subject: the Advantages of Technological Innovation [print this page] One of the advantages of technological innovation is its potential for "leveling the playing field" a bit for children who have disabilities.
One of my colleagues, Mary Ulrich, has observed how a particular kind of technological device - handheld computers - can help involve children with disabilities while also enhancing the learning of all children in the classroom.
In one 6th-grade classroom, all her students received handheld computers paid for by a grant from the Palm Education Pioneers Program.
The children were very excited to have this new device and seemed to learn how to use it more easily than the adults did!
While the teachers and students used the handheld computers in many ways, such as communicating with parents, distributing class notes, accessing the Internet for information, and doing homework assignments, a few applications were especially helpful for children with special learning needs.
For example, these children often need calculators, spellcheckers, dictionaries, and planning books to stay on top of their work. All these utilities are provided by the handheld computer.
Handheld computers are also helpful in fostering self-management activities of children with disabilities. Teachers: an beep or flash reminders about tasks, or send detailed directions; the students can do self-checks and break work into manageable segments.
Because everyone was learning to use this new device, all students were brawn into the exploration process and were highly motivated to use it for earning activities. They also cooperated more with peers, including those beers with disabilities.
Although the original excitement was tempered as time went by, all of the students found useful ways to enhance their learning with he handheld computers. Many other types of assisted technology are available for use with children who have more severe disabilities, such as special touch pads and other devices that allow them to become actively engaged with the environment.
On the other hand, software and television producers make many positive claims about the benefits of these programs and products, but there insufficient research focusing on exploring the cognitive, social, emotional, of even physical effects on children, and very little funding to encourage suction research.
