Instructional planners should design a variety of experiences that will allow active participation of the learners. The gap that exist between the level at which students with learning disabilities perform as well as the demands of the curriculum that they normally are expected to cover is wide. As a result, incorporating instruction design and technology in their learning will certainly go a long way. Ginsberg and Karen (2008)argues that technology, whether instructional or assistive, has however, played uneven role within the individuals with learning disabilities since it was started. Moreover, technology can be said to be in a constant state of flux, and consequently, several authors have indicated the need to have appropriate experimental testing of the interventions. Currently, a number of schools are seeking to improve learning outcomes of the students while employing certain instructional design and technology theories not only to guide but also to enrich the literacy instruction for the students with disabilities. This article hence discusses the common instructional design and technology theories and models relevant for individuals with disability. Response To Intervention Model(RTI) Malhotra (2008)discusses the RTI model along with the Technological Pedagological Content Knowledge (TPACK). The Technological Pedagological Content Knowledge was developed as a form of instructional design framework with an aim of integrating technology, content, and pedagogy for design as well as for delivery of various types of content. Technological Pedagological Content Knowledge is an extension of Shulman’s (1987) classic construct of the pedagological content knowledge. This has actually been helpful construct especially while conce... ... middle of paper ... ...lternate formats, or rescheduling classroom locations. It can also be through arranging other accommodations for students with disability. In conclusion, the response to intervention model is intended to build on the theoretical constructs of TPACk and it is important for the practitioners to take time and reflect on the existing Evidence based Practices for providing instruction, the demands of curriculum and the needs of individual students. Notably, while the cognitive theory is individualized and calls for the instructors to clearly understand the needs of individual students, attribution theory advises the teachers to consider the students with learning disability by ensuring positive attribution. Inherently, integrating the two theories will significantly help not only in understanding the students but also in ensuring that the students learn and understand.
In the article titled Responsiveness to Intervention: Evidence and implications for learning Disability, this article also focused on responsiveness to intervention. The article speaks on the functions and how to properly set up , analyze data and instruct RTI’s. From 1977 to 1994 children with learning disabilities increased from 3.7 million to 5.3 million (Hanushek, Kain & Rivikin, 2001, p.7). The growth of learning disabilities RTI’s were advocated to help children with early learning disabilities.
Cloran (n.d.) suggest teachers need to have a broad understanding of giftedness and learning disabilities, a variety of identification measures and the ability to modify the curriculum and implement differentiated teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of all students. A graduate teacher recognises that students learn in their own way and should understand and be able to identify a number of teaching strategies to differentiate and meet the learning needs of all students. They may create groups based on previous assessment results and set clear or modified instructions for each group based on ability or learning styles. To address the specific learning needs of all student abilities, multi-sensory strategies using charts, diagrams, outside lessons and videos, as well as posters around the room or information on the desk could be used. Tomlinson (1999) suggests that differentiated instruction aims to build on student’s strengths and maximize their learning by adjusting instructional tasks to suit their individual needs. Ensuring teaching and instructions are clear, revising and prompting students during lessons and providing templates and assisting student in breaking down tasks into achievable, systematic chunks are some additional examples. Lucas, (2008) suggests highlighting key vocabulary within the text to focus students on the central concepts within the text. Quick finishing students should be provided with the opportunity to extend themselves with extension tasks that have a specific purpose and
Assistive technology is often used by individuals with a learning disability. A learning disability “describes a neurobiological disorder in which a person’s brain works or is structured differently” (Lee1). A person’s abilities can be severely affected from a learning disability. They may listen differently, talk differently, write, spell, organize, and work with school subjects in a different way. Learning disabilities also affect people’s individual and personal lives to a great extent. According to the National Institutes of Health, one in seven children has a learning disability. The disability manifests itself when the child shows difficulty in reading, writing, spelling, and conversing with others. The added time they need to process information may make them seem less intelligent then others around them, but this is not the case. Individuals with learning disabilities are just as smart as anyone else; they just need to learn in a different way. The earlier a learning disability is noticed and detected, the earlier a child may be able to learn how to deal with or compensate for it (Lee 1). This is where assistive technology comes into play.
Assistive Technology or “AT” is a term used in this context to describe an item or technique used to make the navigation of a home, school or play environment more accessible for a child with special needs (Lowenthal & Egan, 2003). This paper is written to explore some of the assistive technology (AT) options available to serve two children with special needs in separate circumstances. Low, mid and high tech options will be addressed with regards to the specific needs and intentions of the parents and teachers in each child’s life. Attached is a table offering options for assistive technology in the classroom to support the educational goals of each child.The first case study addressed in this paper is Savannah, a three-year old student who is wheelchair bound. She has a seizure disorder and has been diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy. She has limited vision but seems to be able to recognize items presented to her such as shapes and colors. Savannah participates in “social” language. She loves music and cause/effect activities. She knows all of her colors and shapes, is able to recite the alphabet by rote. In written word, Savannah recognizes both her name and those of her classmates. Savannah’s parents have expressed a desire to have her placed in a more restrictive classroom, and her teacher is interested in working more to support Savannah in the areas of writing and organizational skills. Some assistive technology suggestions for use in supporting Savannah are discussed below. Because Savannah’s teacher is working on encouraging Savannah in the area of writing, assistive technology options to support this area of development will be discussed herein. A low-tech ...
Assessment of Technological Context, Learners, and Content – to ensure that the available technology can deliver the designed learning, the learners can access and understand the technology, and the delivery is appropriate for the learning content
With regard to teaching students with learning disabilities, it was found that a majority of teachers did not take any particular efforts towards addressing the needs of these students may be because their disabilities were hidden or invisible in nature. Contrast to the lack of information on how to cater to students with learning disabilities, a majority of the teachers were able to adjudge some measures as facilitating learning among students with visual impairments such as encourage students to sit in the front row, read aloud any text that was presented in visual format or making the study material available in soft copy. The onus, however, was on the stude...
Assistive technology plays an important role in the learning process for individuals with disabilities. Assistive technology is defined as "any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." (Maushak, Kelley & Blodgett, 2001, p. 419) Assistive technology is very beneficial to individuals that have disabilities. For example, students with mental retardation benefit from extremely organized learning situations because of their limited cognitive abilities. Students who are hearing impaired, blind, or visually impaired may need differentiated pedagogical materials. More emphasis should be placed on visual materials for students with hearing impairments than for other students. Modifying instruction for all students, especially exceptional students, requires strong dependence on media, materials and technology and the right choice of these components to fit particular ends. Moreover, research has indicated that technology not only can be adapted for use with students with disabilities, but when used can enhance students' educational achievement and self-image. (Duhaney & Duhaney, 2000, p. 393) With this knowledge, there have been many new products that have been developed to help individualize programs to fit the criteria for specific disabilities. Through out this paper we will be disusing three different pieces of assistive technologies. We will be looking at Dynawrite, AlphaSmart, and Texthelp and the benefits of each program.
This course has being an rude awakening of how much reading and math skills are so important for the students to be able to succeed academically in all the subject areas, by demonstrating different approach to help the students’ progress in different areas of need. The course overall give many different ways that a student with a learning disability is able to be a participant in the general educational instructional context. Five important practices that were discuss in the course that will help me in my teaching are working in collaboration with the general education teacher, how to help student to promote social acceptance and managing behavior, how to assess the students and teach phonological awareness, phonics, and word recognition, ways
Kwan, R., Fox, R., Chan, F., & Tsang, P. (Eds). (2008). Enhancing learning through technology: research on emerging technologies and pedagogies. Singapore: World Scientific.
Education is a profession which requires a teacher to be able to communicate with a multitude of students on a variety of levels. There is not a class, or student for that matter, that is identical. Therefore, teachers must be able to identify and help educate students from all different types of backgrounds and at different levels. Teaching a singular subject presents difficulties, but teaching students with disabilities should not be one. There are three main teaching areas that need to be focused on when teaching a student with a learning disability. Teachers need to focus on the strategies that will assist students with reading comprehension skills, writing skills, and maintaining appropriate behaviors in a classroom setting.
Bowser and Reed [1995] as cited by Bryant et al [1998] argue that as a child progresses through the Education System, their requirements change and this may necessitate a need for different devices. This is not limited to those children with a physical disability but is relevant to all children with SEN as they progress and the Education System places additional burdens upon them. For children with a visual impairment ICT can provide support in various ways; tools to support communication, to improve access to information and as a means of producing learning materials in alternative. There is a wide range of devices and software, which can
Accommodations will help students achieve these academic goals, which can be instructional or environmental changes that help students to successfully understand and respond to the regular curriculum. These kinds of accommodations may be a change of seating in the classroom, sitting up front during story time or allowing more time on an exam. For example, a child who may have dyslexia needs to have an additional 20 minutes on exams, or have test questions and answers read to them aloud. These are accommodations made in order for the student to have the best chance of success. A student, who does not have a learning disability, doesn’t need those accommodations and would not necessarily benefit if they were given to
According to Friend and Bursuck (2002), parents are key participants in all decision making related to their child’s suspected or documented disability. Professionals and parents must understand that instruction sometimes must occur in a separate setting in order to meet the need of the student. In order for a student to be referred to special education, certain procedures need to be followed. For instance, teachers have to provide data of assessment, different type of interventions and information about the strength’s and needs in all areas of concern Friend &n Bursuck (2002). In order for a student to be placed in a inclusive classroom, parents, teachers, diagnostician and other staff have to discuss all the benefit from the program and the reason the student needs to be placed in such program. As an educator, I have the responsibility to communicate with families and other stakeholder about all the benefits of including special education to students with disabilities and how this program will meet the need of the student. The decision that they make has to be relevant to the student’s
Williams, John, and Wendy Fox-Turnbull. Technology Eduction for Teachers. Boston, Rotterdam, and Taipei: Sense Publishers, 2012. Springer. 55-92. Web. 31 Mar 2014.
Then subsequent to shulman’s PCK, the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (originally TPCK, now known as TPACK) was introduced by Mishra and Koehler (2006) to give details an integrated framework to make clear the significant parameters connecting to technology amalgamation in classroom settings, which are Content, Pedagogy and Technology. This TPACK structure does not consider the above three key elements in separation, but rather in the complex interactions in the system they define. TPACK offers new point of view and opportunities for looking at a difficult phenomenon like technology amalgamation in the classroom and teacher preparation. Furthermore, it permits researchers, teachers,