4 Examples Of Technology In The Special Education Classroom contributed by University of West Alabama Online This is sponsored content. Sponsored or not, we never publish any content we don’t feel meaningfully contributes to innovation and growth in your teaching. You can read more about our sponsored content policy here. Every student can benefit from a personalized approach to their education but this is especially true for students who require special education services. Technology is making it easier for teachers to deliver an education that works with each student’s unique needs, whether those are due to learning differences, neurodivergence or lapses in education. Differentiated learning techniques, which often allows for a student with special needs to remain in a mainstream classroom, can help reduce the costs associated with special education. Techniques for differentiated learning in the past have included specialized classrooms and extracurricular tutoring, but advancements in technology have made education for students with special needs more accessible and less expensive over time. The least expensive iPad was $499 when they were first released in 2010. Now, faster models with more functions and better displays are priced around $300. Being able to teach students with special needs in conjunction with their classmates has more than just monetary advantages. According to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), integrating students with disabilities into mainstream classes with the use of technology for special education teachers typically has positive outcomes for the students. It reported, “[Technology in classrooms allows] students with special needs to learn without a special curriculum. They can consume — and learn — the same materials as their peers, which helps prepare them for the same assessments. Technology And Special EducationText-To-Speech ProgramsMany web browsers have text-to-speech capabilities, which is helpful not only for those who are blind or have low vision, but also for a variety of other learners. Students who struggle with decoding, prefer to listen to audio or have learning disabilities like dyslexia benefit from lessons being read aloud. Using the same programs, some nonverbal students can use text-to-speech to communicate. Popular programs include Speak It!, which reads inputted text, and BookShare, an extensive selection of audio books. Dictation ProgramsDictating programs transcribe speech, which in the context of education, can be either the teacher’s or the student’s. These programs help students with motor skill impairments that prevent the use of a typewriter or pen. Completing assignments becomes possible tasks for students, as well as taking notes, but teachers can use the program to transcribe the lesson as an alternative. Dictation programs include Dragon NaturallySpeaking and WordQ. Interactive Boards And TouchscreensAdaptive apps paired with tablets can help students communicate and learn. They’re as portable as a laptop but lighter and less expensive than most models. The ISTE blog explained how a tablet helped a nonverbal third-grade student finally attend classes with other third-graders. Using an augmentative communication system on a tablet, she was able to create sentences, something she had never done before. There is a wide variety of both Apple and Android tablets on the market, and costs vary with features and size. SMART Technologies pioneered the interactive wall-board more than 25 years ago and remains one of the market leaders. Virtual LearningClassrooms are no longer restrained to schools; classrooms are anywhere there is an internet connection. Students with disabilities that cause them to miss school don’t need to fall behind on their schoolwork. Whether it’s as simple as using Skype to call into their class or using dedicated software created for distance learning, students learning from home or a hospital can stay on track.
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About STEAMSTEAM utilizes the arts along with traditional STEM subjects as “access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking,” according to EducationCloset, a digital learning hub for educators. “The end results are students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process,” EducationCloset continues. STEAM works by leveraging the benefits associated with STEM with the accessibility of visual art, poetry, music, and drama. Students can make connections and learn in a variety of ways, reaping the benefits that a STEAM education can provide. 4 Benefits Of STEAM Education CreativityTeaching students to think ‘outside of the box’ causes them to approach tasks differently. They learn to be creative by utilizing a wide variety of thought processes and skills throughout a classroom day. ConfidenceApproaches grounded in visual art, drama, and creative writing give students hands-on training in delivering a message and doing so with confidence. When combined with science, mathematics and technology-based topics, students learn to tackle tough subjects with self-assurance. Problem-SolvingLearning new skills, whether technical or artistic, teaches students to approach new, potentially challenging situations with a positive attitude. Using STEAM, teachers can help students solve problems creatively using a variety of methods. CollaborationSTEAM classrooms are highly collaborative, with students working together to grasp new information using multiple access points. They learn to share responsibility and compromise by working on group projects that incorporate multiple disciplines. For Creegan-Quinquis, the effectiveness of STEAM is no surprise: “Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the arts all have very similar intellectual ancestors: some of the same philosophical underpinnings, some of the same inquiry questions. There’s always been connection between the arts and these other domains … the difference is that now you will see deliberate as opposed to accidental cross-pollination between the subjects and a lot of it is about making learning accessible.” She points out that one of STEAM’s central benefits is that it provides multiple access points, giving students with different learning styles and backgrounds ample opportunities to learn in the way that is best for them. To build search literacy in 21st-century learners, consider having students:
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