Blog Post #3

Technology in Special Education

I think that technology can be good, definitely for special education. It helps the teacher and the students get things done faster and more efficient. When I was a student aide in high school for a special education class they first came out with a small device that the student could use to write things out and it would say it back to her and then she could tell the teacher. It was really neat and you could tell the student liked it and it made communication easier because she could barely talk. Technology has came a long way since then however.

I think that it would be easier to keep special needs children active and excited about learning with technology unlike other middle or high school students that would take advantage of having a personal computer all day. Some ways that I would use technology in the classroom for special education would be power points that had a lot of fun colors and activities. Get different educational games for them to play, if they get finished early. I also like that the one child had the iPod touch to help him read his book. We had the same things as kids they were just other types of voice recorders such as walkmen. Now they have it where you can download whatever book and probably in whatever language right to your phone of iPod.

Apps for Special Education

I think that is it cool that there are so many apps out there generally for any and everything but I think that any of that learning could of been down with out an iPad. Without the ipad the parents would have more interaction with the child. The game that the child was playing where he hit the icon and it would count for him, yes its still teaching him but he also might just be repeating what the computer says and not actually retaining it. It the dad were to point to an object and have the child say it, it does the say justice, if not more and gives them more bonding time together to learn. I suppose it's good for students to know what kind of technology is out there but what happens when they can't take the ipad, ipod, laptop or smartboard home and the parents don't have money to purchase one then what?! Having been around special needs children if you give them something like this on a daily basis and then take it away (when they go home) most will get very aggravated trying to communicate and maybe even regress. I think everybody it relying to much on technology!

If I did have iPad's in my special needs classroom however I would let them play whatever educational game they chose.

Vicki Davis

I liked when Vicki said "I do not have to know everything to teach." I agree its good for the students to learn some stuff on their own and to help out other classmates. It builds teamwork and makes for a better classroom environment I think. However since I am going into Elementary Education and not Secondary or Higher I sure hope I do know everything a child ask me on work or assignments. I did not agree with Mrs. Vicki though on that fact that she said "Students can't just learn with pencil and paper." Yes all children are different but pencil and paper is not stopping a child from learning. I want to bet when Mrs. Vicki was in school she used pencil and paper and rarely was on a computer and now look she is an educator and I guessing doing an okay job if she is still teaching so I believe that is false and hypocritical. We have had many, many genius people in our history come from not using any technology at all.