EDC 601 Instructional Tech ASF SUNY

Assistive technology in K-12 classrooms, by definition, is designed to "improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability." While the word "technology" automatically conjures up images of cutting-edge electronics, some assistive technology is possible with just simple accommodations. Whether high-tech or simple in design, assistive technology has the ability to transform the learning experiences for the children who benefit.

Assistive technology is designed to make hard, or seemingly impossible, tasks doable. For students with disabilities, writing can be the hardest task of all.

You should understand your child's challenges and match technology to his needs,

Assistive technology is designed to make hard, or se

ompounding the issue, data has shown that students with disabilities perform well below their peers in standardized testing.3 In their research, McTighe and Brown articulate a disconnect between the instructional

Overcoming obstacles to effective differentiation

Many of the obstacles to implementing differentiated instruction can be overcome with the effective use of technology. Teachers who feel ill-prepared to address the diverse needs of their students, for example, have ready access to more options than ever before as a result of the wide range of software and hardware tools available. Technology can equip teachers to address students’ needs in an almost limitless number of ways, through content input, learning activities, and opportunities to demonstrate comprehension. And because many students come to the learning environment with a predisposition for using it seamlessly, technology can become an intermediary that bridges the relationship between teacher and student,