Blog Post #3

Technology in Special Education
Technology, technology, technology! Everywhere we look, technology is changing our world. Let us consider our ability to communicate or stay in touch with friends. In our recent history, a telephone line had to be shared with neighbors. Then we reached the day where pretty much everyone had their own personal phone line, but one had to be at home to call up a friend. Progress brought us the old "car phones" that had to be plugged in to your automobile. Cellular phones came next, and it seemed that we had reached the pinnacle of "connectedness" because we could reach out to our friends and loved ones from anywhere. Finally, we advanced to "smart phones," which have enabled us to call, email, or text any time we like plus have the ability to surf the internet. Wow! That is a lot of change in capability in a relatively short time. The effect of technology on our lives is, indeed, incredible. Very few would argue against this point. However, the improvements or advancements in technology have had greater effect on no one more so than people with special needs.

Before the days of technology, many people with special needs were, in a sense, trapped within their own bodies. Imagine having thoughts and opinions and wants and needs trapped in your mind because there is no avenue to express them. Imagine having no way to say, "I need water" or "I need the restroom." Imagine having no way to respond when asked a question. This was the life of many grown adults before technology. With assistive technology and communication devices, the lives of people who are physically and/or congnitively limited have not merely been improved, but a whole new world has been opened up to them. I would imagine that the ability to communicate, either through speech or written text, has to feel like a rebirth or an ability to finally join the living. Words can not express the impact that technology has on these special souls.

In the short video, Technology in Special Education, Lacy Cook contrasts the educational lives of her students before and after the introduction of technology. It is especially interesting to see the students, themselves, comment on how technology helps them. I would encourage a quick viewing of this video for all!


Education Apps
The use of new technologies, such as the iPad, affords teachers and students a wide range of educational options. At Apple.Education.Apps, I found several noteworthy applications that can be used for children with special needs, as well as children in the regular classroom setting. The "Read Me Stories - Childrens' Books" app would be enjoyable for all students because children love to have books read to them. However, for special needs students, this tool would be invaluable for repeated reading practice. The auditory stimuli would reinforce the child's knowledge and serve as a corrective measure for words with which the child may be struggling. This tool could aid a struggling reader's ability to do book reports and other presentations to the class. More importantly, finding some pleasure (rather than constant adversity and disappointment) during reading time would hopefully encourage the child to keep working toward the goal of becoming a reader, rather than giving up in defeat.

Another great app is "TapToTalk Education." This application allows nonverbal students to communicate with the teacher, aide, and other classmates. The student has a group of response options from which to choose, and these options can be personalized. The big bonus to using this application is that it is a lot more affordable than other AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) devices. The benefits of being able to communicate more effectively within the classroom are obvious. However, one may not consider how this tool could also be beneficial socially to a child. With a little personalization of the response options, a child could use this tool to engage in "talk" time with a classmate. What a lifechanger!

Gary's Social Media Count
Gary Phayes' social media count exposes how active and dynamic the growth of social media and the mobile industry is in today's world. The numbers are staggering. Our generation is living in a time of ultimate accessibility. This poses both incredible opportunities, as well as great challenges for today's teachers.

It seems to me that the greatest challenge for today's teachers is the ability to simply keep up with the exponential growth of new technology. Computer programs and applications are constantly evolving. One of my peers, Kabrina Harris, stated in her blog (Kabrina Harris' Blog) that she thinks teachers should be required to take annual courses on the use of technology. I am not sure how this could be funded, but I think it is a GREAT idea! At the very least, a teacher has to be willing to explore and try to learn on her own because it is almost a given that her students will be more knowledgeable about the world of technology than she is.

Given ample access to technology, today's students can be a part of the ultimate learning and sharing environment. Classes have the ability to research any topic on earth. No longer are they limited by the books sitting on the school library shelves. This accessibility comes with both benefits and challenges since the students may encounter material deemed inappropriate by educators and parents. I would hope that school systems have procedures or software programs in place to limit this unfortunate "negative" side of technology use. Today's teachers will need to be vigilant in creating a safe technology experience for all her students.

In addition to having access to unlimited resources through technology, today's students also have a tremendous opportunity to share their research, new knowledge, and product with others. Blogs, podcasts, youtube, and the like provide ample opportunity to interface with and receive feedback from people outside a student's normal reach. With more and more students, teachers, and schools engaging in new technology use, students gain more ability to communicate and collaborate with students in every corner of the world - literally! Today's teachers need to reach out and make appropriate connections for her class in order to experience all that technology has to offer.