TECHNOLOGY PLAN Vision The role of technology in Little Scholars Academy ISD is to provide to special Education Students (children with disabilities) the same technology (device and software) that regular students use in classrooms as an option to increase student’ motivation to learn and personalize lessons to a student’s individual needs.
Needs Assessment
Teachers and parents believe students with the most severe and profound disabilities can not use typical technology.
Teachers do not consider the use of assistive technology important to help students with disabilities to join the class.
Teachers find difficult to differentiate instruction in a classrooms with diverse learners (different needs and abilities).
Teachers require personalize lessons and skills to each child.
Teachers need a resource that engage students more than a typical lesson.
Students have need of high levels of motivation to learn, to do homework, to practice and develop skills.
Children have shorter attention spans, they get distracted easily.
Students need to have access to learning opportunities that help them to close the technology gap.
Children with learning disabilities need to feel able to use the same technology that typical students use.
Technology in Special Education Classrooms
Infrastructure Needed for Little Scholars ISD After learning that mere presence of computers does not guarantee the success of the integration of a technology plan in Little Scholar ISD. Exist four important aspects consider as priorities:
Connectivity
Accessing
Ensure connectivity means to have a least a broadband speed of 2.5 Mbps for high definition content. It does not make sense to plan to use extraordinary apps, programs, software or academic tools if there is not sufficient capacity, speed and potential in the Bandwidth that support the traffic required by each program
Adequate Wi-Fi with at minimum of 50 potential connections that ensure students with special needs access to the content using his/her own device as well as the teacher be able to have an efficient workstation compatible with her/his laptop, projector, sound system, and printer.
Compatibility
Security- Filtering
Make sure teacher check file sharing capabilities depending on the type of browser, which guarantee everybody in the class can see what they are expect to; Any mobile technology should have at least 8 hours of battery life, availability to apps, card memory expansion, printing capabilities and access to play all possible of content
Security will be one more aspect to be taken in account in this project, since It is the only way to keep students’ information safe from bad people and do not allow it be exposed and used against their integrity, by preventing the access of unauthorized data passing through Wi-fi and filtering the undesired and inappropriate pages directly to internet such as (pornography, social media, or any other consider prohibit according to the Children’s Internet Protection)
Integrating Strategies Since my technology plan is being created to assist students with special needs. I have decided to adopt the design of a Blended Rotation model in my classroom, where the entire classroom rotates and students have the opportunity to switch between online and face-to-face instruction. Listening and discussing skills are expected while students are encouraged to mix both skills working online as well as working in small groups, whole group, and independent work and so on.
In order to ensure the success of a blended learning, the following strategies will be promoted:
Increase student's motivation for learning when using online tools as a source of information
Promote higher-order thinking skills by having the students doing independent practice about the content taught in class in a online questionnaire game
Offer Virtual Field Trips as an alternative of instruction for the class, where the students can visit one of many online exhibitions available such as libraries, museums or zoos.
Training Strategies The training of the new method of teaching known as Blended learning will start from one year in advance for all teachers, staff, parents and students, since it is an powerful alternative that requires disciple, rules, tactics and compromise from all participants.
In order to help the participants to get use to the new technology plan, the following strategies will be presented:
Teachers will be shown how to select content and integrate it with technology, using their own devices
Teachers and staff will be taught how to access digital content and get feedbacks
Teacher will be visited every 15 days for a semester in order to listen to their questions, concerns or suggestions
Parents will learn how to communicate using the school's website, e-mail and classroom's newsletter
Online support will be offer by a solutions company, which will be uncharged of helping the school to develop the plan
Students will be promoted to work by projects, time and they will also learn how to search information using online tools.
Evaluating Strategies
The current sophisticate technology plan will start with 3 focus groups, each one of it leading by teacher with different levels of technology adoption or mastery (early adopter, early majority and late majority). Then it will be evaluated by the walk through of the solutions company and administrators of the school, who constantly will be making sure whichever tools chosen by the teachers remain focused on satisfied the following two requirements:
- Learning objectives of each lesson.
- Alignment of the lessons with content standards.
Safety Strategies
Supervision
The teacher, administrators, principal and any other adult is responsible to select the content that is considered appropriate for children, they should monitor student internet use constantly since it is completely normal to see students tempted to follow what prohibit instead of obey rules, however, students need to learn they have very little expectation of privacy while using the technology inside the classroom. Set up a guideline of the content, activities and sites, students can identify what is and isn’t appropriate for their age or Install a PC Time Monitors that regulates the times of day and length of time kids have access to a PC.
Filtering and Blocking
One of the immediate strategies for keeping students safe online is blocking the content that teachers don't want kids accessing because it does not support education and learning development. Purchasing internet product such as MyWeb can automatically blocks out any objectionable words or sites useless and restrict access to any programs on children computers your computer. Schools and teachers can protect children from undesired content setting up a PopUp Blockers, which prevent unwanted windows from popping many of those websites that contain inappropriate material).
Making students aware
No! No! No! Won’t ever be a right answer to prevent student form inappropriate content. No matter the age or the educational grade level, all students around the word deserve to listen the reasons that support the “whys” they should try to keep themselves safe from inappropriate content. Students have to have the opportunity almost every day to discuss cyber issues and appropriate online behaviors. Discussions facilitate students’ understanding of the do’s and don’ts of internet safety.
Keep students information confidential
Teachers, schools, administrators, principals and parents make the mistake to post feedbacks of their lesson plans through their own blogs, where student’s information such as pictures is uploading and expose to public without reservations, unfortunately can be easily misunderstood as a violation to children privacy. Teacher must keep their students information far from any kind of speculations that may affect their personal values. Changing blog from public to private so only registered users can see the content.
Include parents in instructional conversations
Encourage parents to participate in a digital safety vesper at school or to read the different recommendations provide in the school newsletters about how to keep children safe online. Can be a start to incentive parents ‘interest and clear expectations for appropriate internet use from their children. An interesting tool parents can use at home is a Keystroke Loggers, which keep a log of all communications between their children and others, so that way they can check what they have been doing.
Cost of The Technology Implementation
A carefully developed technology plan helps Little Scholar ISD to ensure resources to make effective the use of technology for teaching to kids with specific Disabilities such as:
Hearing or Visual impartment
Speech language impartment
Specific learning disabilities (can be in reading, math and other subject)
For each one of the impartments Little Scholar ISD plans to buy products ( devices) that help teachers who work with the students with special needs by finding devices and software that make easer and efficient the teaching and learning.
-IPAD: IPads can be used for visual learning, reading and video watching. Learners can interact with programs via web access. Cost: 564.66 UDS /each or 8,470 USD total
-NOVA-CHAT: Perfect for text to speech programs, which are ideal for students with reading disabilities. Text can be aloud, and speech can be converted to text. Cost: 2,500 USD
-MAESTRO: This product helps students with literacy, communication and social skills. It gives students and teachers access to various e-books and software that break down step-by-step processes for different subjects, including math, vocabulary and everyday life. Cost: 6,000 USD
-READ 180: for students with reading disabilities, this software creates and individualized program for each student, giving each child goals of fluency and tracking progress. Cost: 30 USD
-MANGOMON: It is software that offers reading and mathematics lessons that give students individual attention and education plans. Cost: Free
-PHOTO VOCABULARY: Set of audio pronunciation and vocabulary flashcards. It a software designed to strengthens communication skills. Cost: Free
Equipment
COST
IPAD
8,470
NOVA-CHAT
2,500
MAESTRO
6,000
READ 180
30
MANGOMON
0
PHOTO VOCABULARY
0
Total Equipment
17,000
Total equipment: 17.000 USD
The budget of Little Scholar ISD also includes costs for maintenance of the all the areas of the Technology Plan
Area of the technology plan
Percent of Total Budget
Equipment
$17,000.00
34%
Training, Preparation and Development: Staff and professional Development
$12,500.00
25%
Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support: Materials and Supplies, maintenance
$8,500.00
17%
Infrastructure for Technology: Telecommunications and internet access
$12,500.00
25%
Total
$50,000.00
100%
The potential resource of funding for Little Scholar ISD Technology plan is Federal funds Base because Little Scholar ISD qualifies the following requirement:
Provide Students with Assistive Technology Devices “States may use IDEA funds to support the use of assistive technology devices that maximize accessibility to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities. Districts may funds to provide the specific assistive technology devices and services as needed by an individual student to receive free appropriate public education.”
Little scholar ISD will use Federal funds for hiring coaches that help teachers learn how to use devices or implement technology in their curriculum. The school will also use Federal funds to provide access to digital material in order to offer better support for students, and finally the school will use Federal Funds to acquire devices (tablets, laptops, etc.) in addition to the curriculum
TECHNOLOGY PLAN
Vision
The role of technology in Little Scholars Academy ISD is to provide to special Education Students (children with disabilities) the same technology (device and software) that regular students use in classrooms as an option to increase student’ motivation to learn and personalize lessons to a student’s individual needs.
Needs Assessment
Technology in Special Education Classrooms
Infrastructure Needed for Little Scholars ISD
After learning that mere presence of computers does not guarantee the success of the integration of a technology plan in Little Scholar ISD. Exist four important aspects consider as priorities:
Integrating Strategies
Since my technology plan is being created to assist students with special needs. I have decided to adopt the design of a Blended Rotation model in my classroom, where the entire classroom rotates and students have the opportunity to switch between online and face-to-face instruction. Listening and discussing skills are expected while students are encouraged to mix both skills working online as well as working in small groups, whole group, and independent work and so on.
In order to ensure the success of a blended learning, the following strategies will be promoted:
Training Strategies
The training of the new method of teaching known as Blended learning will start from one year in advance for all teachers, staff, parents and students, since it is an powerful alternative that requires disciple, rules, tactics and compromise from all participants.
In order to help the participants to get use to the new technology plan, the following strategies will be presented:
Evaluating Strategies
The current sophisticate technology plan will start with 3 focus groups, each one of it leading by teacher with different levels of technology adoption or mastery (early adopter, early majority and late majority). Then it will be evaluated by the walk through of the solutions company and administrators of the school, who constantly will be making sure whichever tools chosen by the teachers remain focused on satisfied the following two requirements:
- Learning objectives of each lesson.
- Alignment of the lessons with content standards.
Safety Strategies
- Supervision
The teacher, administrators, principal and any other adult is responsible to select the content that is considered appropriate for children, they should monitor student internet use constantly since it is completely normal to see students tempted to follow what prohibit instead of obey rules, however, students need to learn they have very little expectation of privacy while using the technology inside the classroom. Set up a guideline of the content, activities and sites, students can identify what is and isn’t appropriate for their age or Install a PC Time Monitors that regulates the times of day and length of time kids have access to a PC.- Filtering and Blocking
One of the immediate strategies for keeping students safe online is blocking the content that teachers don't want kids accessing because it does not support education and learning development. Purchasing internet product such as MyWeb can automatically blocks out any objectionable words or sites useless and restrict access to any programs on children computers your computer. Schools and teachers can protect children from undesired content setting up a PopUp Blockers, which prevent unwanted windows from popping many of those websites that contain inappropriate material).- Making students aware
No! No! No! Won’t ever be a right answer to prevent student form inappropriate content. No matter the age or the educational grade level, all students around the word deserve to listen the reasons that support the “whys” they should try to keep themselves safe from inappropriate content. Students have to have the opportunity almost every day to discuss cyber issues and appropriate online behaviors. Discussions facilitate students’ understanding of the do’s and don’ts of internet safety.- Keep students information confidential
Teachers, schools, administrators, principals and parents make the mistake to post feedbacks of their lesson plans through their own blogs, where student’s information such as pictures is uploading and expose to public without reservations, unfortunately can be easily misunderstood as a violation to children privacy. Teacher must keep their students information far from any kind of speculations that may affect their personal values. Changing blog from public to private so only registered users can see the content.- Include parents in instructional conversations
Encourage parents to participate in a digital safety vesper at school or to read the different recommendations provide in the school newsletters about how to keep children safe online. Can be a start to incentive parents ‘interest and clear expectations for appropriate internet use from their children. An interesting tool parents can use at home is a Keystroke Loggers, which keep a log of all communications between their children and others, so that way they can check what they have been doing.Cost of The Technology Implementation
A carefully developed technology plan helps Little Scholar ISD to ensure resources to make effective the use of technology for teaching to kids with specific Disabilities such as:
For each one of the impartments Little Scholar ISD plans to buy products ( devices) that help teachers who work with the students with special needs by finding devices and software that make easer and efficient the teaching and learning.
-IPAD: IPads can be used for visual learning, reading and video watching. Learners can interact with programs via web access. Cost: 564.66 UDS /each or 8,470 USD total
-NOVA-CHAT: Perfect for text to speech programs, which are ideal for students with reading disabilities. Text can be aloud, and speech can be converted to text. Cost: 2,500 USD
-MAESTRO: This product helps students with literacy, communication and social skills. It gives students and teachers access to various e-books and software that break down step-by-step processes for different subjects, including math, vocabulary and everyday life. Cost: 6,000 USD
-READ 180: for students with reading disabilities, this software creates and individualized program for each student, giving each child goals of fluency and tracking progress. Cost: 30 USD
-MANGOMON: It is software that offers reading and mathematics lessons that give students individual attention and education plans. Cost: Free
-PHOTO VOCABULARY: Set of audio pronunciation and vocabulary flashcards. It a software designed to strengthens communication skills. Cost: Free
Equipment
Total equipment: 17.000 USD
The budget of Little Scholar ISD also includes costs for maintenance of the all the areas of the Technology Plan
The potential resource of funding for Little Scholar ISD Technology plan is Federal funds Base because Little Scholar ISD qualifies the following requirement:
Provide Students with Assistive Technology Devices
“States may use IDEA funds to support the use of assistive technology devices that maximize accessibility to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities. Districts may funds to provide the specific assistive technology devices and services as needed by an individual student to receive free appropriate public education.”
Little scholar ISD will use Federal funds for hiring coaches that help teachers learn how to use devices or implement technology in their curriculum. The school will also use Federal funds to provide access to digital material in order to offer better support for students, and finally the school will use Federal Funds to acquire devices (tablets, laptops, etc.) in addition to the curriculum