Technology in special education?

Question

What are some advantages and disadvantages with using technology in special education?

Answer 1

I work with Deaf/Hard of Hearing and use the internet to download  pictures and video-stream to support written material. Seeing a picture of a science concept, a video of a historical event, means so much more than just talking about it. Animation, cartoons, Powerpoints, and just teaching kids to do research or use on-line dictionary. I have web-cam so theycan use sign language and ask students or teachers a question in another room.

I have picture based programs which tutor lip-reading, some which you type in a sentence and the computer reads it back, pictures that you type up to go with you spelling or vocabulary words.

Smartboards hooked up to my computer so kids can write on the whiteboard and it gets saved in the computer. Then I can print up the days notes- just like the kid remembers we did in class.

Answer 2

Advantages:  most technology makes it easier for the student to interact and learn.

Disadvantages:  Expensive.  Becomes outdated quickly.  Some is detrimental (we had a parent who wanted a program where text could be scanned and then the computer would read it to the student, we got it, student lost a lot of their reading ability).

Answer 3

As already said it assists a student to be as independant as possible. It can also be a means to being seen for what they are.

Disadvantages include the expense, and the maintenence. An item to do what you want to do may not be available yet.

Answer 4

disadvantage-expensive-/need repair at times

advantages-enable communication-accommodate diability-(Book on CD for a child that cannot read, computer software for teh blind)-help the child to reach full potential and contibute teh most they can to society