Chapter 15 Teaching and Learning with Technology in Special EducationBy: Kyle Brewer, Courtney Cain, and Mary Hodgen

Pre-Test

Question 1: What is the definition of a handicap?

A. A condition that arises when an individual is unable to fulfill a role due to an impairment or disability.

B. Condition that occurs when an impairment limits an individual from performing an activity in a manner normally expected for human beings.

C. An abnormality or loss of function in a physical, anatomical, or psychological structure; may be congenital or acquired through accident or disease.

D. A condition that causes mood swings and bad behavior.

Question 2: What do local studies show about Autism.

A. Autism is decreasing by 25% each year.

B. Special Educational services for autism is increasing by 13% - 28% each year.

C. There is no change in Autism rates.

D. Autism is more prevalent in Australia than the United States.

Question 3: What is a Strategy to use for the Physically Disabled?

A. Joystick

B. Video Camera

C. E-Reader

D. Screen Reader

Question 4: What is a Strategy to use for a Student with a Sensory Disability?

A. Switches

B. Alternative Keyboards

C. Screen Readers

D. NEO Writer

Question 5: What is an example of Universal Design?

A. It has been applied to computers by including disability accessibility software as part of the operating system so that access is provided as the computer comes out of the box.

B. Curb Mats

C. Computers with software on them.

D. Mainstreaming

Introduction to Special Education

Impairment- involves an abnormality or loss of function in a physical, anatomical, or psychological structure.

Disability- when an impairment limits an individual from performing an activity in a manner normally expected for human beings (like communicating with others).

Handicap- arises when an individual is unable to fulfill a role due to an impairment or disability. A handicap is the “negative consequence of an impairment”. Ex: problems with access to certain buildings due to poor walking.

Fun Fact: Special education technology has been apart of the US educational system since at least 1879, when the US congress made a grant for Braille materials by the American Printing House for the blind.

Issues and Problems in Special Education

Legal and Policy Directives The Technology- Related Assistance Act for Individuals with

Disabilities (provides funding for statewide systems and services to provide assistive technology devices and services to individuals with disabilities)

Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (makes sure that every IEP team considers using assistive technology when planning the educational program of an individual with a disability.)

Implications of the No Child Left Behind Act for Special Education

No Child Left Behind Act introduced a set of guidelines for public schools to improve education through the following changes: heightened accountability, enhanced flexibility and local control of funds, enhanced parental choice, and increased use of research-based instructional methods.

AYP requires documentation that each school is meeting specific performance criteria that is required by law.

Trends in the Prevalence of Autism

Autism is increasing dramatically in the United States. Children who received special education services for autism increased by 13%-28% each year!

To help with this epidemic there has been a development of numerous video capture and editing solutions.

Also there are numerous mobile apps that assist students with autism.

American Sign Language

ASL is a world language and has become the third most widely used language in America after English and Spanish!

To address the need for an increase demand for instruction and assessment in ASL, Dr. Charles Miller developed Avenue ASL.

Avenue ASL is designed with video-based environments that motivate student learners and also increase the efficiency of feedback.

Need for Trained Personnel

Most teachers begin their career with minimal experience using technology in ways that:

1. Enhance their own productivity

2. Enhance the effectiveness of instruction and the success of all students

3. Enable them to acquire and use assistive technology for students in need of performance support.

We need more teachers that can integrate technology effectively and therefore help their students learn in more efficient and creative ways.

Requirements for Inclusive Classrooms In the 1990’s a major change occurred in how special

education services were delivered.

Rather than placing students with disabilities in separate classrooms and allowing them to participate in selected classes in general education (called mainstreaming) efforts were made to include them in the general education classroom.

Now students with disabilities spend the majority of the school day in the classroom and also receive a variety of support services.

However, even though the SE students are included in the classrooms they still don’t have all of the modifications that are needed. For ex: a student in a wheelchair cannot do the science experiment because he cannot reach the equipment on the lab table.

Universal Design for Learning

Universal Designs- Adjustments made to physical environments as a result of understanding the special needs of individuals with disabilities. One major universal design is that concepts have been

applied to computers by including disability accessibility software as part of the operating system so that access is provided as the computer comes out of the box.

Web Accessibility

Now websites are starting to make websites more usable by people with various disabilities.

They design the websites with a criteria in mind, such as using text equivalents with screen readers, using large or enlargeable images for people with low vision, underlining links as well as coloring them for users with colorblindness, and making pages navigable using the keyboard only.

Technology Integration Strategies for Special Education

Foundations of Integration Strategies There are two types of technology: Assistive Technology and

Instructional Technology

Assistive Technology- any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability.

Two common approaches for technology use by individuals with disabilities involve remediation and compensation.

Remediation involves helping an individual learn or improve performance, often the focus of education, training and therapy. Ex. A graphic organizer to help students visualize their concepts.

Compensation- focuses on using technology to accommodate difficulties performing specific tasks. Ex: speech recognition software.

Strategies for Students with Cognitive Disabilities

The important issue for these students is not the physical access to the technology, but reading, writing, memory, and retention of information.

Reading Software that will help includes; JumpStart Kindergarten Reading, and Simon Sounds it Out.

Text-to-speech- CAST, eReader, the Quicktionary Reading Pen, and Ipad apps.

There is also alternative keyboards, called Intellikeys keyboard and they keys can be enlarged to provide more space for the student to press a key.

Strategies for Students with Physical Disabilities

Technology to help physically Disable students is; Joystick- which is a device with a handle that moves in all

directions and they can also control the movement of the cursor or pointer on a computer screen.

Switches- commonly used for controlling and getting input to the computer.

Strategies for Students with Sensory Disabilities

Strategies for the blind include; Canes and sensory technology, tools to convert printed

information, Optical character recognition- is software to scan and translate print into a word- processed file, and speech synthesis, screen Readers

For the Partially Sighted

Closed circuit television- a video camera mounted on a frame with a television monitor and users place materials on the desktop below the camera, set the desired magnification level, and move the materials around as necessary so they can read it.

For the Deaf

FM amplification systems

Tech-PACK Needs and Challenges in Special Education

Special Education Content Knowledge- special education also entails understanding content that relates to public law, technology options, and adaptations. Also, content changes rapidly with Special Education.

Special Education Pedagogical Knowledge- Special instructors face challenges because they must be aware of the basic pedagogies for each topic.

Special Education Technology Knowledge- Teachers need to know about the technology and how to integrate technology.

Concept Map

Teaching and MjLearning with MjTechnology in Mj

Special MjEducation Mj

Introduction Mjto Special MjEducation Mj

*Impairment Mj*Disability Mj*Handicap Mj

Issues and MjProblems MjIn Special Mj

Legal And MjPolicy Mj

Directives Mj

Implications Mjof the No Mjchild Left Mj

Behind Act for MjSpecial Mj

education Mj

Trends in the MjPrevalence of Mj

Autism Mj

American MjSigns Mj

Language Mj

Need for MjTrained MjPersonal Mj

Requirement Mjfor inclusive Mjclassrooms Mj

Universal MjDesign Mj

For MjLearning Mj

Web MjAccessibility Mj

Technology MjIntegration Strategies Mjfor special education Mj

Foundation of Mjintegration Mjstrategies Mj

General MjIntegration MjStrategies Mj

for all Mjstudents Mj

Strategies Mjfor Mj

students Mjwith Mj

cognitive Mjdisabilities Mj

Strategies Mjfor Mj

students Mjwith Mj

physical Mjdisabilities Mj

Strategies Mjfor Mj

students Mjwith Mj

sensory Mjdisabilities Mj

Strategies Mjfor at- risk Mj

student Mj

Strategies Mjfor Mj

students Mjwith gifts Mj

and Mjtalents Mj

Tech- Pack Mjneeds and Mj

challenges in Mjspecial Mj

education Mj

Special MjEducation MjContent Mj

Knowledge Mj

Special MjEducation Mj

Pedagogical MjKnowledge Mj

Special MjEducation Mj

Technology Mj

Strategies Mjfor Mj

improving Mjspecial Mj

education Mjtech-pack Mj

Post Test

Question 1: What is the definition of a handicap?

A. A condition that arises when an individual is unable to fulfill a role due to an impairment or disability.

B. Condition that occurs when an impairment limits an individual from performing an activity in a manner normally expected for human beings.

C. An abnormality or loss of function in a physical, anatomical, or psychological structure; may be congenital or acquired through accident or disease.

D. A condition that causes mood swings and bad behavior.

Question 2: What do local studies show about Autism.

A. Autism is decreasing by 25% each year.

B. Special Educational services for autism is increasing by 13% - 28% each year.

C. There is no change in Autism rates.

D. Autism is more prevalent in Australia than the United States.

Question 3: What is a Strategy to use for the Physically Disabled?

A. Joystick

B. Video Camera

C. E-Reader

D. Screen Reader

Question 4: What is a Strategy to use for a Student with a Sensory Disability?

A. Switches

B. Alternative Keyboards

C. Screen Readers

D. NEO Writer

Question 5: What is an example of Universal Design?

A. It has been applied to computers by including disability accessibility software as part of the operating system so that access is provided as the computer comes out of the box.

B. Curb Mats

C. Computers with software on them.

D. Mainstreaming

THE END!!!