The students enrolled in my classes consist of students with moderate to severe disabilities (i.e., Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome, Fragile X, and Intellectual Disabilities). All of the students also have a secondary qualifying disability (i.e., Speech-Language Impairment). Additionally, a few-verbal, and/or use alternative methods for communication (i.e., symbols, communication boards, sign language, gestures, etc.).
The week consisted of an introduction of the California Assessment Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) practice test. Specifically, we were exploring the California Alternate Assessment (CAA) training test for Science. The tests are to will be administered in three parts for all high school students. The first part consisted of demonstrating for students how to log in, change settings, accommodations a and other information. The practice tests include of 10 multiple choice questions, comprising of either two or three choices. I previously applied for an Innovative Learning Environment Project Grant for the purchase of a sixty-five-inch ProWise touch screen and collaborative furniture for our classroom. The ProWise screen allows for students to have an up close and interactive learning experience. The students can click on screen buttons, videos, etc.. All of my students are visual and hands-on learners. The students have access to communication low and high tech devices, one-to-one Chromebook and iPad devices to support instruction and learning. While the students have access to a wide variety of technology and other innovative tools, the CAA images, and videos were “clipart” and not realistic. Therefore, the students struggled with correctly answer the sample questions. One such example showed a slide show style video of a thermometer in a glass containing liquid, and then ice was added. Prior to and after the ice added to the liquid the screen showed two different temperatures (i.e., 74* than 65*). The test question following the video asked: How is the temperature in the cup different now?
Only 7 out of 8 students present answered correctly. The results of the student responses both alarmed and puzzled me; as we have done several science lessons, labs and hands-on experiences similar to the given question. Therefore, the next day I had the students participate in a real-time activity similar and provided a paper/pencil quiz, which included symbols for non-readers. Students completed the questionnaire separately and correctly answered the quiz questions, which consisted of three items. While I have several questions, all focus on how assessment can be improved to increase student success and be more realistic so students can generalize in various environments and formats.
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Essential Question: How can I enhance the learning and instruction of students with special needs in my classroom with technology?
There are three notable challenges in my classroom that point to my driving question. The first, is the lack of affordable and the availability of differentiated instructional materials that encompasses research best-practices, which address the learning and instructional needs of the students. Next, is the accessibility to curriculum that aligns with the States Common Core Standards and supports Specialized Academic Instruction. Lastly, is the essential need of utilizing 21-century skills and embedding technology to increase student engagement and promote life-long learners that can problem solve, think critically and demonstrate digital citizenship. What will you “Need to Know” to answer that question? I will need to know about various technology, learning platforms and differentiated instruction materials and curriculum that meet the individual learning needs of students. What do you already know (from your own experience and from reading about)? I already know of a few online learning platforms that are specific to students with special needs (i.e., MobyMax, News2You, etc.). Additionally, I know that the teachers need to individualize and personalize the learning opportunities for students and that technology has a tremendous value to support both instruction and learning. Additionally, I know that students are learning differently in different situations, environments and that they have different learning styles and learn from a variety of modalities. |
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