The document discusses three ways that technology helps improve education: 1) A new 15-minute reading assessment called PAR helps identify student weaknesses and improve reading growth in North Carolina schools. 2) The TeachersFirst website provides teachers online resources and lessons to help integrate technology into their classrooms. 3) Assistive technologies like word prediction software, audio recordings, and enlarged keyboards help address the needs of special education students.

1. Teaching with Technology By Kristen Habeney

2. Technology Helps NC school close the Reading Gap Reading Assessments called Predictive Assessment of Reading (PAR) were used to address areas of weakness in students in only 15 minutes. -There is a standard assessment that most schools in the US use to record their students reading progress. These tests take only 15 minutes vs 3 hours it used to take students to complete. They provide immediate results with specific recommendations for corrective intervention to address areas of weakness.

3. North Carolina, cont’d - Kathy Schwabe, a reading teacher at Speas Elementary School in Winston-Salem, North Carlolina, said after testing first graders on their reading level that, “The fact that the test takes just a few minutes to complete makes it attractive for both students and teachers. I can get a lot of information in just 15 minutes.” She can then quickly determine if a child is deficient in phonics, lacking in fluency or in need of more vocabulary instruction. PAR has proved to be most effective in schools when every child in a classroom is tested within a short period of time.

4. -Since the test can detect problem areas before a child experiences the frusteration of failure, Paul Zimmerman, the general manager at ChildsMind Publishing, the assessment should be given to all students, not just the ones who are already struggling. -Students that were given PAR have grown at least 20% over the school year. http://thejournal.com/Home.aspx

5. Personal Reflection I think the new Reading Assessment, PAR, that was implicated into the North Carolina school was wonderful! The new 15 min test vs the old 3 hour test not only saves time for other activities to be done but you get results right away! If every school could get this test than it would help improve many students for better achievement further along in their education.

6. Helping Educators Bridge the Technology Gap In 2000, Candice Hackett Shivley, director of K-12 initiatives for The Source of Learning, said that what teachers needed most was to help figure out how the Internet fit with their teaching styles and lesson plans. Teachers didn’t know how it could serve as an asset in their classrooms. http://www.teachersfirst.com/index.cfm

7. Technology Gap, Cont’d - The Source for Learning has built an organization called TeachersFirst providing them with 10,000 lessons and web resources. All of these reviews are sorted by subject and grade level. All websites are reviewed beforehand. New sections are added all of the time. “Summer Sparklers” is a site that students and parents can use over the summer to continue education. PreschoolFirst, Teachers and Families, and GrowUpLearning are other sites within this site to help teach. TeachersFirst Edge is a new section with the intention of helping educators adopt and use Web 2.0 tools. http://www.teachersfirst.com/index.cfm

8. Personal Reflection The new site, Techers First, for educators to teach themseves good techniques of bringing technology into the classrooms through the Internet is going to better kids as well. It will help teachers to become more comfortable with the Internet and give them a new experience in teaching. It also furthers the students resources when learning. I also like how the site is open to students and parents as well for summer activities and summer learning so the knowledge doesn’t end in the classroom.

9. Addressing the Special Needs Student through Technology The Technology used to describe assisstive technolgy has changed. It used to only be referred to prosthetics and orthotics. Now it refers to anything from a modified pencil to a high tech customized computer system. Many different kinds of technology make life easier for children in classrooms. A simple common word processing software amy be one of the most imprtant applications for students with mild disabilities. It can help with spelling and grammar checks, the process of writing, and the clarity.

10. Special Needs, cont’d The Oregon Trail helps with cognitive assisstance, problem solving, and simulation. Allowing students to tape presentations instead of doing them live and typing instead of writing to ease stress of touching pencils, makes a difference for children with autism. Assistive listening devices to increase volume and clarity for the deaf. Low vision devices like big screens, text to speech, and large keyboards help the blind.

11. Special Needs Diagram Table 1. Difference in Ability Strategy to Address the Need ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity) Provide students with multi-media desktop publishing. Use outlining software such as Inspirationý or KidspirationýProvide word prediction software. BD(behavior disordered) The computer often provides motivation and lessons behavior problems.Software such as word processing lessons stress due to inadequate skills Autism Allow students to tape presentations instead of having to do them live.Keyboarding or taping to reduce the stress of touching pencils, etc.Use text to speech, color adjustment, illustrations Deaf/Blind Assistive listening devices to increase volume and clarity.Low vision devices such as big screens, text to speech, large keyboards.Set the color settings on the computer for higher contrast. EBD (emotional/behavior disorder) Prewrite to prevent outbursts.Graphic organizers to reduce stress while learningAllow these students to "discover" the computer themselves and find their own solutions can be surprising successful. SDD(significant development delay) Position the computer low enough for the student's feet to touch the ground. Place the monitor at eye level.Use a timer to practice sharingUse headphones to eliminate distractions.Use the control panel to adjust the use of the mouse and keyboard for optimum success.Use large keyboards for easier typing. http://archives.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/dianesn1.php

12. Personal Reflection Although the teachings for Special Education students seems simple and doesn’t involve any fancy equipment is great. It provides the teacher with easy ways of helping a special ed child feel normal during the classroom hours. It gives the child a chance to learn everything the other kids are learning without difficulty in the way and I like that.

13. Connections/Conclusion I believe all three of the articles I have discussed have a common connection. Technology in the classroom helps special needs kids, teaches teachers, and helps to assess childrens educational levels through quick testing. Although all of these examples are different ways of teaching with technology, they all further ones knowledge and that is excalty why we impliment it into our schools.

14. 3 Ah-ha Moments I was expecting to read about new inventions for children with special needs. Instead it was simple inventions that have been around for awhile and work. Like using a keyboard instead of a pencil for autistic kids. Realizing the US school system needs more money for better and time consuming assessments for students. It betters their education. Finding out there are teachers that still don’t use the Internet for the students and realizing the teachers who want to learn about the new system can through a special, very informative website.

15. Resources Barfield, Diana Forte. Addressing the Special Needs Student through Technology. 1 Jan 2003. TechLearning.com http://archives.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/dianesn1.php McCrea, Bridget. By the Book: Technology Helps North Carolina School Close the Reading Gap. 30 July 2009 TheJournal.com http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/07/30/by-the-book-technology-helps-north-carolina-school-close-the-reading-gap.aspx McCrea, Bridget. Helping Educators Bridge the Technology Gap. 18 June 2009. TheJournal.com http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/06/18/helping-educators-bridge-the-technology-gap.aspx