Teaching with Teaching with TechnologyTechnology

By Kristen HabeneyBy Kristen Habeney

Technology Helps NC school Technology Helps NC school close the Reading Gapclose the Reading Gap

Reading Assessments called Predictive Assessment of Reading Assessments called Predictive Assessment of Reading (PAR) were used to address areas of weakness in Reading (PAR) were used to address areas of weakness in students in only 15 minutes.students in only 15 minutes.

-There is a standard assessment that most schools in the US -There is a standard assessment that most schools in the US use to record their students reading progress.use to record their students reading progress.

- These tests take only 15 minutes vs 3 hours it used to take These tests take only 15 minutes vs 3 hours it used to take students to complete. They provide immediate results with students to complete. They provide immediate results with specific recommendations for corrective intervention to specific recommendations for corrective intervention to address areas of weakness.address areas of weakness.

North Carolina, cont’dNorth Carolina, cont’d

- Kathy Schwabe, a reading teacher at Speas - Kathy Schwabe, a reading teacher at Speas Elementary School in Winston-Salem, North Elementary School in Winston-Salem, North Carlolina, said after testing first graders on their Carlolina, said after testing first graders on their reading level that, “The fact that the test takes reading level that, “The fact that the test takes just a few minutes to complete makes it attractive just a few minutes to complete makes it attractive for both students and teachers. I can get a lot of for both students and teachers. I can get a lot of information in just 15 minutes.” She can then information in just 15 minutes.” She can then quickly determine if a child is deficient in phonics, quickly determine if a child is deficient in phonics, lacking in fluency or in need of more vocabulary lacking in fluency or in need of more vocabulary instruction.instruction.

PAR has proved to be most effective in schools PAR has proved to be most effective in schools when every child in a classroom is tested within a when every child in a classroom is tested within a short period of time.short period of time.

-Since the test can detect problem areas before a child -Since the test can detect problem areas before a child experiences the frusteration of failure, Paul Zimmerman, the experiences the frusteration of failure, Paul Zimmerman, the general manager at ChildsMind Publishing, the assessment general manager at ChildsMind Publishing, the assessment should be given to all students, not just the ones who are should be given to all students, not just the ones who are already struggling.already struggling.-Students that were given PAR have grown at least 20% over -Students that were given PAR have grown at least 20% over the school year.the school year.

http://thejournal.com/Home.ashttp://thejournal.com/Home.aspxpx

Personal ReflectionPersonal Reflection

I think the new Reading Assessment, PAR, that was I think the new Reading Assessment, PAR, that was implicated into the North Carolina school was wonderful! implicated into the North Carolina school was wonderful! The new 15 min test vs the old 3 hour test not only saves The new 15 min test vs the old 3 hour test not only saves time for other activities to be done but you get results time for other activities to be done but you get results right away! If every school could get this test than it right away! If every school could get this test than it would help improve many students for better achievement would help improve many students for better achievement further along in their education.further along in their education.

Helping Educators Bridge the Helping Educators Bridge the Technology GapTechnology Gap

In 2000, Candice Hackett Shivley, director of K-12 initiatives for The In 2000, Candice Hackett Shivley, director of K-12 initiatives for The Source of Learning, said that what teachers needed most was to Source of Learning, said that what teachers needed most was to help figure out how the Internet fit with their teaching styles and help figure out how the Internet fit with their teaching styles and lesson plans. Teachers didn’t know how it could serve as an asset lesson plans. Teachers didn’t know how it could serve as an asset in their classrooms.in their classrooms.

http://www.teachersfirst.com/http://www.teachersfirst.com/index.cfmindex.cfm

Technology Gap, Cont’dTechnology Gap, Cont’d

- The Source for Learning has built an organization called - The Source for Learning has built an organization called TeachersFirst providing them with 10,000 lessons and web TeachersFirst providing them with 10,000 lessons and web resources. All of these reviews are sorted by subject and grade resources. All of these reviews are sorted by subject and grade level.level.

- All websites are reviewed beforehand.All websites are reviewed beforehand.- New sections are added all of the time. “Summer Sparklers” is a New sections are added all of the time. “Summer Sparklers” is a

site that students and parents can use over the summer to site that students and parents can use over the summer to continue education. PreschoolFirst, Teachers and Families, and continue education. PreschoolFirst, Teachers and Families, and GrowUpLearning are other sites within this site to help teach. GrowUpLearning are other sites within this site to help teach. TeachersFirst Edge is a new section with the intention of helping TeachersFirst Edge is a new section with the intention of helping educators adopt and use Web 2.0 tools.educators adopt and use Web 2.0 tools.

http://www.teachersfirst.com/index.cfm

Personal ReflectionPersonal Reflection

The new site, Techers First, for educators to teach The new site, Techers First, for educators to teach themseves good techniques of bringing technology into the themseves good techniques of bringing technology into the classrooms through the Internet is going to better kids as classrooms through the Internet is going to better kids as well. It will help teachers to become more comfortable well. It will help teachers to become more comfortable with the Internet and give them a new experience in with the Internet and give them a new experience in teaching. It also furthers the students resources when teaching. It also furthers the students resources when learning. I also like how the site is open to students and learning. I also like how the site is open to students and parents as well for summer activities and summer learning parents as well for summer activities and summer learning so the knowledge doesn’t end in the classroom.so the knowledge doesn’t end in the classroom.

Addressing the Special Needs Addressing the Special Needs Student through TechnologyStudent through Technology

The Technology used to describe assisstive technolgy The Technology used to describe assisstive technolgy has changed. It used to only be referred to has changed. It used to only be referred to prosthetics and orthotics. Now it refers to anything prosthetics and orthotics. Now it refers to anything from a modified pencil to a high tech customized from a modified pencil to a high tech customized computer system.computer system.

Many different kinds of technology make life easier Many different kinds of technology make life easier for children in classrooms.for children in classrooms.

A simple common word processing software amy be A simple common word processing software amy be one of the most imprtant applications for students one of the most imprtant applications for students with mild disabilities. It can help with spelling and with mild disabilities. It can help with spelling and grammar checks, the process of writing, and the grammar checks, the process of writing, and the clarity.clarity.

Special Needs, cont’dSpecial Needs, cont’d

The Oregon Trail helps with cognitive assisstance, problem The Oregon Trail helps with cognitive assisstance, problem solving, and simulation.solving, and simulation.

Allowing students to tape presentations instead of doing them Allowing students to tape presentations instead of doing them live and typing instead of writing to ease stress of touching live and typing instead of writing to ease stress of touching pencils, makes a difference for children with autism.pencils, makes a difference for children with autism.

Assistive listening devices to increase volume and clarity for the Assistive listening devices to increase volume and clarity for the deaf. Low vision devices like big screens, text to speech, and deaf. Low vision devices like big screens, text to speech, and large keyboards help the blind.large keyboards help the blind.

Special Needs DiagramSpecial Needs Diagram

Table 1.Table 1.

Difference in Ability Strategy to Address the Need Difference in Ability Strategy to Address the Need

ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity) Provide students with multi-media desktop publishing. ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity) Provide students with multi-media desktop publishing. Use outlining software such as Inspirationý or KidspirationýProvide word prediction Use outlining software such as Inspirationý or KidspirationýProvide word prediction software. software.

BD(behavior disordered) The computer often provides motivation and lessons behavior BD(behavior disordered) The computer often provides motivation and lessons behavior problems.Software such as word processing lessons stress due to inadequate skills problems.Software such as word processing lessons stress due to inadequate skills

Autism Allow students to tape presentations instead of having to do them live.Keyboarding or Autism Allow students to tape presentations instead of having to do them live.Keyboarding or taping to reduce the stress of touching pencils, etc.Use text to speech, color adjustment, taping to reduce the stress of touching pencils, etc.Use text to speech, color adjustment, illustrations illustrations

Deaf/Blind Assistive listening devices to increase volume and clarity.Low vision devices such as Deaf/Blind Assistive listening devices to increase volume and clarity.Low vision devices such as big screens, text to speech, large keyboards.Set the color settings on the computer for big screens, text to speech, large keyboards.Set the color settings on the computer for higher contrast. higher contrast.

EBD (emotional/behavior disorder) Prewrite to prevent outbursts.Graphic organizers to reduce EBD (emotional/behavior disorder) Prewrite to prevent outbursts.Graphic organizers to reduce stress while learningAllow these students to "discover" the computer themselves and find stress while learningAllow these students to "discover" the computer themselves and find their own solutions can be surprising successful. their own solutions can be surprising successful.

SDD(significant development delay) Position the computer low enough for the student's feet to SDD(significant development delay) Position the computer low enough for the student's feet to touch the ground. Place the monitor at eye level.Use a timer to practice sharingUse touch the ground. Place the monitor at eye level.Use a timer to practice sharingUse headphones to eliminate distractions.Use the control panel to adjust the use of the mouse headphones to eliminate distractions.Use the control panel to adjust the use of the mouse and keyboard for optimum success.Use large keyboards for easier typing. and keyboard for optimum success.Use large keyboards for easier typing.

http://archives.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/dianesn1.phphttp://archives.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/dianesn1.php

Personal ReflectionPersonal Reflection

Although the teachings for Special Education students Although the teachings for Special Education students seems simple and doesn’t involve any fancy equipment is seems simple and doesn’t involve any fancy equipment is great. It provides the teacher with easy ways of helping a great. It provides the teacher with easy ways of helping a special ed child feel normal during the classroom hours. It special ed child feel normal during the classroom hours. It gives the child a chance to learn everything the other kids gives the child a chance to learn everything the other kids are learning without difficulty in the way and I like that.are learning without difficulty in the way and I like that.

Connections/ConclusionConnections/Conclusion

I believe all three of the articles I have discussed have a I believe all three of the articles I have discussed have a common connection. Technology in the classroom helps common connection. Technology in the classroom helps special needs kids, teaches teachers, and helps to assess special needs kids, teaches teachers, and helps to assess childrens educational levels through quick testing. childrens educational levels through quick testing. Although all of these examples are different ways of Although all of these examples are different ways of teaching with technology, they all further ones knowledge teaching with technology, they all further ones knowledge and that is excalty why we impliment it into our schools.and that is excalty why we impliment it into our schools.

3 Ah-ha Moments3 Ah-ha Moments

I was expecting to read about new inventions for children I was expecting to read about new inventions for children with special needs. Instead it was simple inventions that with special needs. Instead it was simple inventions that have been around for awhile and work. Like using a have been around for awhile and work. Like using a keyboard instead of a pencil for autistic kids.keyboard instead of a pencil for autistic kids.

Realizing the US school system needs more money for Realizing the US school system needs more money for better and time consuming assessments for students. It better and time consuming assessments for students. It betters their education.betters their education.

Finding out there are teachers that still don’t use the Finding out there are teachers that still don’t use the Internet for the students and realizing the teachers who Internet for the students and realizing the teachers who want to learn about the new system can through a special, want to learn about the new system can through a special, very informative website.very informative website.

ResourcesResources

Barfield, Diana Forte. Barfield, Diana Forte. Addressing the Special Needs Student Addressing the Special Needs Student through Technology. through Technology. 1 Jan 2003. TechLearning.com 1 Jan 2003. TechLearning.com http://archives.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/http://archives.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/dianesn1.phpdianesn1.php

McCrea, Bridget. McCrea, Bridget. By the Book: Technology Helps North Carolina By the Book: Technology Helps North Carolina School Close the Reading Gap. School Close the Reading Gap. 30 July 2009 TheJournal.com 30 July 2009 TheJournal.com http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/07/30/by-the-book-technology-http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/07/30/by-the-book-technology-helps-north-carolina-school-close-the-reading-gap.aspxhelps-north-carolina-school-close-the-reading-gap.aspx

McCrea, Bridget. McCrea, Bridget. Helping Educators Bridge the Technology Gap. 18 June 2009. TheJournal.com http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/06/18/helping-educators-bridge-the-technology-gap.aspx