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Technology and Special Education

An important question being asked a lot these days about technology and education is:  “Will technology assist special education students to learn and be self sufficient in learning?”

The answer for the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City School students has been a resounding YES!

The Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City School System has embraced a multitude of varied technologies and all of our students, both special education and regular education alike, use them daily in the process of learning as an individual student.  We currently have Smartboards in 70% of all classrooms, Kurzweil e-reader systems, Turning Point response systems, United Streaming, Plato software, pod casting, palm pilots for testing, high speed scanners, and servers.  Our teachers are encouraged to use web sites daily with a strong emphasis this year on posting their lessons along with study guides and homework assignments. This enables teachers, students and parents the ability to access individual lessons at all times of the day or night. This is the future of not only our students, but all students worldwide.

Question number TWO:  “How does the district pay for the technology?”  We are no different from many of the schools in Ohio who have been adversely affected by reduced funding and increased mandates.  Even though we are also struggling to make ends meet we have been very fortunate, because of improved reporting procedures and rate changes, with increased Federal monies.   We have purchased 90% of our technology items through IDEA-B funds, grants, and donations.  Because we are committed to the concept of   “more bang for our buck” we have transcended departmental barriers and budgetary restrictions and have worked together to pool resources system wide.   

Question number THREE:  “How did you get started and did I hear you say Smartboards in 70% of all classrooms?”  Inclusion is an important concept to all special education students.  Our students need to be presented the same learning concepts that all of the regular education students must know to be successful in the real world.  On a real job the boss does not care if you were LD, DH, MH, HI, OHI, VI, Autistic, Dyslexic, ADD, ADHD, or any other kind of alphabet.  You get paid for your production on whatever job you do.  Get it done, on time, with good quality results!  It is important for all students to learn how they learn and be responsible for themselves.  Technology can play and important part in that learning.  The original premise on which we integrated the Smartboards was: If you, a regular education teacher, have a special education student in your classroom we will get you a Smartboard.  After 6 years of adhering to this promise we now have this technology in 70% of our regular education classrooms. 

An important tip to remember is, THINK BIG, start small.  Our district committed to buying --- and using five (5) Smartboards our first year.  We have discovered that the teachers grow into wanting and using them by watching and talking to their colleagues.  Start with teachers who want the technology because they will use it.  After removing incidental equipment like overhead projectors, pull down movie screens and televisions permanently install the board in a regular education teacher’s room (resist the urge to make a Smartboard mobile or shared). This gives them ownership and eliminates the confusion and uncertainty that is created with mobile or shared Smartboards. They will sell the program; enthusiasm is contagious. Because Smartboards work pre-k thru Graduate School you can start with any grade or any interested teacher; JUST START.