As a future educator, I know I will be faced with numerous obstacles and have a diverse bunch of children. Students differ in ethnicity, background, skills, and learning styles. As educators, we must find innovative techniques to accommodate and attend to every student's abilities. “One size does not fit all” (Willis, S. & Mann, L., 2000). Everyone is unique and is capable of success, and by everyone, including students with disabilities. With students diverseness, uniqueness, and way of learning, they offer teachers new insights on ways to teach students better and differentiating instructions. Scott Willis and Larry Mann expressed that, “ they [teachers] are striving to provide the right level of challenge for gifted students, for students who lag far behind grade level, and for everyone in between. They are working to deliver instructions in ways that meet the needs of auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners” (p.1). They are our driving force to be creative, innovative, and technological to meet their expectations of learning. A well prepared classroom must be equipped with various tools and devices, as well as lessons plans that caters to all students, including ones with disabilities. These accommodations creates a fair environment for everyone.
Assistive Technology (AT), what is it? Assistive technology is a technology device in which individuals with disability utilize to perform functions that might be impossible or difficult to do. In the video, Assistive Technology: Enabling Dreams, talks about about the usage of technology to enhance learning with students with disabilities. It discusses methods in modifying lesson plans compatible for students with disabilities to participate in class. The ASSURE lesson plan provides assistance in achieving your goal and is a prominent method in teaching your lessons. The ASSURE lesson plan consist of:
- A- Analyze Learners
- S- State Standards
- S- Select Methods, Media, and Materials
- U- Utilizing Technology, Media, and Materials
- R- Required Student Participation
- E- Edit and Revise
As teachers, we could format our lesson plan based on the ASSURE to be creative and selective for students with disabilities to participate. We could incorporate technology, activities, videos, and so forth, fit for students with disabilities to learn, comprehend, and instill information. In the video, it shows students with disabilities utilizing and learning various assistive technology based on their disability and needs. It is said that the earlier students with disabilities get their hands on assistive technology, the quicker they are able to master them. “It allows them to be better prepared, makes it easier to use, and they could spend their later years of their school in focusing on content material and the curriculum” (Edutopia, 2005). The effectiveness of assistive technology can impact students with disabilities to a wide array of opportunities and give them that power that they are capable of thriving.
In conclusion, assistive technology makes it possible for disable children to gain knowledge and be educated. Utilizing assistive technology in the classroom, allows students with disability to grow more self-confident and work independently. Susanna Martini, expresses "Assistive technology is the major foundation of my life. Without it, I could not exist as I am today" (Ellis, 2005).
References:
Ellis, Ken. (2005). Assistive Technology:
Enabling Dreams [Video File]. Retrieved November 07, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video.
Willis, S. & Mann, L. (2000).
Differentiating Instructions. 1703 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
USA. (p. 1-11). http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/docs/teacher-center/3-c---mod-3-principle-3.pdf?sfvrsn=2
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