Inclusion In Relation to Technology

John Dewey wrote that, “any genuine teaching will result, if successful, in someone’s knowing how to bring about a better condition of things than existed earlier” (Dewey, 2000). I am taking a course that focuses on assessment. One of the things I learned is that assessment is looking at present conditions and being able to assess them for all kinds of reasons, most importantly for improvement. Therefore, when I saw this quote I felt it related to what I am learning in my assessment course about the importance of assessment. What I am learning in my assessment class and what this quote is stating relates to the clip “Assistive Technology: Enabling Dreams” from the website edutopia. This is because the clip focuses on voice-activated software to customized laptops that change the way disabled students communicate, learn, and play. So, as a teacher I would need to be able to make accommodations for students with different learning needs. Therefore, I feel the clip is trying to stress the importance of accommodating students with special needs using assistive technology through assessment. So, some of the things I would need to know are what are the important parts or features of a revised lesson plan that includes opportunities for disabled students to be successful participants, what steps would I take to create a revised lesson activity that includes disabled students, and have an understanding of why lessons plan must be revised to include disabled students.

First of all, I would need to know what are the important parts or features of a revised lesson plan that includes opportunities for disabled students to be successful participants. The most important part of a lesson plan is full inclusion and that means involving everyone, even the students with disabilities. This is what the clip is trying to show is the benefit of assistive technology. So, if I were going to use the ASSURE model when I need to analyze the learners, under specific entry competence and learning style I can mention specific learners needs so that when I list the objectives, select methods and media, and state how I will utilize media and materials I can list accommodations. It allows students who are disabled to participate and get the same benefits of learning as the other students and the experience of using technology because the ASSURE model encourages the use of media and requires you to state how you will use the media and materials. Therefore, another important part of a lesson plan is to list the standards for the content you are teaching and to state in your lesson plan what accommodations need to be made so that everyone is included. This is a time when I as a teacher need to make assessments.

Also, as mentioned previously I would need to know what steps I would take to create/design a revised lesson activity to include disabled students. This also relates back to the importance of assessment. I would need to first create a lesson plan with specific objectives. Then I would need to know all my students and their different learning styles and needs. Just like the video states the children do not have all the same assistive technologies, each child’s assistive technology is designed to meet their needs. So, each child has different needs and that’s when I would need to do research and look into the types of technology that can be provided to my students with special needs. I can also get the help of my colleagues and other professionals. Sometimes it is a matter of making use of the resources available.

Lastly, as mentioned earlier, I would need to have an understanding of why lessons plan must be revised to include disabled students. I do have an understanding of the importance of making revisions to a lesson plan it is because of students needs. It is because I want to make sure all my students have the same opportunities. This is why I enjoyed watching the video clip because it gives examples of how to accommodate students with disabilities. I also understand that accommodating students with disabilities is not always easy because sometimes-necessary resources are not available. However, that should never stop me from making accommodations. So, it is important that I make assessments in advance because revising a lesson plan can take time. Also, getting the resources to accommodate the student’s needs may take time.

In conclusion, the quote stated in the beginning and the knowledge I gained in my course on assessment are all resources that reinforced my belief about the importance of assessment to understand and include all students by meeting specific needs. Also, after watching the clip “Assistive technology: Enabling Dreams” I was able to understand that integrating technology into a lesson plan is very important and that there are resources for students with disabilities so that they can get all the benefits of using technology. Therefore, I have the knowledge of what are the important parts or features of a revised lesson plan that include opportunities for disabled students to be successful participants, what steps would I take to create/design a revised lesson activity to include disabled students, and I have an understanding of why lessons plan must be revised to include disabled students. I also have the understanding that there is much more to learn.

References:

Dewey, J. (2000). The following are the Quotes on assessment: . Retrieved from

http://wku.edu/Teaching/dp/quotes/byassess.php

The George Lucas Educational Foundation. (Producer). (2010). Assistive-

Technology: enabling Dreams. [Web]. Retrieved fromhttp://edutop

Ia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video