How using technology in the special needs classroom can help students learn
Shannen M. Brown
Florida A&M University

Abstract In this research paper I will be examining the best ways to use technology within the special needs classroom to enhance learning. I will be talking about the different assistive technology that can be used, and the adaptive technology that can be used which will all increase the learning ability for these students. The special needs students are sometimes left behind because of their inability to use some of the same tools as the other students, in this research paper I will examine the different technologies and how they can help special needs students.

As the world is becoming more and more dependent on technology every aspect of life has to assimilate to that idea including education. Today’s students are growing up with complete knowledge on certain devices that 20 years ago teachers and parents were just getting familiar with. It almost seems as if students are born with knowledge on how to use all these new and exciting things which should make it that much easier to incorporate technology within the classroom. From computers, to smart boards and to ipads our dependence on technology is increasing, increasing at such a high rate maybe pencil and paper will be obsolete in the near future. Within the mainstream classrooms teachers have been working hard to include computer time for the students to help enhance education while some other groups have taken longer to begin the use of such materials. I will be researching how using technology within the special needs classroom can help students learn. Students who are in the special needs classroom are usually considered to be low achieving and lack motivation therefore are sometimes considered “at risk” students. Education and how it is implemented has been changing and will continue to change as far as special education goes. Where before all students considered to be special needs were not kept within the mainstream classroom they were instead taken out and were to learn in a classroom separated form the “normal” students. Now as things are changing special needs students are no longer being separated from the “normal “ students in the class and are being included in the regular instruction. The teacher must then adapt his or her teaching style to accommodate the student or students in the classroom. Schools are required to accommodate all students and this includes using computers and other technology to help meet the needs of these students with special needs. This may also include the use of assistive or adaptive technology, which includes any equipment that increases, maintains or improves the functional capabilities of these special needs students. “Research indicates that technology can be adapted for use by disabled students and can result in higher achievement and improved self image (kober, 1991,p. 17). The simplest things can make it much easier for your special needs student to learn, it can be as simple as getting the software known as the kurzweil reading machine which scans a printed document and converts the printed speech into electronic speech. This type of technology can do wonders for your blind special needs student. The learning opportunity for these special needs students is becoming more and more limitless with new software that is available for them as well. Some special needs students can get confused at times with things when they are constantly changing so having a program or programs that are consistent will increase their learning making the learning easier. Instead of being focused on where certain items are they can focus more on the content therefore increasing their learning. For the students who have becoming special needs students from their lack of improvement and therefore they have fallen behind using software with appealing graphic can help gain the students interest and encourage learning. Students who are labeled as special needs often times have feeling of being inadequate and not good enough. With the use of a computer and how they can be extremely user friendly, it offers that student a chance to feel in control and excel in learning. This will make the student more excited to learn, therefore increasing their ability. It is the teacher’s responsibility to make school more exciting and relevant to students and this includes increasing the use of technology because that is the age we live in. Some students with special needs have the inability to communicate effectively with the teachers, in these cases the teachers cannot accurately assess the students knowledge and may become an assumptive teacher which can lead to teaching that is not helpful for the student. Therefore technology plays a very important role in these students situations because the education of a special needs student should be valued as important as a regular student. With the use of technology now under educating students is inexcusable and should not be tolerated. Even phone technology can be used in the classroom for students with special needs. Apple has made apps that help autistic people communicate with others. One is called iPrompts, its like a schedule board and it helps the student by giving them a step by step schedule with pictures that will be easily understood of what they will do and it also has a timer on it. So for instance if the autistic student is in the classroom the teacher will program the ipad to show what they will be doing for the day so step one may be to get your pencil out and the picture they will put up will be of a student getting their pencil out and so on. For students who can’t talk there is an app called Proloquo2go and this app has different basic icons that the student can choose when they want to communicate with someone. For instance they may want to say hello to someone so they click on the icon that says hello and it will communicate for them. If they are in school and they need help on something they can ask with this device. The teacher can even add icons and voice to the app whenever necessary to help the student better communicate. There are plenty more apps that can be used to help autistic and other special needs learners within the classroom to improve learning. Students who are unable to write or type now with the use of technology have the ability to write their own research papers and projects. This technology can also help the special needs students to work with the mainstream students and collaborate on assignments. Special needs students will always have a harder time with learning then other students but that does not mean they are not capable. And with the use of all these new technologies we can further decrease the gaps of these students and enhance their learning.
Bibliography
Forcier, R. C., & Descy, D. E. (2008). The Computer as an Educational Tool . Upper Saddle River: Pearson.
Hasslebring, T. S., & Williams Glaser, C. H. (2000). Use of computer technology to help students with special needs . The future of Children and computer techbology Vol. 10 , 102-119. kober, N. (1991). What we know about Mathamatics teaching and learning . Washington D.C: Council for Education Development and Research.
Winter, J. (n.d.). Edugiude. Retrieved January 28th, 2012, from http://www.eduguide.org/library/viewarticle/1339/how-technology-can-help-children-of-special-needs/