Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

Annotated Bibliography

Megan Docherty

C&T 770
Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

Focus of the Annotated Bibliography: I have decided to focus on the new area (to me) of

special education that I will be teaching the next three years. I will be starting/organizing a

special education program for high school students in an international school where the students

do not currently have a curriculum that best fits their needs. I would like to explore different

ways to incorporate 21st century skills to this older population of students and make learning

meaningful for them with these new-found tools as well. Therefore, the focus of my annotated

bibliography will be the following question: How can I best integrate technology into a high

school special education class? More specifically: What apps are available that are geared toward

life skills curriculum or geared toward high functioning students with intellectual disabilities?

How can 1-to-1 laptops or iPads be used in a special education classroom? What apps are

designed for this population of high school special education students?

Develop your students' employability skills through technology. (n.d.). Retrieved August

08, 2017, from https://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/develop-your-students-employability-

skills-through-technology

This article focuses on how many students entering the workplace oftentimes lack certain skills

necessary in order to be successful. It is important for students to strengthen their employability

skills and technology can be used to help students gain confidence and enhance these skills in

order for them to be successful. The article lists several ideas that schools can be doing in order

to help with this. These ideas include creating authentic learning experiences, start having

students engage with employers through various technology tools, develop students’ lifelong

learning skills, using technology to teach employability skills, and help develop students’ digital

literacy.
Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

Our world is rapidly changing as are the jobs that we are preparing our students for. The jobs our

students end up having when they are older may not even exist today. While this article does not

focus on special education specifically, there are a lot of points, ideas, and resources that I can

use in my daily teaching in order to help my students develop employability skills. The article

offers a few links to other sites that can help work on the five areas that schools can build on in

order to enhance employability skills. The article is relevant to my research in the sense that I am

looking for ways to connect life skills and technology. This article specifically talks about one

area of life skills but can be transferred into my classroom.

Hayes, H.B. (2013, March 28). How Technology Is Helping Special-Needs Students Excel.

Retrieved July 10, 2017, from https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2013/03/how-

technology-helping-special-needs-students-excel

Heather Hayes discusses the importance and the evolution of assistive technology for students

with disabilities. Hayes states that with the evolution of technology, more students can be

mobile, work in regular classrooms, exhibit greater independent and self-advocacy skills. She

stresses how important this is in order for students with any kind of disability to feel comfortable

and confident in school. Hayes interviewed educators in California, Montana, and Washington to

see how technology has changed in order to help students with disabilities engage more

independently and confidently. Hayes goes on to give several examples of different technology

programs that help students with visual, cognitive, and physical disabilities. It is also mentioned

how this technology is beneficial to students without disabilities as well and certain technologies

that are designed for mainstreamed students can easily be adapted to fit the needs of various

other students with disabilities.

Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

This article links to the research topic of integrating technology into a high school special

education program because it provides various applications and examples. Hayes also stresses

how technology can impact self-advocacy skills, confidence levels, independence, and motivate

learners to seek out help from teachers and peers as well as new information. These are all

important factors when thinking about integrating technology into a classroom. Especially for a

special education classroom, building confidence, self-advocacy, and motivation are imperative

to the success of students with disabilities. If technology can help students achieve these traits

then it can help students carry them over into other aspects of their lives.

Humienny, S. (2014, December 15). Inside the Special Education Classroom: How Tech

Can Help Students With Special Needs - EdSurge News. Retrieved July 19, 2017,

from https://www.edsurge.com/news/2014-12-15-inside-the-special-education-

classroom-how-tech-can-help-special-needs-students

Stacey Humienny examines how technology can enhance the education and the learning for

students with disabilities in classrooms. She argues that when you walk into a room that you may

not know the difference between a special education classroom or a regular classroom because

the technology looks similar in both classes. However, she does argue just how important

technology can be for certain students with disabilities. She also points out that, “Technology

increases their independence and can teach them basic technology or communication skills that

they are going to need for the rest of their education and beyond.” She does bring up a valid

point that while some of these technological devices are great for some students, some students

do not know have the experience of using high tech devices. So, in order to utilize them

appropriately in the classroom, a teacher must first teach the students the basics of how to use

them.
Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

While I found that I agreed with what was stated in the article written by Stacey Humienny, I did

not find out any new information that I did not already know from reading this article. I was

looking for new and more ways to utilize technology in the classroom. Hummienny is general

with her information and does not provide any specific examples of how to implement

technology into the classroom in a meaningful way. I do agree with her, however, that by

utilizing some devices in the classroom that they will help students with their independence,

basic tech skills, and communication.

Nieves, K. (2016, November 08). Using Technology to Empower Students With Special

Needs. Retrieved July 10, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/empowering-

special-education-students-technology-kathryn-nieves

In this article, Nieves talks about how technology has positively changed her classroom. She

talks specifically about G suite and the technologies included in it (google docs, google

classroom, etc.) and how it has helped her personalize learning for her students with disabilities

and helped them become more successful. One of the biggest changes she has seen is with her

students with disabilities communication through technology. It benefits students that are

anxious to speak and has helped students who are always eager to participate to reflect before

writing down their ideas. Overall, Nieves has seen the confidence level in her students with

disabilities rise with the use of technology in the classroom. Kathryn Nieves used this technology

integration with regular education students and students with disabilities and noticed how it

benefits both kinds of learners in different ways. She noted a variety of tools she used with her

students with disabilities in order to personalize learning and differentiate for the differing needs

of her students. Kathryn Nieves is also a Google certified trainer, which means that she has a lot

of knowledge about using the variety of tools in G suite for education. With increased use of
Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

technology, Nieves has seen a positive change in her students where they do not feel as frustrated

or lack the confidence in themselves as they did before. She has also found success with the

ability to reach all of her students and find ways to motivate and empower them.

This article is relevant to the topic of my research of how to integrate technology into a high

school special education classroom in many ways. The article talks about personalizing the

learning for each of the students in the classroom which is something that must do to meet the

different needs of the students in my classroom. The article also gives numerous tools and

strategies to use in the classroom to integrate technology and to use it in a variety of ways

including core classes, adaptive skills, and working on communication. Overall, the article was

extremely helpful and is a great resource.

Robinson, G. (2014, June 05). These Are the Apps and Devices That Are Transforming

Special-Ed Classrooms. Retrieved July 19, 2017, from

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/06/special_education_and

_tech_the_apps_and_devices_that_can_help_autistic_students.html

In this article, Gail Robinson explores the transformations that technology has made to help

students with disabilities. Technology and special education together is not a new concept.

Assistive technologies have been around for years helping students with disabilities in the

classroom. Now in the 21st century, all students are benefiting and learning with the use of some

kind of technology so special education students are not standing out as much. In the schools that

Robinson visited and mentioned, students with autism have especially had a lot of success with

iPads or other kinds of technology tools. Since autism is classified as a communication disorder,

it is believed that students with autism feel more comfortable working with machines since the

machines are always consistent, whereas people tend to change with their moods and emotions.
Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

It is also helping these students communicate either because they have difficulty expressing

themselves or it is faster to use technology than to use their own words. Robinson does give

examples of technology in the classroom that are beneficial for all students. For example, a class

from the school P.S. 176 in Brooklyn working directly with a scientist from the Liberty Science

Center not so far away through communication tools. Technology is offering a lot more variety

and interactive ways to engage students in their learning.

Robinson brings up important points about how technology has enhanced student learning and

how quickly it is developing. She visited different schools and made comparisons not only

between the schools but how technology impact students with disabilities and students without

disabilities. It is also important that Robinson mentioned that assistive technology that was used

in the past could cost anywhere between $6,000-$10,000 per device. While technology can be

expensive, the technology has also evolved in a way that allows students to be included in

classes without standing out and that are not defined by their devices. Now technology does a

better job of enhancing learning. I did find it interesting that since technology has rapidly been

changing over the years, Robinson stated that there actually is not a lot of research about how

students with disabilities are doing with technology and blended learning. I found it interesting

that there is a lack of research about the topic since assistive technology and special education

have been around for a number of years. This article is relevant to my area of focus because it

reiterates how far technology has come and the positive impact it has had on students with

disabilities. The article offers numerous examples not only of technology tools but also what

different classes across the countries are doing with technology and how these teachers have seen

the benefits in their own experiences.

Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

Rubenstein, G. (2006, October 19). Digital Diversity: Engaging All Students in Education.

Retrieved July 19, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/digital-diversity-engaging-

all-students-in-education

Rubenstein brings up the valid point that assistive technology is no longer viewed as a tool solely

for students with disabilities but now a tool that will benefit all learners. This mind shift has been

happening for a while now as more and more teachers are realizing that the tools used to assist

students with disabilities will also benefit other students in the classroom. While more and more

assistive technology is available, integrating technology in the classroom is happening at a

slower rate and schools are not utilizing all of the capabilities of the technology that is available

to them. Although, there is more of a push to digitalize textbooks and other published material in

order to meet the needs of more students.

Rubenstein brings up a lot of valid points, especially how teachers and schools are not fully

utilizing the technology that they already have. I would agree with this statement because I am

constantly learning new ways to enhance student learning with the technology tools I am using

and know that there is even more to do. Rubenstein gives some examples to show how assistive

technology is used in the classroom, but not extensively or with real world examples. None of

the information specifically talks about life skills enhancement, although using different aspects

of technology is considered a life skill. While I agree with the general concepts of the article and

how assistive technology can personalize and enhance learning for all students, it does not offer

me more insight into the topic that I am researching. It certainly validates the use of assistive

technology in the classroom, but does not go into greater detail with specific examples.
Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

Schimel, K. (2015, August 05). How tech-driven learning can benefit students with

disabilities. Retrieved July 10, 2017, from http://www.educationdive.com/news/how-

tech-driven-learning-can-benefit-students-with-disabilities/403449/

Kate Schimel talks about the history of special education, how assistive technology used to make

special education students stand out in a classroom, and the inequality of treatment of students

with disabilities. Schimel discusses how assistive technology has been around for years and in

the past used to make students with disabilities stand out. She states that with more technology

coming into the classroom, it is easier for students with disabilities to be included and part of the

class without standing out or looking different. She mentions schools using Universal Design for

Learning and personalized learning as being new innovative ideas to enhance student

engagement and being able to express what they know using multiple methods. Schimel cites

investigations into schools in Georgia are still segregating students with disabilities either in

separate schools or in basements. She also cites the Hechinger Report about how technology and

apps have been beneficial to students with disabilities, especially autism. The president of

Autism Speaks is cited saying that apps are more predictable for students with autism to interact

with versus the complex interaction with others. Therefore, technology has a greater impact on

effecting the way students with autism specifically learn.

While the article touches on some important information about utilizing technology in the

classroom, the history of assistive technology and how it is becoming more and more beneficial

with students with disabilities, it does not go into any specifics. Schimel does not talk about

specific technologies or apps that would be useful for students with disabilities, but only talks

about how they can make an impact generally speaking. However, Schimel brings up a good

point that with more and more technology finding its way into the classroom, the less students
Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

that need assistive technology stand out from their peers. With more technology in the

classroom, teachers are able to differentiate for all of their students without making any one

student stand out for their differences.

Staff, T. (2016, February 22). 7 Financial Literacy Apps For Students. Retrieved August

09, 2017, from http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/technology/7-

financial-literacy-apps-students/

Kaitlin Louie is an author that researched different apps that are geared toward teaching students

different financial planning tools. These apps are for young ages, high school students, and even

adults. They include a variety of money managing and budgeting skills. Some of the apps work

on building a successful business or learning how to save money. The apps are designed to not

only engage students and adults but to also help them gain knowledge about important finance

skills.

Many of these apps are fantastic and extremely relevant to my topic of research. Though it does

focus only on one dimension of life skills, it is an very important topic. Money management,

saving money, and the other skills covered in the different apps listed here are important to focus

on, especially in high school. With the variety of different apps, there is something for everyone

and multiple ways to engage students in learning about finance.

Wahl, L. (2003, August 05). Assistive Technology: Enhanced Learning for All. Retrieved

July 19, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enhances-

learning-all

In this article, Wahl gives an overview of assistive technology and breaks down different ways to

use assistive technology in the classroom. Wahl offers numerous examples of programs or

assistive technologies that are actually being used in classrooms across the United States. She
Technology in a High School Special Education Class/Focus on Life Skills

clarifies that assistive technology is not only technology, but it can be any tool that helps

students participate in class activities. These activities can range from social to academic.

This article provides more real-world examples and strategies than most of the other articles.

Wahl not only gives examples of technology but she also talks about how student helpers or

teachers providing different tools for her students to read are non-traditional examples of

assistive technology. I really appreciated this holistic view of assistive technology in the

classroom rather than only focusing on technology and academics. This is definitely something

that is important to my research and something I would like to consider for my own classroom as

well as sharing with fellow staff members. All of Wahl’s statements or examples were mostly

backed up by real world examples which is appreciated because it is not a top down approach to

teaching about how beneficial this is for students. Her way of thinking definitely inspires some

of my own creative thinking when it comes to figuring out and understanding other non-

traditional assistive technology tools.