Thoughts about Technology standards relative to education
Technology Standards Responses
1) Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity
a) Special education teachers need to help students to think in their own ways and to think about things creatively to understand things from different perspectives. These teachers also need to find ways to make students interested in the topics and try to get them to want to learn more about the subjects. This will help students to apply their knowledge to real situations. Teachers need to keep an open mind about how each students learn. There have been multiple times that a teacher will explain a topic in one way and not many students understand. Then a student that does understand shows the rest of the class a different way to think about it and then the class understands.
b) If teachers do not show or encourage creative thinking then students usually will not do it. This standard is important because it requires special education teachers to push for creative learning which can definitely benefit a student’s learning. Students don’t usually like to be told how they have to think, rather they would like to be given different ways to think about things and to apply what they’ve learned, which really is the whole point of learning.
c) We think this standard is important for a special education teacher because some students will simply need to be taught things in a different way in order for them to understand it. All students learn differently and by encouraging them to think creatively they can find their own ways to understand different subjects.
d) The standard says to have students apply what they’ve learned into real world situations. In some cases, special education students are taken to grocery stores where they practice their math and communication skills. It also encourages collaborative learning which would call for group work. Students can bounce ideas off each other and show each other how they think about certain things which can be very helpful.
e) Many schools have gotten iPads for their students to use. This would open up the use of apps. There are so many apps that students could use to learn in different ways. Some apps let you design your own building or company, and others are very straight-forward, such as apps for making flashcards. Also in the area of special education there are apps that students who cannot speak very well or at all can use to communicate with the people around them.
2) Design and develop digital age learning and experiences and assessments
a) This standard wants teachers to use technology to give students a more personal way of learning and to give them a variety of how they learn things. We agree that this should be a standard because students will be more interested in a topic if the lesson is personalized for them, making it easier for them to want to focus on or study the topic.
b) This is an important standard because as stated for the first standard, everyone learns differently, which is greatly demonstrably in special education. Some students are visual learners, some are hands-on, and some can just listen to a lecture and take in all the information. By using technology to give customized lessons, students can maximize the amount of information they take in.
c) For us this means that special education teachers will need to be aware of how each student learns best, and try to create a way to adapt to that strategy using technology.
d) Doing a survey among the students would be one way to use this standard. The survey would be a way to find out what interests the students so that the teacher could use those interests in the lessons.
e) Technology could help with this because just by simply using the internet and letting the students do their own research on a topic. There are also many games that are associated with learning that can be found on the internet that would be a good way for students to get engaged in learning.
3) Model digital age work and learning
a) This standard is saying that teachers need to keep up to date on what are the new technologies that are emerging and learn how to use and incorporate them into the curriculum that they are teaching. Then from there they teach the students, their parents and even other peers how to use and apply these technologies.
b) It is important to stay up to date on current technologies because the world is always moving forward. If teachers get stuck in their ways for years and years they won’t be able to evolve and help their students evolve with everything as well. This definitely would merit being one of the technology standards.
c) With working with special education, keeping up on technologies that could be used in the classroom to help the students develop is vital. There are always new things coming out and research studies that show that different programs will help stimulate the students, which could help on a variety of accounts.
d) Making sure that teachers have the tools available to them in order to keep up with the current technologies that have potential in the classroom is one way to make sure that this standard is kept up on. Then from there, that they have the knowledge and proper training to use the technologies that are given to them.
e) Technologies in the classroom can be controversial. Yes to an extent they can help develop learning if the technology is being used appropriately. Also it is important that the teachers have the knowledge to use it, not “learning as they go” with the students struggling along with them.
4) Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility
a) This standard is known as Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility thus saying that they make sure all learners are able to understand and learn from what technology is being used. Making sure to find new ways to address all learners and all new types of technologies. We found it very inspiring to use in a classroom instead of finding just one technology to teach and learn with you would find one or more that helps benefit all students in the classroom.
b) We believe it is a standard mainly because it focuses on all type of people instead of one. It also makes sure focus on all ethnicities and their importance for learning and using technology.
c) It means that we would have to make sure that we am not biased or leaving others out when it comes to their learning habits and what abilities they are able to use in my classroom. Special education teachers have the job to make sure the students know what is right and wrong when it comes to internet usage.
d) In order to support growth and understanding for this standard teachers would have to make sure they understand the Internet and certain programs myself before we should teach others. Special education teachers would find websites or apps that are right and ones that are wrong (but school appropriate and age appropriate) and maybe even make a pamphlet of rights and wrongs when it comes to technology usage and how we can communicate what is right and wrong.
e) Some technologies are on the computer to warn us when something is wrong or ethically wrong when getting on a certain website or app. So it would also help us show students what we are able to use technology wise and what we are not. These standards are all based on technology and how it can help us benefit in a classroom this standard happens to be talking about the responsibilities we have when it comes to using the technologies we use and how to help incorporate others in learning and using technology and when you can and cannot do something on the internet. The technologies are endless.
5) Engage in professional growth and leadership
a) Learning is never ending. One can learn something new every day, especially with technology advances. Teachers become successful in the classroom by keeping up with and learning about new digital tools and resources. Not only learning about them specifically, but also learning how to incorporate them into special education classroom. Teachers should work for acquiring new and better teaching techniques that work for the students individually. One way teachers can do this is by staying up to date with today’s technology. It is beneficial for all areas of learning.
b) We think that engaging in professional growth and leadership is a standard because as an educator, because you are held to high standards. The community trusts in you to achieve a goal of educating society. Teachers have a lot of power, whether they use it correctly or not. As an educated leader your job is to build up the community, one way to do so is by building up technology skills for your special education students.
c) To rise up to this standard it is important to exhibit leadership qualities and be open to growth. It is important to be flexible and be able to change with the times. A special education teacher needs to be flexible, especially working with different types of learners.
d) To be able to incorporate advanced technologies in the classroom a teacher needs to be experts themselves. Your job as a teacher is to help educate society, and you will be unable to do so if you are not able to teach in the most effective way. First, understand the curriculum and find new advances that will help the students be engaged and learn efficiently. For example, in special education there are ways to utilize a table (such as an iPad) for more than just for fun and games. There are many apps that help with communication, or even help a student learn in a different way that works best for that individual. One great thing about the iPad is that it updates frequently when the times change.
e) It is your job as an educator to contribute your time outside the classroom to learn about new advances, such as digital tools and resources, to be a successful special education teacher in the classroom. Remember, each student is different and may need a different accommodation and it is your job to find what works. Going back to the iPad, there are many different communication apps available that would be less expensive than a piece of equipment. Also there are ways to teach or introduce a new subject that will help engage the students.
In conclusion, all of these standards are about promoting technology in an effective way in the classroom. The importance of these standards is how we can inspire students to grow and learn with new technology. It is a teacher’s job to help engage the students because each student learns differently. Special education teachers have a wide variety of learning possibilities. To find what works for each student individually the teacher must be aware of his or her options. Since technology is continuously growing and improving it is the teacher’s responsibility to stay informed and be open to new possibilities.
