Month: June 2020

By Abby Frias

Importance of Technology

Technology is a necessary tool that must be accessible to students in the classroom and at home. Technology is the future, and the future is now! Computers are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new and innovative resources that students and teachers can utilize. Technology provides students with a clear window to the outside world. While using state-of-the-art resources, kids can connect and engage with other students from around the globe. It encourages students to grow and learn on a more individualized level while at the same time helping our kids be better prepared for the real world. When a teacher incorporates technology into their daily lessons and provides students with an opportunity to use smartboards or laptops to complete their assignments, it dramatically alters the child’s way of thinking. It motivates our students and encourages them while simultaneously improving student learning outcomes and involvement!

Technology and its Benefits

Back in the old days, when teachers rolled out the cart with the giant television, students new it was going to be a great day! Technology has always made learning fun. Kids always get excited when teachers incorporate any form of technology into their daily lessons. Campuses are now equipped with a variety of high-tech tools to enhance the learning of children. Smart-boards engage students’ attention, laptops provide remote learning to take place anywhere, and mobile apps connect teachers and parents with a push of a button. These innovative resources offer opportunities for effective collaboration between the kids. For example, when using google drive, students can edit and comment on the same activity. Kids can also connect virtually to work on different projects together. Teachers can also provide instant feedback on an assignment while the student is still working on it. Information is accessible far more quickly. With online textbooks and accurate search engines, kids can find reliable information much more rapidly than by searching in a book.

Technology not only benefits the students, but it also has many advantages for parents and teachers. Online applications and computer programs can make it simple for parents to stay up to date on how their child is progressing academically and behaviorally. Currently, there is an abundance of resources available for parents to connect with their child’s teachers instantly. Parents can be notified immediately of upcoming assignments, announcements, or significant changes to an activity. Teachers are able to reach parents with any concerns or questions. This comes in handy when parents have more than one job or cannot meet for parent-teacher conferences. Technology connects teachers and parents.

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Administration and Technology

It seems that every school now has a twitter account and even a Facebook page! This is essential when running a school. Administrators must find new and exciting ways to keep the community updated with what their campus is up to. There is no better way to this than with social media. Parents are able to receive vital information regarding upcoming activities that concern their children.

Technology also provides effective ways to keep parents informed of emergency situations. Schools have mandated monthly drills. Principals can send out alerts letting parents know that their child participated in a code red or fire drill. Technology in schools provides parents with peace of mind.

Without the use of technology, schools are going to get left behind. Administrators need to understand the importance of having technology because it strengthens the relationship between the school and the community.

Building Digital Citizenship Skills

When teachers incorporate different forms of technology into the classroom, it allows students to build digital citizenship skills. The first lesson when introducing online learning is being able to use it appropriately and responsibly. Teachers must provide lessons and instructions on how to use the internet productively but most importantly safely. Students need the proper tools to navigate the web. For example, protecting private or account information, reporting and preventing cyberbullying, and using social media responsibly.

Successful Technology Integration

Before we discuss technology integration with the administrators, teachers, and parents, we need first to understand what successful technology integration looks like. “When technology integration is at its best, a child or a teacher doesn’t stop to think that he or she is using a technology tool — it is second nature. And students are often more actively engaged in projects when technology tools are a seamless part of the learning process (Edutopia 2007).” Technology integration is the use of various technology resources that include but are not limited to tablets, smart boards, laptops, social media platforms, and other internet applications.

Advice to Administrators

Administrators have many technology resources at their fingertips. The various resources need to be analyzed carefully to determine which media and applications will foster the largest amount of student engagement. Once administrators decide on a platform to incorporate, they must make sure that there are workshops provided to the teachers. Administrators could choose a representative from each grade level to filter out the information regarding any new technology resources. There is a learning curve, but our society and students are becoming technologically advanced and are ready to accept new ways of learning.

Advice for Teachers

Technology continues to change every year. The school district budget is constantly accounting for a technology fund. The technology needs to be used in the classroom with fidelity. When teachers provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their learning through various technology avenues, then they are truly preparing our students for the future. In a teachers’ classroom, the technology should be visible to the students.

• Routine and transparent
• Accessible and readily available for the task at hand
• Supporting the curricular goals, and helping the students to effectively reach their goals

(Edutopia, 2007)

Teachers are the bridge between the students and the technology. With all the available technology, we need to ensure that the students are using the technology safely and beneficially, When teachers are implementing the use of technology in the classroom, the students need to be aware of the expectations. Technology use is essential in school. Teachers need to spend time teaching the students the various applications on tablets, computers, and smartboards. The technology can be implemented at each center during math, reading, writing, and science. Educational videos, blogs, and other media will help educate the students in an engaging fashion. The teachers need to establish routines and ensure that technology is readily available to all students equally. Best practices include technology that engages students. Students can work on the same project together on various technological devices. For example, Google Classroom offers a “Google Slides” application. For math and science projects, I share a document with the students and they can edit and add to the same document. It is a great use of collaborative work. Training needs to be made available for the teachers in order for them to feel confident using the technology in their classroom. It is difficult for a teacher that has been teaching for a long time to switch from paper and pencil to technology, however, we must keep in mind the greatest benefit for the students. Whether we are ready or not, technology is advancing every day, and it is essential that we provide our students with this valuable resource to enhance their learning.

There are four levels of technology integration that has been observed in a classroom. (Edutopia, 2007)

1. Sparse: Technology is rarely used or available. Students rarely use technology to complete assignments or projects.
2. Basic: Technology is used or available occasionally/often in a lab rather than in the classroom. Students are comfortable with one or two tools and sometimes use these tools to create projects that show an understanding of content.
3. Comfortable: Technology is used in the classroom on a fairly regular basis. Students are comfortable with a variety of tools and often use these tools to create projects that show an understanding of content.
4. Seamless: Students employ technology daily in the classroom using a variety of tools to complete assignments and create projects that show a deep understanding of content.

(EDUTOPIA, 2007)

Advice to Parents

Providing advice to parents is important for transparency. Parents are used to paper and pencil learning. Communication with parents is paramount. An educational night to teach parents how to use technology at home to help their children would be a great parent involvement activity. The websites and applications that will be used in the classroom should have guides for the parents to understand. There are many benefits to students using technology at home. For example, if the students are working on a group science project, they can each publish a slide on the same presentation. There is no need for the students to get together to accomplish this. At first, parents may be hesitant, but it is crucial that the benefits are outlined for the parents. The level of student engagement is much higher in my classroom when I say “take out your laptop” instead of “take out a piece of paper and a pencil.” The students get excited to show off their learning. The students demonstrate creativity when using the technology. For example, when there is a science project on the states of matter, the students can add online images to show what a solid, liquid, and gas is. This helps solidify the knowledge that they were taught by the teacher. Another piece of advice to parents is to be patient, the students know a ton about technology and will help both the parents and teachers out. Complete knowledge of technology does not come overnight. Jump in with excitement that your children are preparing for the future and they are having fun doing it!

Outcomes of Technology Integration

Technology integration needs the administrators, teachers, students, and parents to be successful. There are many benefits to technology integration in the classroom. Some believe that technology adds a distraction, but this is not the case when technology is implemented successfully in the classroom. There are many reasons to implement technology in the classroom. One major benefit of technology is that it increases the level of student engagement in learners while also allowing them to be creative. The implementation of technology also encourages individual student learning and growth. There are many ways that teachers can differentiate technology to benefit the students. Each of the students can have a different reading online passage and project that varies by lexile and level of complexity. Technology also facilitates collaborative work. Collaborative work is essential in a classroom because it allows the students to form peer relationships and work as a team to develop and build upon ideas. Technology is a huge part of our everyday culture and by incorporating technology into the classroom, we are preparing students for the real world. Integrating technology into the classroom also creates more innovative teachers. Although it can seem daunting at first if you have not used technology before, start small and build your way up. The students will benefit greatly from the integration of technology in the classroom. (Capella.edu, 2017)

References:

What is Successful Technology Integration? Edutopia.  (2007). TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION – What is Successful Technology Integration?  George Lucas Educational Foundation.  

Retrieved from:   Https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-descriptionhttps://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-description

5 Reasons to Incorporate Technology into your Classroom. (2017)

Retrieved from: https://www.capella.edu/blogs/cublog/benefits-of-technology-in-the-classroom/

Introduction

As a special education teacher, we are presented with an array of teaching responsibilities daily.  Although many of our students are diagnosed with homogeneous disabilities, no one student is the same.  Therefore, the individual range of instruction required to meet the learning needs of each student is extremely unique.  Over the past two decades, continued advancements in educational technologies makes meeting these unique learning needs easier to address.  Teachers can now differentiate instruction utilizing different multimedia formats such as virtual reality, simulations, and SMARTBoards.  Below I discuss the benefits of each of these formats and how they can be used in the special education classroom.

Virtual Realities

Virtual reality is a three-dimensional, computer generated artificial environment that allows students with disabilities the opportunity to practice real-world skills in a safe environment.  Since virtual realities are adaptable to the needs of each student, this format offers teachers a way to provide differentiated, interactive, and engaging curriculum to their students (Lamar University, 2016).  For example, the Virtual House is an educational software that helps increase student independence in the home environment.  It involves complete engrossment into a virtual home that includes a kitchen, bedroom, and living room.  Each room provides scenarios that safely assist the student with avoiding common household hazards and injuries.  The software provides a safe and effective way to teach students with disabilities about the safety and functionality of the home environment (Smedley & Higgins, 2005).

Compared to virtual realities, simulations offer a less expensive and more widely available form of the virtual environment.  In simulations, the student moves through an experience by making choices and solving problems.  Each choice the student makes is based on the results of the previous choices (Smedley & Higgins, 2005).  A simulation I frequently use with my students is known as TeachTown.  One thing I enjoy about this program is that my parents can also use it at home with their students.  It documents student progress, as well as adjusts the presentation of materials to meet the developmental level of each student.  The vision of this software is to improve the academic, behavioral, and adaptive functioning skills of students with disabilities using research and evidence-based practices.  It offers programs for individuals with disabilities from 18 months to adulthood.  As a vocational teacher, I use the TeachTown Transition to Adulthood program.  This program provides inclusive curriculum that teaches students the critical skills needed to increase their independence, community access, and employability once they leave the education system (TeachTown, 2016). 

Conclusion

As teachers, we are considered key players in the effective integration of educational technologies in our teaching and learning (Siyam, 2018).  Technology in the special education classroom offers multisensory instruction, as well as the presentation of information using several modalities.  This allows teachers to address the different learning styles of each student while differentiating instruction to meet their individual learning needs.  Educational technologies make the curriculum more engaging by offering an interactive means to the content.  They also give extra support to students with special needs unavailable through traditional instructional methods.  Educational technologies address the unique learning style and multisensory needs of students with disabilities by offering several modalities to present information. 

Lamar University. (2016). Can virtual reality assist special needs students? Retrieved from:

Can Virtual Reality Assist Special Needs Students?

Siyam, N. (2019). Factors impacting special education teachers’ acceptance and actual use of technology. Education and Information Technologies, 24(3), 2035-2057. doi:http://lynn-lang.student.lynn.edu:2083/10.1007/s10639-018-09859-y

Smedley, T. M., & Higgins, K. (2005). Virtual technology: Bringing the world into the special education classroom. Intervention in School and Clinic, 41(2), 114-119. doi:http://lynn-lang.student.lynn.edu:2083/10.1177/10534512050410020201

TeachTown. (2016). Company Overview. Retrieved from http://web.teachtown.com/about-us/

By: Jessennia Hernandez

June 27, 2020

Technology is so important to have in a classroom because it provides instant access to information.    Students are so accustomed to using tablets and smartphones to play that when they are using technology as a learning tool they are actively engaged and do not even realize they are actually learning and not playing. By using technology in the classroom you are able to implement differentiated instruction and meet the individual needs of your students.

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION ?

The use of technology devices in the classroom provides a meaningful learning experience for students.  Technology should not replace teaching but should be used to enhance learning and to provide a better understanding of the content that is taught.  Using technology in the classroom will create learners that are actively engaged in their learning.  Technology integration can provide students and teachers with:

• “Access to up-to-date, primary source material
• Methods of collecting/recording data
• Ways to collaborate with students, teachers, and experts around the world
• Opportunities for expressing understanding via multimedia
• Learning that is relevant and assessment that is authentic
• Training for publishing and presenting their new knowledge” 

(Edutopia, 2007)

HOW TO INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY?

When first introducing technology into the classroom it is crucial for educators to not assume that students know how to use it for learning and not only play.  “It is dangerous to assume that they know how to use it for learning – this is commonly referred to as the ‘myth of the digital native’.” (Edutopia, 2007).   Students must get be guided on how to use technology for learning.  Technology integration in the classroom not only keeps the students engaged but it also motivates the students towards student-centered learning.  Not everyone’s technology integration is the same.  Some educators are fortunate to have more tools than others but no matter what, technology integration can happen in every single classroom.  Not all students need to have their own laptop or tablet in order to integrate technology into a classroom.  Using a smart board or a projector during whole class instruction is enough to engage students.  All you need to be able to integrate technology into a classroom is simple power points or online learning games.  Graphics and links to videos can be used in a PowerPoint presentation to capture the students attention.  Online learning games can be done including the class as a whole.  Students can also use the interactive games to reinforce skills that have already been taught.  As students get older, they are able to use technology for research to expand their learning whether it is for personal growth or for a school assignment.  If you are one of those lucky educators to have a tablet in your classroom, you can implement differentiated instruction for your students.  This will allow an opportunity for students to work at their own pace and give the teacher flexibility to work one-on-one with the students to identify where further assistance is needed.  

HOW TABLETS IMPROVE LEARNING

The biggest benefit of using tablets in a classroom is that teachers are able to adapt their teaching to fit the needs of all students.  Tablets tend to motivate and engage students as well as promote independent learning, while making learning more entertaining for students.  Tablets are a great tool for students with special needs as they can be adapted to provide these students with tools that are specific to their needs.  Text can be made larger for the visually impaired.  For students that do not write well, kids can speak into their tablets to write papers.  For learners that are non verbal, they can use their tablet to communicate their wants and needs.  These programs also allow teachers to track their students progress and be able to target the areas needed.  Tablets are also great for learning because they make learning fun by making things come to life through applications such as videos and games.  The best part of using a tablet for learning is that you feel as though you are playing.

Tablets are very user friendly.  Even a toddler knows how to swipe and select on their favorite game or you tube video.  “In the Journals of Computer Assisted Learning, a review of studies found that they majority of children showed positive gains in ‘literacy development, mathematics, science, problem-solving,’ as well as a few other factors.” (Mytechclassroom). Textbooks are about to become extinct, a thing of the past, as a lot of schools have opted to use digital textbooks given they are more cost effective.  Having all of the textbooks on your tablet also helps students not have to carry so many things around in their backpacks.  

Whether we like it or not, technology is taking over the world as we know it.  Technology is driving over our lives while at the same time constantly searching to improve efficiency.  Technology provides an endless flow of information that we must now take advantage of…the sky is the limit and the possibilities are endless.

REFERENCES

My TECH CLASSROOM – Emily’s ideas for using technology in the classroom.  10 Benefits of Tablets in the Classroom.  Retrieved from:  https://mytechclassroom.com/benefits-of-tablets-in-the-classroom/

Edutopia.  (2007). TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION – What is Successful Technology Integration?  George Lucas Educational Foundation.  Retrieved from:   Https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-description

Edutopia.  (2007). TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION – How to Integrate Technology.  George Lucas Educational Foundation.  Retrieved from:  https://www.edutpoia.org/technology-integration-guide-implementation