Ed Tech Week 3

Today's classroom is filled with students from many different aspects of life including culture and socioeconomic status. Students also differ in multiple intelligence, learning styles, and learning preferences. All of these differences must be taken into account when planning instruction in order for successful learning to occur. The effective use of technology can assist teachers in meeting the needs of all students. Special education students can benefit from technology in many ways. Technology allows for special needs students to increase their independence and classroom participation in classroom activities. It can assist those who need help in writing, as well as those who can not speak or hear. Technology can also help gifted and talented students by providing them with challenges. The writing process also receives benefit from technology. For those who need help with reading, writing, or organizing ideas, word processing programs are helpful. It also makes it less tedious. Brainstorming, creating first draft, editing, proofreading, and then creating final draft can leave students feeling overwhelmed.Word processing programs allow students to print, then proofread and edit by using spell check, cut and paste, insert, delete to create final product. These programs eliminate unnecessary writing, which tires students physically and emotionally thus having a negative affect on the final product. Desktop publishing software is also an asset to students and teachers by providing avenues for creativity when producing documents. Assistive technology, hardware and software, is available to help meet the needs of students with exceptionalities. This past year, I was fortunate enough to work with a hearing impared student in my classroom. The student wore a hearing aid, and I wore a microphone. This allowed my speech to be directly sent to the hearing aid to assist ithe student in hearing. There are many technological programs available for meeting the needs of all students. However, problems may arise during the implementation process.Three issues must be addressed when implementing technology:
1) Determining which technological solution will better meet the need of the particular student. This can be done with input from professionals and family members familiar with the student.
2) Training. Students must be taught how to use the technology along with any teachers or adults who work with the student.
3) Collaboration between AT (assistive technology) and IT (informational technology). AT and IT share the responsibility of providing students with special needs the tools they need to be successful by providing appropriate technology and technical support.
In conclusion, technology must be used effectively in today's classroom because of student diversity. If successful learning is to occur for ALL students, teachers must become technologically literate!!! I have not created anything to send home to students, or parents. Our team leader creates these for the team. What does make newsletters, or fliers visually appealing is an eyecatcher, such as a picture that visually describes the context and then the message, short and sweet, with specifics, such as who, what, when, and where. Follow the link to see the back to school newsletter for my classroom: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/47442871/newsletter