Using Technology in Math for Students with Disabilities

By : Melissa PateEducation 320

Technology-Supported Math Instruction for Students with

DisabilitiesPRO• The gap between low and higher performers persists;

For schools to close this achievement gap and meet the federal guidelines set forth by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, they must see that all students achieve academic proficiency.

• Technology-based innovations can form the basis of effective approaches to help students who have difficulty with math strive to achieve parity with their peers.

Pro… Continued

Six purposes of technology use for supporting student mathematical learning, including:

• building computational fluency;• converting symbols, notations, and text;• building conceptual understanding;• making calculations and creating mathematical

representations;• organizing ideas; and• building problem solving and reasoning

Con

• The term learning disabilities is often misused and applied to students who learn in different ways. Some people think of learning disabilities as something of short duration that can be cured with help. In fact, a learning disability is a lifelong condition that affects every aspect of one's daily activities.

• Students with disabilities cannot always advance as technology does.

Con… Continued

• Students with disabilities may need more than one form of technology to learn from; just like regular students they all learn differently. One student may learn better from a video where as the next student will learn better from hands on interaction, such as, the use of the computer.

Conclusion

• My personal opinion would be that times and technologies are advancing and everyone needs to be up on what is current. Math can be a tough subject already and technology use will just be another assistant for those that might need a bigger picture or sound applied to comprehend.

References

• http://www.ldonline.org/article/Technology-Supported_Math_Instruction_for_Students_with_Disabilities:_Two_Decades_of_Research_and_Development

• http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED444305&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED444305

References… Continued

• http://www.ncsall.net/?id=325• http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr

139.shtml

Search Log forTechnology Standard I: Information Access, Evaluation, Processing and Application

Search engines/directories used: Google and Yahoo

Keywords used: Technology in Math class for students with disabilities

Queries used:

URL (Internet address) Comments

www.ldonline.org Technology-supported math instruction for students with disabilities.

www.familyvillage.wisc.edu Assistive technology for student with disabilities.

www.sedl.org Seeds Program

www.eric.ed.gov (Professional written Journal) Accommodating students with disabilities in math.

www.ncsall.net Accommodating math students with learning disabilities.

www.teachervision.fen.com Video site for teacher’s assisting student’s disabilities.

www.education-world.com Teaching special kids-online resources

www.wcer.wisc.edu

www.google.com

www.yahoo.com

Name: Melissa PateQuestion or Problem: Technology in Math Class for Students with Disabilities Intended Audience: TeachersInstructions: List all the websites you examined to collect information for this project, regardless of whether you ultimately used the site. Under “Comments” include your evaluation of the site and why you decided whether or not to use it.