Educational and Assistive technology fosters self-directedness and independent learning

 Educational Technology


1. Khan Academy at khanacademy.org. This tool has been a life saver for me and my math classes. When students started getting quarantined, I had to provide material to work on at home. As a new teacher, I was already overwhelmed without the task of creating a digital learning curriculum. Khan Academy offers lessons in every math topic needed in middle school. The best part about Khan Academy is that the pacing is student-led. Teachers can assign a quiz to students. Students take the quiz. If they miss a question, they can choose whether to view a video, read a document, or simply continue on to the next question. Students know it is their responsibility to know how to solve the problem and they make their own decision accordingly. The self-directedness factor built into every lesson makes Khan Academy an extremely powerful tool for student learning. 


2. Quizlet. An online flashcard system. Teachers can assign a set of "flashcards" to students. Students can independently study the assigned set. They can study it during designated class time. They can study at home. They can use a computer or use a cell phone. For motivated students that want to do well in school, this is exactly the kind of independent student learning that they can benefit from. 


Assistive Technology


1. Speech-to-text technology. I have a student that lives with a disability that makes it difficult for him to move around. It takes him extra time to get to class and gather his supplies. Students even allow him to go first in the lunch line since it takes him a significant amount of time to eat his lunch. Typing requires fine motor skills that this student does not have. Thanks to the speech-to-text technology that the Special Ed Specialist has provided for him, he can write essays just like everyone else! His writing skills are not limited by his gross motor skills. He can shine in a literary way that you would never guess from someone that cannot type.   


2. A pen that reads aloud. I have a student with severe dyslexia. Her disability prevents her from successfully reading unassisted. The Special Ed Specialist provided her a special pen that connects to an earbud. She moves the pen over text and a voice reads the message to her.  Her classmates don't even know that she has this accommodation because the pen and earbud are so discrete. She is just following along with her pen! It is remarkable to see this young lady overcome a disability thanks to advancing technology. 

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