Meeting the needs of special needs and gifted students in the classroom can be challenging for educators. However, the vast technological advances of this century have helped to create a suitable learning environment for these unique groups of learners. For special needs students, word processing software containing text-to-speech and talking word processing programs, talking spell checkers, concept mapping, and word prediction are just a few applications and programs designed to meet their needs. To help these students maneuver these applications and programs, computers can be equipped with alternative input and output devices. Touch screens, one-handed keyboards, voice input, screen readers, and braille printers are examples of such devices. Adding e-books and/or recorded books can also be advantageous.
Gifted students are also considered to be a unique group of learners. Keeping these students engaged in learning beyond what is being taught in the classroom is important. These students need to be exposed to technology that will challenge them and aid them in reaching their fullest potential. Offering internet-based activities can help keep them stay engaged in the learning process. However, classrooms need to be equipped with computers that allow them to achieve this potential.
The problem for most school districts is that implementing this technology is costly, and most districts have a limited budget. I have limited experiences working with special needs and gifted students, but after reading this chapter, I will offer some suggestions for what I feel would be the best allocation of the limited funds that are available to meet the needs of these students. First of all, computers must be available to all students including average learners, gifted learners, and special needs learners. Equipping these computers with high-speed internet so that Web 2.0 related technology can be used will help meet the needs of gifted students. However, I feel it is important that special needs students have an equal opportunity to maximize their learning potential. At minimum, I would include the following applications/software in my classroom for special needs learners: text-to-speech programs, talking spell checkers, and word prediction. I suggest these programs because writing and grammar (communication) skills are a must so that these students will be marketable for quality employment opportunities once they enter the workforce since communication skills are high on the list of skills that employers require. I feel that students should begin working on these skills early in their education. I would suggest that e-books be available for these students as well.
I would also add appropriate hardware to computers to aid in using the applications discussed above including touch screen monitors, customizable keyboards, screen readers, and braille printers. My thought is that these applications are useless if students don’t have the proper equipment to use them.
This question was extremely hard for me to answer. After reading this chapter, I was excited to learn of all the available technology geared toward gifted and special needs students. My initial reaction is that I want these students to have accessibility to all of this technology. I do, however, realize that budgets are often limited for educational classrooms; therefore, my above suggestions includes the minimum technology that I would want each class to contain.
Integrating Technology in the Classroom and Instructor Training
Integrating technology using networks in education offers a multitude of benefits. Some of the most significant opportunities that have resulted from this integration of technology include the ability to digitize and share communication, the ability to easily share resources, and the ability to easily monitor students’ activities.
Communication between school administrators and all of the professionals responsible for educating students is crucial. Networks used to integrate technology can be used to send emails, allow educators to participate in online meetings, enable faculty and staff access to digital district-wide calendars, and provide an avenue for teachers to communicate with parents.
Integrating technology has also made it easy to share valuable resources. Administrators can cut costs by making resources available through a secure network so that all teachers have access to these resources without the high cost of purchasing multiple copies of resources to include in each classroom. In addition, teachers can easily share ideas and resources with other educators quickly and efficiently using a network.
Networks can also aid teachers in monitoring students’ progress with ease. Students can use workstations to complete projects and assignments, and teachers can monitor this work from their computers. Teachers can also tap into workstations to demonstrate a concept or offer help with course material.
However, if classrooms are equipped with costly technology and instructors and students are not trained to use this technology, then no benefit will be gained for students or teachers, and the limited funding available for integrating technology will be wasted. A few years ago I was visiting one of my son’s high school classes. I was amazed at the technology that was available in the classroom. As an instructor I was envious of all of the technology this teacher had at his disposal. My son later told me that they used very little of this technology in class. I don’t know the circumstances behind why this technology was not being used, but my initial assumption was lack of training for the teacher. I think it is imperative that teachers be trained to use this equipment so that they can successfully teach students to use it as well.
Incorporating Digital Technology in the Classroom – Chapter 6, Question 1
Chapter 6 introduced various types of digital technologies that can be used in the classroom; if I had to choose only three of pieces of equipment to use in my classroom, they would be the following:
· Electronic Whiteboards: The electronic whiteboard intrigues me most for its ability to save information before erasing. For instance, I teach business math. It is important for students to be present in every class to learn how to complete math problems. However, students have to occasionally miss class. If I used a whiteboard in class, I would be able to share, display, save, edit, or print this information to pass along to students who missed the particular lecture. I could also include this saved material in my online class.
· Data Projectors: A data projector is a must in my classroom because it offers the ability to project images from a computer to a projection screen. I use my projector to project PowerPoint presentations, videos, and other learning tools to my students.
· Webcam: After reading Chapter 6, I am interested in adding a Webcam to my classroom. Webcams are cameras that have built-in microphones, have the ability to connect to the internet, and can be used to create both still and video images. A Webcam would be particularly valuable for my online classes because I could use it to create live online conferences. Because students in an online class are not required to meet with me face-to-face, I can incorporate online virtual conferences with Webcam technology. I feel that students will perform better in my online classes if I have the opportunity to meet with them to discuss difficult course concepts.