One Classroom and Access for ALL
With the growing push of technology in education several new issues arise for the classroom teacher. On top of the mission of reaching students through standards-based instruction, teachers are bombarded with paperwork for everything imaginable and devote countless hours of personal time to stay ahead of the curve. How can teachers squeeze in the stress and responsibility that surrounds providing equality for each student when it comes to technology?
Equality and access for all is not just on the shoulders of the classroom teacher. School districts are attempting to resolve bandwidth and connectivity issues while individual school sites seek to find funding for providing 1:1 devices in the classroom. The power that technology holds always comes with a price. In order for devices and access to technology to be powerful in the classroom, teachers must have opportunities to become versed in the area of technology integration in the classroom. Without the right knowledge to unlock the potential that technology holds, it is just a buzz word in the world of education. |
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What does this mean for students with special needs?
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Technology provides a way to enhance instruction for all students across the board but the endless access and availability for struggling and special needs students is a game changer. With the rate of new apps and programs being added each day, students literally have a world of instruction, information, and feedback at the tips of their fingers. While the digital classroom has many challenges, the opportunities that technology provides for all students out-weighs frustrations sometime faced throughout the day.
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How do I do This?
Try to put your reluctancies aside and remember what is best for kids. Can access to technology in your classroom enhance learning for all? Hopefully the answer is yes, yes, yes! If you district is not have a 1:1 initiative in place it will be necessary to discuss the policies with your IT department to see if your school can support the needs of added devices.
The following ideas might be useful as you begin moving your classroom to access for all.
Classroom Ideas
Technology Grants- Grants are a great avenue to begin adding devices to your classroom.
Community Support-Local businesses often upgrade computers and devices yearly. Businesses may be willing to donate or offer older laptops or tablets at a discounted price.
Scheduling Thoughts
Grouping- For classes that have a limited number of devices use group rotations throughout the week to provide equal access students. If needed, use a partnering system to ensure adequate screen time each week to complete assignments. In a class with limited devices for numbers of students it may be best to create a schedule that allows grouping of children to have access for an entire day in a week. Possibly name the days by the color that correlates with the group. Another option for grouping could be rotating through groups during the day.
Check out the file attached below for ideas
The following ideas might be useful as you begin moving your classroom to access for all.
Classroom Ideas
Technology Grants- Grants are a great avenue to begin adding devices to your classroom.
Community Support-Local businesses often upgrade computers and devices yearly. Businesses may be willing to donate or offer older laptops or tablets at a discounted price.
Scheduling Thoughts
Grouping- For classes that have a limited number of devices use group rotations throughout the week to provide equal access students. If needed, use a partnering system to ensure adequate screen time each week to complete assignments. In a class with limited devices for numbers of students it may be best to create a schedule that allows grouping of children to have access for an entire day in a week. Possibly name the days by the color that correlates with the group. Another option for grouping could be rotating through groups during the day.
Check out the file attached below for ideas
tech_device_schedule.pdf | |
File Size: | 18 kb |
File Type: |
BYOD- for your school is open to a BYOD policy, there have to be good classroom rules in place to ensure effective technology integration.
Check out links below.
Check out links below.
Search-Worthy-Sites
Resources
Enriching Your Classroom Through Equitable Technology Integration. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2015, from
http://www.idra.org/IDRA_Newsletter/May_2001_Self_Renewing_Schools_Technology/Enriching_Your_Classroom_Through_Equitable_Technology_Integration/
Essential Conditions. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/Standards/essential-conditions/equitable-access
Schrock, K. (n.d.). IPads for Teaching. Retrieved October 24, 2015, from http://www.ipads4teaching.net
Wainwright, A. (n.d.). 10 Reasons Today's Students NEED Technology in the Classroom. Retrieved October 24, 2015, from
http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/10-Reasons-Today-s-Students-NEED-Technology-in-the-Classroom
Enriching Your Classroom Through Equitable Technology Integration. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2015, from
http://www.idra.org/IDRA_Newsletter/May_2001_Self_Renewing_Schools_Technology/Enriching_Your_Classroom_Through_Equitable_Technology_Integration/
Essential Conditions. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/Standards/essential-conditions/equitable-access
Schrock, K. (n.d.). IPads for Teaching. Retrieved October 24, 2015, from http://www.ipads4teaching.net
Wainwright, A. (n.d.). 10 Reasons Today's Students NEED Technology in the Classroom. Retrieved October 24, 2015, from
http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/10-Reasons-Today-s-Students-NEED-Technology-in-the-Classroom