Blog Post # 1

Special education teachers may find it beneficial to integrate educational technology into their lesson plans. Special ed students already have narrowly identified academic, social and life function goals listed in their IEP’s. These goals and teacher creativity are then used to assess the value of integrating a particular educational technology component into the teaching-learning process. Some key benefits educational technology can contribute to special education teaching and learning are the following: 1) individualized instruction – key to effective special ed teaching; 2) catering to individual student interests – key to keep the special ed student involved and motivated while he/she struggles with overcoming their disability; 3) the ability of the student to employ self-monitoring during the learning process – this immediate feedback either keeps the struggling student highly motivated through success or provides the immediate feedback to get help; 4) fluency can develop through independent student practice; 5) the practice of communication and interaction patterns; 6) the development of executive function skills; and, 7) enhance student motivation to learn through the production of a product.

Of course, this will not be possible without administrative support. Funds are needed to purchase hardware and software and to provide teacher education and support. While my experience in observing special education students is limited, what I have seen has made it apparent to me that unless the special education student lives in either a high income or low population town, this support will not be there.