Not all special needs children are the same or have the same disabilities, therefore they all have different and unique individual requirements needed to enhance their learning skills and allow them to learn the same content that all other kids are learning but in a specialized manner. There are several tools out there made especially for special needs children which include, but are not limited to, books on tape (for the blind), IPod Touch, IPad, IPhones all have countless tools for special needs. Students who have lost the ability to speak can use some of these tools and special computers with specific keypads and mouses with advanced technology to help them read, write, and even speak. These specialized computers can help us, as educators, form and build personal relationships with these children that were not there before. Here is a link to Technology in Special Education
There are also computers that have extreme magnified settings for children who have trouble seeing small print. This program is called Zoomtechs. Zoomtechs can also be used to help children who have a very hard time writing or takes them a considerable amount of time to write much more efficiently by typing or using a special keypad. They can be used for students to point to the letters on these keyboards to help them form sentences to relay to people and teachers what they are trying to say, what they are feeling, and what they may need or want.
Apple Education Apps-
The App I chose from Apple Education Apps is called The Articulation Station and it is designed especially for special needs students. This App allows you to learn how to pronounce and practice the sounds in the English language with 6 engaging activities which include Word Level (Flashcard activity), Matching Game, Sentence Level (Rotating sentences), Unique Sentences, and Story Level (with level 1 and 2 stories for advancement). This App has quick tips for teaching each sound, specific target words, in depth scoring and data tracking for each child/student for instant feedback, multiple users for group sessions, the ability to shuffle multiple sounds, and voice recording and playback feature for monitoring responses, just to name a few!
This App would greatly help special needs students in a number of ways including repetition of letters, words, sounds, and pictures to be imbeded into their brains for gaining the knowledge they need to memorize and learn. This App would be a great learning tool and would enhance and improve learning and best of all, its free! :)
"Gary Hayes Social Media Count"-
The astounding rate of rapidly changing social media counts in this video Social Media Count, is rather intimidating. These rates will only continue to grow and in a few more years when I am hopefully teaching, will only be higher. Technology is so advanced and our kids today learn how to do things beyond our imagination or that we even know existed.
Some people may not realize it but these constantly growing social media counts could present a challenge for educators. Almost all students have cell phones now so it has already created issues with texting during class. Teachers have to take away cell phones during class but ultimately, they must be returned therefore this becomes a never ending challenge. Not to mention if you are a computer teacher, you have to set restrictions and maybe even block major websites and networks altogether such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Youtube, etc to prevent class interruptions. There will always be challenges in any profession but with the shockingly growing rates in technology, it appears these already difficult challenges will only escalate.
"A Vision of Students Today"-
As many resources there are made available to us, it may shock you how many students don't take advantage of what is being offered. We pay hundreds of dollars on textbooks each semester, yet many of us never even open them. We pay thousands of dollars on tuition but choose to skip class. We choose to go through classes only doing the bare minimum but then complain when we receive a poor grade. Here is a link to A Vision of Students Today
The truth is we spend a considerable amount of time each day/night on our cell phones (talking/texting), online (emails/Facebook/Twitter/Youtube), watching TV, listening to music, playing video games, etc but very little time is left to dedicate towards our schoolwork. All of the things we are required/expected to do on a daily basis forms us all into being multi-taskers wether we know it or choose to believe it.
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