The Use of Technology to
Solve the Puzzle
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Introduction
 Unlocking the Puzzle
Teaching any child is a rewarding experience. Teaching a
special needs child is an adventure. The challenges to
teaching a student can be frustrating and agonizing, but there
are technologies that exist that can make teaching a very
happy decision. Those same technologies can make learning a
fun and successful endeavor for children also.
This presentation will discuss how new technology can benefit
any child especially special need children and those children
with Autism.
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about Autism.
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Podcasting
 Educating the Future Through Fun
In reviewing the webpage Learning Hand, I
discovered exactly what I’d hoped for. This
website was informative, user friendly, and
educational on its own. The site explained
podcasting in simple and exact terms that
help the user understand the benefits for
using podcasting as an educational tool.
There were links on the page that helped
with many other topics and promoted the
educational functions of using educational
feeds. Tony Vincent’s Learning in Hand-
podcasting allows teachers to utilize the
information offered on his site to create a
comprehensive, web-based curriculum
project.
learninginhand.com/podcasts.html
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 The Sound of Their own Voice
learninginhand.com/podcasts.html
Tony Vincents Learning In Hand-Podcasting This site also offers many other links to
explore that help a student connect with
Learning in Hand helps teachers organize the community, technology, and the
personalized lesson plans to engage their world.
students interest and imagination. There are
links to also help the children create personal
podcasts and even publish versions on the web.
Students can build self esteem and technical
strength while completing an assignment that
they can find fulfilling and enjoyable.
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 Opening Minds and Making Smiles
Children with Autism have communication issues. To be able to create an audible
assignment or just a message they can share with others could open doors that would never
have been touched. All children are different, but many enjoy hearing their own voice. To
be able to hear that voice over the computer makes it even more fun, and more importantly,
more concrete. I can remember when cassette tapes were new, and the kids in my class were
passing them back and forth to share thoughts. It was fun. But for children with Autism, it
can be beneficial. Many children respond to audio devices with enthusiasm. Some love to
use the computer or their iPods and can function with these devices with more comfort than
actually having a conversation. A teacher could reach a student with a podcast that may
have been unreachable on any other level.
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Computers
 Communication is the Key
The article “Computers Make Special Education
More Effective and Fun.” describes the effects of
performing a trial experiment on a group of children After the ten weeks with computers in their classrooms, the
to ascertain whether computers were indeed too teachers summarized their views as follows:
difficult for them to master or if computers would \"In addition to the fun, the children enjoyed improved
communication skills, an increased ability to handle
help increase their[the children] abilities to learn in a
frustration, an opportunity to progress in academic areas, and
more positive aspect. There were many negative a growing independence within their learning environments.
comments and opinions about this topic. They The success that the children experienced at the computer
enhanced their self-esteem. Communications between parent
ranged from saying that children with special needs
and child, teacher and child, and teacher and teacher
would not be able to comprehend the use and improved. All of these aspects helped establish a happy,
instructions of a computer to the children would friendly, and positive climate within the classroom.\"
become frustrated and the effect would be opposite
Glenn M. Kleinmann; Mary M. Humphrey
of what was intended. However, after the study was
complete the outcome was a very positive one.
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 Having Fun is only Half the Job
The students in this study were chosen from special
education areas in their school. While some of
them were from special education classrooms full
time; others were children with special needs that
were only spending an hour in their resource room a
day. They were inclusion. Although this study was
primarily dealing with special education students,
the effect that a positive experiment had on the
students was shared with the teachers.
Computers Make Special Education More Effective and Fun
Glen M. Kleinmann; Mary M. Humphrey
http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n10/96_Computers_make_special_ed.php
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 A Good Thing
While this article was representing special
education, computers in classrooms have
become necessary for curriculum. This covers
both special education and regular education
classrooms. There are so many required tests
and data lists to acquire throughout a
students academic term that a computer only
makes things simpler. Special needs or not ,
children can learn to use a computer. In
current times, many are learning at a pre-
school level. Children of all circumstances
will learn faster, and retain longer, if they
enjoy what they are doing.
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Communication
 Communication is the Key
This article will discuss how
“Assistant Technology for Children with Autism” by
various modes of technology
Susan Stokes was a very informative article. It (including technology designed as
introduced different forms of technology to aid in augmentative communication
communication for children with Autism, ranging from systems), can be used for children
with autism to increase or
“low” to “high” technologies. There are descriptions of
improve their:
everything from line drawings to programs and
equipment that have been found to promote Overall understanding of their
communication and education in special needs children. environment;
Expressive communication
Computers are an excellent choice of equipment to begin
skills;
with. Children can create, learn comprehension, and Social interaction skills;
engage in a fulfilling activity with limited assistance. The Attention skills;
Motivation skills;
article includes links that help direct the reader to
Organization skills;
different forms of technology for different purposes. Academic skills;
Self help skills;
Overall independent daily
functioning skills.
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 Unlocking the doors
“Typically, children with autism process visual
information easier than auditory information.
Research on the use of
Any time we use assistive technology devices computers with students with
with these children, we're giving them autism revealed the following
information through their strongest processing (15):
area (visual). Therefore various types of
Increase in focused attention;
technology from \"low\" tech to \"high\" tech, Increase in overall attention
should be incorporated into every aspect of span;
daily living in order to improve the functional Increase in in-seat behavior;
Increase in fine motor skills;
capabilities of children with autism.”(Stokes)
Increase in generalization skills
There were many options offered through this (from computer to related non-
article to help provide information on how to computer activities);
Decrease in agitation;
utilize technology resources for
Decrease in self-stimulatory
communicating social skills, life skills, and behaviors, and
educational skills. Decrease in preservative
responses.
http://www.specialed.us/autism/assist/asst10.htm
By: Susan Stokes
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 See It-Believe It
Using technical devices in the classroom is “old news”.
However, it is important to remember how quickly technology
changes. There are so many informative sites and so little
time to explore them all. This article was mapped out with
very user friendly links that let me explore many different
options. With so many different kinds of children, options are
a necessity-not a luxury. I appreciate as many ideas as I can
“Assistant Technology for Children with
work with.
Autism”.
Susan Stokes
http://www.specialed.us/autism/assist/asst10.htm
Internet hand held devices teachers computers modified keyboards
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Conclusion
AHA….
Although, I found the articles I reviewed and the websites
very helpful, finding the information is only half the
battle. Technology is not effective if it is not utilized. I
plan on working with many of the different forms of AHA….
technology that I have read about. I have already worked
with some. But as time changes so do the educational
needs of students everywhere. Working with whatever a AHA….
teacher can find helps, but making that work fun—that
changes frustration into smiles. Any classroom is a better
classroom with a smile.
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Have A Nice Day
Connecting the Pieces
One By One
Makes Learning Easier
And Fun
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