Blog Post Assignment #3

"Technology in Special Education"

Technology in Special Education is a video about one class in particular that utilizes technology everyday for each special needs student in a different way. The students all have different needs and there are so many uses in technology that it makes it possible for each and everyone of them to participate in daily lessons and learning. This is a phenomenal achievement for education of all forms,especially for special needs students.The subject of Special need students using technology hits very close to home for me, one of my very close friends' little sister;Chrysa has a muscle disease and cannot walk nor lift her arms she has little motion of her hands, but has learned to write survived 10 years of schooling. It excites me to know that as she finishes high school and begins college she will have the opportunity to learn more and use technology in ways she probably never thought to be possible!

This video shows us that iPods,iPads,& iPhones can all be used to help students listen and read along with stories.One students spoke about how they liked the magnification program called "Zoom Text," this allows him to see text that he normally could not, and furthers his educational options. Technology in the special needs classroom give students a voice when they may not have one. It allows them to write when they may not be able to, this is vital in today's world, for any job you will use SOME form of technology, (unless of course you work for a hippie,or you happen to be of Amish origin). In the future I can use technology for special needs students in the classroom by making, blogs, videos, podcasts, voice messaging, E-mail, powerpoint, SMARTboard technology; basically any useable technology however I can direct it towards that particular student(s) needs. Technology Especially Apple Inc., they are doing it right and making all of our lives easier and better!
Technology in Special Education Video

"How the iPad works with Academcis for Autism"

Let me start by stating that,iPad use for Autism is such a fabulous idea!I had a student for two years in my PreK4 class who was diagnosed with Autism and the ABSOLUTE BEST thing to aide him with his learning process was to incorporate the use of my personal iphone, into his daily routine. He loved it and I loved watching him do it, he was so brilliant but he just could not sit down and be still, and work with pencils and paper with the other children.In that time I was privileged enough to share with him I believe that we BOTH learned so much ! In this video it shows a father working with his son on the iPad to write, spell,read, use of mathematics, and motor- skill control through hand and finger interaction. The boy gets frustrated at one point because he wrote the wrong letter, the father was calm and reassuring (this is very important with Autistic children) and he erased and started over never losing focus or interest.

As long as technology and use of iPads are incorporated into teaching and learning with Autistic children,or any child for that matter, you will have their interest. the greatest thing I noticed about the use of the iPad with the child was that, it was not over- demanding, nor over- stimulating. A few of the applications that the child was working in were listed in the video (i.e) "First Words," and "Kids Writing Pad." more parents with children who own tablets need to download these types of games rather than un-educational games that do not stimulate the children and do not educate. In the classroom if I had access to an iPad and a student with Autism I would set up an entire folder devoted to that student(s) and their special need. After a little instruction most children know how to operate iPhones/ iPad technology with ease. A list of all of the available applications from Apple Inc. can be found here:Apple Educational Applications
How the iPad works with Academics for Autism Video

"Harness your Students' Digital Smarts"

WOW! Our Public Schools need more Vicki Davis'!! Much like this class (EDM310) Vicki has her high school level students REALLY getting involved, interacting and truly learning. If I had more teachers who believed in teaching through technology and student interaction when I was growing up, I might have paid a lot more attention and retained MUCH more information through doing. Dr. Strange and Vicki Davis are on to something, something I am excited to be a part of and learn more about. In the video Ms. Davis talks about all the ways the students are learning and mentions how empowering it is to the students when they figure things out together and alone. I agree with this that applies in many areas of life but especially in school. Have you ever taken a test and you knew the information so well that when you finished you walked aways feeling fantastic and relieved because you had actually learned and retained the information before hand? Well, if you are anything like me then that did not happen often but when it did it felt amazing! How great would it be if all educators could all collaborate and teach in this fashion and all students could walk away feeling as though they had TRULY learned so much?!
Vicki Davis states that ,"EVERY student CAN learn," I for one concur! She also said ,"Not all students can learn with just pencil and paper." I believe that as well, in these classrooms students are so blessed, they are actually enjoying what they are doing and they are learning how to learn. These students are getting to collaborate with children around the world and complete assignments , and build blogs, and do real in the field research that goes further than having a child look up a name or word in a textbook and define it and remember it. Students are able to become comfortable with technology, and helping their teachers teach lessons, as Vicki Davis said," These children get to be thinkers," not just definers. And that is a pretty amazing step for our students as well as us as educators.
Vicki Davis' Harness Students' Digital Smarts Video