Technology Enhanced Learning in Special Education Cindy Okolo Brandon Castiglione Michigan State University

This project is supported by a Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) Grant, awarded to Michigan State University by the United States Department of Education, Principal Investigators Yong Zhao & Punyashloke Mishra

Why Assistive Technology? Holds great potential for enhancing the education, independence, and employability of people with disabilities “Perhaps the most impressive application of technology is in the field of special education” (OTA, 1988).

Consider: Neural Prosthetics Computer can capture patterns of brain activity as person performs motor task The resulting program allows user to control an item by thought (through electrodes attached to a computer) Operation of devices via brainwave patterns See for example: Dr. James Donoghue and colleagues, Brown University,

Consider: Supported Texts Digital resources embedded in texts Translations  English to Spanish, English to American Sign Language, written word to spoken word Instructional supports  definitions of unfamiliar vocabulary, illustrations of challenging concepts, background information about unfamiliar topics. Improved access to content-area instruction for students with learning disabilities and hearing impairments See for example, Anderson-Inman & colleagues, Project Intersect,

Consider: Personal, Portable, Computing Portable, personal computing devices (PCDs) and wireless technologies  personal organizer,audio recorder, text and graphic scanner, GPS navigation device, audio and video playback unit, digital camera.  text & reference books stored on PCD, automatically connected to school’s wireless network, receiving stations distributed throughout school campus  student accesses information, turns in assignments, calls up digitized video to enrich understanding of difficult concepts.  PCD recognizes student’s voice, can do most of her tasks by speaking into it Seamless, meaningful, and 24-hour learning environments See for example, Hasselbring,

Assistive Technology Devices Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capability of children with disabilities (Technology Related Assistance Act, 1988)

Assistive Technology Services Any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. Includes: evaluation, purchase, lease, selecting, fitting, designing, customizing, repairing, coordinating with other therapies, training or technical assistance for child or family, employers or others

Potential of Assistive Technology Instruction Independence Compensation Scaffolding

Assistive Technology Remains Underutilized Guaranteed by IDEA Only a small number of eligible students use it or receive AT services State directors report need for policies and guidelines Educators report need for better ideas and access

Barriers to AT Use Awareness Funding Availability of hardware & software Teacher preparation Time Technical support

Technology-Enhanced Learning in Special Education Project Develop a website that is accessible to teachers, parents, and consumers  In Michigan and throughout nation Instructional modules for teacher educators & their students Resources for practicing teachers  Links and other web resources  Readings  Lesson Plans  Communication Tools

Design of the Website Accessible Usable

Usability and Accessibility What is Usability?  Ease of Use  Satisfaction

How we thought about Usability Consistency across pages Logical, natural organization Efficient Navigation

Usability and Accessibility What is Accessibility?  Accessible to everyone  Understandable and navigable content  Not dependent on mouse, or other visual tools

How we thought about Accessibility Followed Web Content Accessibility Guidelines recommended by the W3C See: Validated HTML with Bobby and W3C validation service See: Tested in CAST E-Reader, IBM Homepage Reader

Help with Accessibility LIFT for Dreamweaver (available from  Helps you build accessibility into your pages as you create them in Dreamweaver  Easy learning curve

Site Demonstration

Future Development Database of user contributed lesson plans  Submitted  Reviewed  Lesson plans keyed to MI and National standards  Lesson plans categorized according to standards

Future Development Database will be searchable by:  Subject  School District  User who submitted plan Additional features:  List of lesson plans similar to the one you are reading  People who viewed this lesson plan also viewed these

Future Development Communication Tools:  User Directory, voluntary profile  Number of users presently online coupled with a Chat tool Who is online now? Who is chatting?