The book describes some issues that relate to the training of special education teachers to use technology in their classroom. Just like any teacher, some may be hesitant to use technology due their lack of training on technology. The book states that as students get minimal technology literacy as possible. It makes me think of my computer literacy class that I took at SAC, great class, but it did not teach me the necessary tools or skills to be proficient with technology. I feel more confident with the class, but I did not gain the basics of technology to integrate into my classroom.
There are solutions for exceptional learners that assist them to using technology. There is a no-tech solution that requires the student to use their resources. For example the book states "one-handed typing", another example might be special chairs that accommodate exceptional learners. Low-tech solutions include "organizing materials, notebook, software, etc." The high-tech solutions are complex and usually electrical. Some examples the book states are "stair lift, door openers, and powered wheelchairs".
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Melissa, I liked your personal example that illustrates how some technology training at the college level doesn’t prepare the teacher with the tools that will translate into greater productivity in the classroom. One of the issues that the text brought up was the minimal experience that new teachers have with assistive technologies. I’m curious as to how special education is taught to teachers then. I would have thought that being intimately familiar with assistive technologies would be a key learning that new teachers would be exposed to. The interdisciplinary teams that are used to evaluate the need for assistive technologies seems to be a valuable approach to this technology selection process but the work-around that challenges this process is the advocacy efforts of well-meaning people to receive assistive technologies for students. For a new teacher, this work-around might prove frustrating or maybe even encourage them to join the advocacy efforts instead of help the system work better.
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