Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Helping Challenged Kids Get the Most From Learning

Steele-Carlin, S. (2011). Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Helping Challenged 

      Kids Get the Most From Learning. EducationWorld. Retrieved from:

      http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech086.shtml

Summary:

This article is mainly about assistive technology.  Assistive technology are devices that help disabled children learn and function more effectively. For example, hearing aids help the hearing-impaired, screen magnifiers help the visually-impaired, and voice-recognition software can help those who have a hard time moving their fingers.  It literally opens up the world of learning to the disabled. For example, the article talks about one student who was nearly blind.  She was having a hard time working in class because she couldn't read anything.  Then, she received a special reading machine that reads aloud text she scans.  It has allowed her to succeed in life and she is now a substitute teacher-- she credits it all to her reading device.  The article concludes with a caveat: teachers must be trained in how to use assistive devices, otherwise students may not use them to their full potential. 

Reaction:  This is one the greatest effects that technology is having in the classroom. It is so wonderful that students who may have been marginalized 20 years ago are now able to participate fully in class. The benefit is two-fold: not only are students better able to learn, but it takes pressure off of teachers to create diversified lesson plans when they have a student with a disability in their class.  My visit to the CEED center at WWU really opened up my eyes here-- I had no idea that there were so many technologies that kids could use.  I will have to make sure to keep myself abreast about the latest assistive technology.  I don't want to put my kids at a disadvantage!