over our regular education classrooms, it is time to create and apply new technologies to our special education and applied behavior analysis classrooms. Although such technologies are incredibly expensive the ability to communicate in a more efficient way is priceless to a child’s development. While observing and interacting with the students in the classroom I was able to see the many different forms of technologies the teachers used. From a simple clip board with pictures printed off a computer and attached with Velcro to the use of computerized tablets every use of technology made their daily routines easier. If you get the opportunity to observe in a classroom that uses these technologies I would recommend doing it, it is incredible the benefits technology can bring.
I completely agree with you! The benefits of technology as a learning tool in the classroom impact students learning and achievement. I believe that technology engage in different ways such as construction not reproduction, conversations instead reception, articulation instead repetition, collaboration and reflections. This type of learning environment sponsors student interaction autonomy and embraced learning especially for students with disabilities.
ReplyDeleteGood Point! I have also seen teachers use pictures velcroed to a clipboard for daily routines. The students that I saw use those schedules loved using them. I have also seen the pictures used for behavior management and that works well too. Technology is so helpful in many ways!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Robert... the blog is shaping up nicely... great video choice and assistive technology opens up new worlds for students with disabilities and helps to level the playing field. The technology you are speaking of is the Dynavox and it costs roughly $7000 but is fully customizable.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I think that this technology is crucial to the success of our special needs students. It's empowering!!! The only thing that I find a little discouraging is how expensive this equipment can be. How can this be accessible to everyone? Especially in our underprivileged communities.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about how much time is wasted for teachers trying to communicate with their students in place of actually instructing them! Assistive technology seems like the perfect fix to that problem. Technology is becoming more and more vital to eucational settings, and I can't wait to see them used first hand!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what efforts are being made to lower the cost or get them at a reduced cost. If it assists a child's learning then how great it would be if every student who would benefit from it would receive it.
ReplyDeleteit's so amazing how much technology is developing in the classroom, especially for those with special needs. We have our work cut out for us, learning how to use all of these technologies but its definitely worth it
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