As an inspiring special education teacher I cannot close my eyes to the wonderful world of assistive and adaptive technology. I was very enlightened by the video “Assistive Technology: Enabling Dreams”, it is a wonderful documentary on how assistive technology greatly impacts the lives of exceptional children and adults, making their ability to reach their dreams more convenient and possible. Many of the devices featured in this video were spectacular! One device was able to speak for children who were non-verbal, by simply pressing buttons. Assistive Technology is definitely a blessing for students with special needs, but I also believe we can use some of the same technology to be a blessing for typical students as well.
In my previous lesson plan there was definitely a lot of room for improvement. I integrated technology by utilizing and teaching spreadsheets to my students, but I believe that my lesson plan could have been revised a lot further. I should have mentioned certain types of technology to use in class in case I had a student with a disability (Ex. Cerebral palsy). If I had a student with cerebral palsy I would require a laptop solely for the student with voice recognition and type software. The student would not have to suffer in strenuous written work that may be extremely challenging or not possible for he/she to do. I also should have included other assistive technology for my students who were ESL into my lesson plan. I could integrate the speech tool in my Microsoft word software that is able to speak whatever word is typed in the document. I would use this software to help my students pronounce words such as “calories, saturated, daily” correctly which would also be helping in their reading fluency. I believe I could have stretched more opportunities with assistive technology for students who may have special needs into my previous lesson plan.
If GDOE had a lot of money to purchase the various helpful assistive technology out there I would be running to be first in line to receive such items. The first step I would take in revising the previous lesson plan would be to have students each work on the laptop instead of the group leader. I believe that I should have made it fairer and have all of my students to have a chance to work on the spreadsheet. Also, if there was a student with a special need for example, my ESL student, I would have my high performing student work with my ESL student in understanding how to use the Microsoft word /speech program when typing in unfamiliar or difficult words in the lesson.
I strongly feel that students with disabilities MUST be included into the lesson plan because with “Inclusion”, students need to be whole in the class, and not pushed off to the side as an outsider. That is absolutely cruel and heartless and demonstrates the educators failure to meet the needs of his/her students. TEACHERS ALWAYS NEED TO MAKE THEIR ACCOMODATIONSAND MODIFICATIONS IN THEIR LESSON PLANS. The criteria I would use to assess the revised activities would be to see how well students progressed from not using assistive technology in some lessons to their class work assignments in using assistive technology in similar lessons. If students do not progress than I know that its either the technology is insufficient to meet my student’s needs or I am not utilizing the assistive technology correctly in my lesson. It is my duty as a teacher to find the best mode of technology for my students to help in his or her learning experiences.
I firmly believe that all students with or without disabilities should be able to enjoy the wonderful use of technology, to create, explore, and discover the world around them. Whether its by simply using the internet for research or collaborating with their peers for computer assignments; assistive technology is a blessing for all students, parents and educators.
“Assistive Technology: Enabling Dreams”. Prod. Ken Ellis. Perf. Sussanna Sweeney-Martini, Sheryl Burgstahler, and Vishal Saraiya. 2005.
