What would computerized curriculum be called?

Question

My son has an IEP that's strictly followed, however, the psychoeducational program he's in 1/2 days is not teaching him very much and hasn't progressed past 1st grade level in the areas they teach him in. In his reg. ed class, with eliminating 90% of handwritten work, he's able to easily learn at level (3rd grade).

Recently, I heard about successful programs being started where students are on computers for everything... lessons & testing...what would that type situation be called? I don't think this has been "officially" implemented in our system, but I'd like to bring it into demand (QUICKLY) and utilize it for my son.

Thanks!

Answer 1

A long time ago (1980's), computerized curriculum was called Computer Literacy.  It involved knowing the parts of a computer and the basics of how to turn it on and off.

Now much of our society is computer literate and techno savvy.  Computer curriculum is now mostly focused on Computer-Based Instruction.  CBI is not so much direct instruction of computer skills (although some typing, mouse use, and icon skills are developed incidentally) as it is using the computer to learn academic and life skills.  desktop computers, Laptop computers, Alphasmarts, Internet access, and printers are great tools for students with disabilities, when used to accelerate and support the main curriculum.  Depending on his disabilities and manifestations, handwriting may be used prior to data entry or skipped altogether -- depending on the individual student's needs and skills.

Also depending on student need, technologies may be very specific -- providing voice output, large screen images, or other disability specific software applications.  

It sounds like a healthy dialog with key people, such as general ed teachers, special ed teachers, principal, special ed program specialist, and the district special ed technology specialist would provide you some quick and appropriate ideas how to address your child's current IEP with better support.  If you are not pleased at that point, you canalways request another IEP to review progress on the current IEP goals.

Answer 2

These programs, I believe, are called online education programs.  There is one, Time4Learning, that you might want to use with your son.  Time4Learning uses the same educational software that is used by public schools throughout the U.S.A.  However, the name of the program the public schools use is CompassLearning.  The link to Time4Learning is below:

http://www.time4learning.com/compassLear...

I hope this is helpful.