Synthesis 13 - Assistive Technology

Synthesis 13 – Assistive Technology

            Assistive Technology (AT) supports all types of learners and is structured by two fundamental principles – the enhancement of an individual’s strengths to compensate for the disability, and the provision of an alternative way to perform a task. The foundation of AT is to strengthen the well being of students with disabilities in order to enhance classroom performance and success in the school environment. Through the use of assistive tools, the educator has the capability to offer academic success by simply providing alternate methods to reach the desired goal.  Students have the ability to be successful when they interact with concrete tools which provide varying avenues of stimulation.  The text lists problems struggling readers and writers encounter and even though I do not teach students who require this form of intervention, I find a number of these elements to be typical of my students’ academic struggles.  One aspect of the chapter which caught my attention is the ability to provide essentials/experiences which connect the learner to the environments where they live, learn, work, and play. Authentic learning environments stimulate the learner and provide enrichment. These students bring to the table issues that have the ability to be destructive in the learning process. Through the creation of authentic learning environments, the individual has the capability to learn and avoid educational pitfalls through self-selected materials which parallel with the environments they know and understand. By choosing literary works that are interesting and relevant to their lives, the learning becomes “real” and then the writing after the reading, allow the students to express their specific connections to the real world. The exposure and intervention of the authentic learning environment diminishes the academic struggle when the learner is “ready to learn,” “ready to read,” and “ready to write.” This critical aspect of the authentic learning environment needs to be in place for all general education curriculums and environments.

            The software examples listed in the text provide an abundance of tools for the educator who is teaching students with disabilities. Two of the software programs caught my interest during the reading of chapter 13. Picture It is an educational tool consisting of over 6000 symbols which allow picture-supported learning materials. Students are able to manipulate icons to create pictures which support their learning. PixWriter is a writing program which incorporates pictures, text, and voice input, allowing the student to create writing with pictures and voice. Curious about the software, I visited the Slater Software website. Although there is a substantial cost to the programs, students with disabilities are sure to gain confidence in their reading and writing abilities while using these softwares.

                School districts that have the financial means to support funding of these programs are sure to see academic growth in the areas of reading, writing, and arithmetic. It seems the educational world is back to the foundation of the 3R’s – Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic.