Based on research, gender attitudes toward technology is consistent-basically, studies that involve optional use of technology indicate that males tend to favor technology based activities more so than females. Currently, I am teaching at a middle school and we have a program that reinforces positive behavior through clubs. Some of the clubs include dance, art, debate, fashion design, weight lifting, board games, cooking, sewing, modeling, video games, computer technology, and yearbook. We, (the teachers) were responsible for giving students an interest survey to help us decide which clubs the students would be assigned to- based on his or her personal interest. This democratic approach became extremely difficult once we analyzed our data from the interest surveys.
We had an overwhelming interest for males in the computer technology and video games club. The sewing, cooking, and modeling clubs had an overwhelming interest from the females. One of two things could be the issue here and that is: Either our students have adopted the "traditional" norms of gender roles from society and this is what sparks their interest or there is a digital divide in gender whereas males prefer competition and action oriented computer games.
Will the divide increase or decrease in the future??
Sunday, February 20, 2011
In what ways can technology do a better job of meeting the needs of special needs students?
According to Picciano, over the past three decades, American schools have been trying to improve the education of children with special needs. The following pieces of legislation including, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, and the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004-prodded education policy makers to reexamine special education in schools.
Technology is now being used by children who have difficulty learning through conventional means. Regardless of their challenges whether it be a learning disability, fine gross motor skill delay, hearing or vision loss- assistive technology is being provided to bridge the gap to students learning- which have been unavailable to children with special needs in the past. Technology today provides input and output devices that allow students with visual impairments to hear and respond to text that is stored on DVDs or CD-ROMS rather than printed on pages in book. E-readers are more readily available as opposed to physically turning a book. We now have countless Internet based software for both reading and mathematics. Additionally, for those with Autism and ADHD- technology based learning has been proven to be a more effective channel for delivery of instruction. Computers can be a primary means for some students with disabilities to communicate with the world in which they live- and for many within the inclusion setting.
What are some other ways technology can meet the needs of our special needs students?
Thoughts?? Comments???
Take a look at the following websites for more information:
The National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education Through Technology, Media and Materials
http://cecp.air.org/teams/stratpart/ncip.asp
R.J. Cooper & Associates-Software and Hardware for Persons with Special Needs
http://rjcooper.com/
Picciano, Anhony. (2010). Educational Leadership and Planning for Technology. Fifth ed. Pearson.
Upper Saddle River: New Jersey.
Technology is now being used by children who have difficulty learning through conventional means. Regardless of their challenges whether it be a learning disability, fine gross motor skill delay, hearing or vision loss- assistive technology is being provided to bridge the gap to students learning- which have been unavailable to children with special needs in the past. Technology today provides input and output devices that allow students with visual impairments to hear and respond to text that is stored on DVDs or CD-ROMS rather than printed on pages in book. E-readers are more readily available as opposed to physically turning a book. We now have countless Internet based software for both reading and mathematics. Additionally, for those with Autism and ADHD- technology based learning has been proven to be a more effective channel for delivery of instruction. Computers can be a primary means for some students with disabilities to communicate with the world in which they live- and for many within the inclusion setting.
What are some other ways technology can meet the needs of our special needs students?
Thoughts?? Comments???
Take a look at the following websites for more information:
The National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education Through Technology, Media and Materials
http://cecp.air.org/teams/stratpart/ncip.asp
R.J. Cooper & Associates-Software and Hardware for Persons with Special Needs
http://rjcooper.com/
Picciano, Anhony. (2010). Educational Leadership and Planning for Technology. Fifth ed. Pearson.
Upper Saddle River: New Jersey.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Is blogging available to EVERYONE??
It is obvious that everyone does not have access to the Internet as of yet. The world has evolved technologically- and many students and teachers understand, appreciate, and thrive to the very fact that information is at the click of a mouse. I am elated to know that blogging with my students on various topics and concepts is more than just a dream it is becoming a reality. However, will I be able to reach ALL students through blogging? According to the U.S. Census, Richardson stated that household Internet connections jumped to 62 percent, up from 17 percent just 10 years ago. And, estimates about 70 percent will have broadband access by 2012 (Jupiter Research, 2007). In stating this, until the numbers reach 100 percent, Weblogs will be out of reach for some students and teachers in the United States. Blogs can still be used even if students do not have access to the Web, however, the possibilities for their use are much more likely if they do. Teachers can provide Weblog use during after school or before school tutorial, schedule Internet use in the school library, or take the students to the computer lab. I don't think the idea of Weblogging should be eliminated altogether though.
Richardson, Will. (2010.) Blogs, Wikis, Podcasrs, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin
It is obvious that everyone does not have access to the Internet as of yet. The world has evolved technologically- and many students and teachers understand, appreciate, and thrive to the very fact that information is at the click of a mouse. I am elated to know that blogging with my students on various topics and concepts is more than just a dream it is becoming a reality. However, will I be able to reach ALL students through blogging? According to the U.S. Census, Richardson stated that household Internet connections jumped to 62 percent, up from 17 percent just 10 years ago. And, estimates about 70 percent will have broadband access by 2012 (Jupiter Research, 2007). In stating this, until the numbers reach 100 percent, Weblogs will be out of reach for some students and teachers in the United States. Blogs can still be used even if students do not have access to the Web, however, the possibilities for their use are much more likely if they do. Teachers can provide Weblog use during after school or before school tutorial, schedule Internet use in the school library, or take the students to the computer lab. I don't think the idea of Weblogging should be eliminated altogether though.
Richardson, Will. (2010.) Blogs, Wikis, Podcasrs, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin
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