Blog 13 -C- Technology with Special Ed.

Teri Lawrence said, "Until we change the way we teach, outcomes will not improve." This is attitude she has when she entered the special ed classroom at Mt. Hermon school. Lawrence, PH.D. in instructional design, was brought in by DCS to create an instructional program for special education teachers that used the latest in computer technology. This instructional program is needed because the school is lacking in motivation and stimulation for special needs students. They are feeding them text books and regular main stream class, but instead Lawrence stresses that technology and visual stimulation will greatly enhance the learning ability of these students. Now Lawrence has implemented technology like smart boards, handhold student keypads, colorful graphic designs, laptop computers and some other of latest in electronic technology and has transformed this special ed program at Mt. Hermon into one of the best schools in the nation for special education. These programs create a fun interactive environment for these students to learn and grow in and the teachers at Mt. Hermon are seeing great results from the special needs students and give all the credit to the technology that has been provided to them.

This is a great step forward in thinking for special education programs. Every time i walked by or visited a special needs class in high school, the teacher was playing more of a role of babysitter and teaching moral lessons, but never really engaging the students into a program they can relate too. With technology it is become a lot easier to engage all students interest and make school exciting and fun for not only the students but the teachers as well. Mainstream classes are already using multiple forms of technology in their classrooms, but research and more instructional programs are coming out for those teaches who will be teaching special ed classes and want to use new technology. The main goal is to reach the students and if technology will greatly enhance the learning ability for special needs students, then it should be mandatory for schools to implement them into the classrooms. It may not have to be every bit of new technology, but just enough to start changing the environment of the classroom.

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