Technology in Special Education

Classrooms

Ivette VeigaEDU623: Designing Learning Environments

Instructor: Dr. Steven Moskowitz

The training content is technology in special education learning

environments. The purpose is to assist and help special education teachers

incorporate technology into classroom instruction. Identify effective online

programs, websites, and interactive websites, free applications (apps)

among others to help enhance and address students with special needs

learning skills effectively.

Technology in Special Education Leaning Environment

http://www.starfall.com/http://www.brainpop.com/http://www.discoveryeducation.com/

Access your Portal top menu and click on App/Services/Site to access Discovery Education, Learning Village, and Edmodo among other excellent online resources. Webinars and Professional Development are available to learn how to operate these excellent resources appropriately. Next to App/Service/Site there is another icon title: Resources. Click on it and another screen will open, this time with relevant information about our district news and events, documents, and useful teachers resources such as Riverdeep, Virtual Library, and Newspaper in Education among many others (Miami Dade County Public Schools, 2014) .

Technology has become an important instrument in education impacting the areas of learning, communication, and information. It has facilitated students, teachers, and parents’ communication to address student needs successfully. Technology tools, online programs, and software permit learners access to information and any content of their needs and preferences. It helps provide rich and informative feedback in time and a high quality instruction supported with visuals, sounds, and much more . Technology opens windows to a new technological era and interconnected world. Here is a Discovery Education trailer (respectfully taken and under CC license):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrtk11i2Gyc

Slide #1Onscreen Content

Detailed Script

Interactivity / Navigation

Some online programs have free applications you can download in your smart phone and/or iPad. For example: BrainPop; it keeps you informed about new videos and even reminded you when important dates and/or holidays approach (BrainPop, 2014).My smart phone BrainPop application just alerted me about their new movie entitle: Back to School http://www.brainpop.com/english/studyandreadingskills/backtoschool/

Unique Learning System is an online, dynamic, standards-based curriculum specifically designed for students with special needs. It is excellent resource to help enhance and guide student learning , participation, and engagement. News-2-You and SymbolStix are excellent software accessible at this site. Core and State Standards, weekly news supported with excellent materials including games, power point presentations, and written activities with different level of complexity and presented in different forms to invite students with special needs to participate and succeed (N2Y, 2014).

Technology in Special Education Leaning Environment (cont.)

https://www.n2y.com/products/news2you/

Slide #2Onscreen Content

Interactivity / Navigation

i-Ready Diagnostic and Instruction is an online student assessment program that provides a plan for each student success in reading and math for grades K-12. Instruction is differentiated based on student abilities and needs. The program is designed to help struggling students as well as those who need more academic challenges. Teacher-led instruction, student instruction and practice, and reports allow teachers to provide a better differentiated instruction, identify student strengths and weaknesses, and provide adequate and informative feedback. Here is an interesting video about i-Ready (respectfully taken and under CC license):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZZV9m6LU_4&list=PLdPYwoTYVh15YIf7I6MrU6xtFuBvf0UFd&index=3

i-Ready Diagnostic and Instruction

Welcome to i-Ready http://www.i-ready.com/

Slide #3Onscreen Content

Interactivity / Navigation

i-Ready Diagnostic and Instruction (cont.)

The following slides show different options the program offer to track, program, and guide students learning skills and academic

instruction.

i-ReadyAssignments: Student Lesson Plan

This screen shows lessons student has completed and the level of performance. Teacher is informed if an assessment has been assigned to the student; a great opportunity to prepare students for the test.

www.i-ready.com

Slide #4

Onscreen Content

Detailed Script

Interactivity / Navigation

i-ReadyAssignments: Completed Lessons

Important information is released on this screen. Lesson name, domain, and student pass and fails scores permitting teachers provide adequate and informative feedback.

www.i-ready.com

Slide #5

Onscreen Content

Detailed Script

Interactivity / Navigation

i-Ready Assignments: Comprehensive Lesson Preview

Clicked on Lesson Name and a screen open with all information referred to the lesson including objectives, standards, tutorial/s, and quiz.

www.i-ready.com

Slide #6

Onscreen Content

Detailed Script

Interactivity / Navigation

i-Ready Reports: Student Profile Detail Report

Student Profile Report released important information about the content the student has mastered and next steps for instruction. This Report is an excellent source to determinate some of the effective goals and benchmarks to consider on the student Individual Education Plan (IEP) present levels and goals section.

www.i-ready.com

Slide #7

Onscreen Content

Detailed Script

Interactivity / Navigation

Small groups (three to four participants) instruction:Students are grouped in small groups (three to four participants) to complete written assignments. Students can help each other , share information, bring new ideas , and share websites, software, applications, and/or any other relevant source of their interest. Instructor assistance and feedback is provided as needed.

Assessments Slide #8Onscreen Content

References

Brain Pop. (2014). Back to school. Retrieved from http://www.brainpop.com/english/studyandreadingskills/backtoschool/

Creative Commons. (2014). Discovery Education [video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrtk11i2Gyc

Creative Commons. (2014). Small groups instruction. Retrieved from

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2885/10859112445_5798a49ce6_o.jpg

Curriculum Associates. (2013, December 19). i-Ready Program Overview. Retrieved from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZZV9m6LU_4&list=PLdPYwoTYVh15YIf7I6MrU6xtFuBvf0UFd&index=3

Miami Dade County Public Schools. (2014). Portal: Employees. Retrieved from http://www.dadeschools.net/employees.asp

N2Y. (2014). Standards-based curriculum for special education. Retrieved from https://www.n2y.com/products/unique/

Hodell, C. (2011). Isd from the ground up: A no-nonsense approach to instructional design (3rd ed.). United States of

America: American Society for Training & Development