special education teachers

[Glenda Anderson]

In your mind, if you had the control... What should special education teachers know about technology?

[Samuel Charles Sennott]

Karen, good call about comparing it to reading teachers. In many ways, this thinking is not outside the box. You showed us that. You showed us very clearly in grad school that advocating teachers and students use the best innovations is not only important, but vital. Every viewing of "Did you Know", just seems to drive the point home ever further.

Additionally, I think that a companion question to this thread should be, "What should special education teachers know and how exactly will we be continually updating this knowledge base." Just think of the SWAT kits rotting in a closet. In my mind, that was the answer...I am going to stop talking, because MA DOE is going to make me puke right now.

No wait...just think...what if...the SWAT concept of having a whole team of knowledgeable others continued on full funded. Then a companion grant to train 300 district AT specialists. Think how little you could get ICS, Kurzweil, Clicker 5, and Solo licenses when you purchase a license as a state! I would trade those on every computer in MA schools for the money they spend on the Alts. in a microsecond. Yet, as Lauryn Hill says, "everything is everything."

Definitely the format is an upgrade. Yet, if you use GMAIL, a listserv comes as threaded discussions too.

[Brian Wojcik]

I guess I look for moving to a vision of systems change. In looking at issues related to 'diffusion of innovation', regardless of the innovation, it takes time for an innovation to permeate through a system. It starts with those who are the early adopters and spreads from there. If we could begin by identifying core knowledge and skills with regard to using technology to differentiate instruction and support diverse learners in which all teachers would have...that would still only be part of the equation. There needs to be those in the field who take up the leadership to continue pushing the envelope and advancing change. Just some thoughts...

[Samuel Charles Sennott]

Brian, right on.

It is exponential and just as we get to one side of painting the bridge we will have to start back on the other side.

[Laura Leigh]

Lots of simple things can make a big difference for a student.
Check out the accessibility options on your classroom computer to see whats available
Give kids the opportunity to use the classroom computer if handwriting slows them down and frustrates them
Learn about word prediction software and see how it can help struggling writers (ex. CoWriter)
Try out text to speech software for struggling readers (ex. WriteOutLoud)
Get audiobooks for struggling readers
Let poor spellers use the spell-check function (it will improve their spelling)
Electronic writing templates are great tools (ex. Intellikids, DraftBuilder)
Today's students are technologically savvy; use technology to support their learning and have fun in the process.
Its no substitute for a great teacher, but it can add a lot to a great teacher's "bag-of-tricks".