Technology to Enhance Instruction

Technology integration in the 21st century classroom has become increasingly important
to student learning. I plan on teaching my students digital safety and security while also
incorporating the use of technology into my lesson plans. Having worked in Special Education
classrooms for the past four years now, I have found many educational websites that offer
various resources to both students and educators. I have also worked with various types of
educational technologies that have enhanced learning in the classroom. A few of my favorite
resources located on the World Wide Web are www.jr.brainpop.com, www.abcya.com, and
www.quizlet.com. I plan on implementing these resources in my classroom by setting up an
interactive whiteboard, learning centers on the computers where students can access these
websites while being frequently monitored, as well as a tablet/tablets to access specific
educational apps.
Interactive Whiteboard
The Interactive Whiteboard, also known as a SMARTboard, is an amazing resource to
have in the classroom! The SMARTboard has many different capabilities that helps reach

students with varying learning styles. Teachers can use this technology to create unique and
engaging lessons. This specific piece of educational software is extremely useful in special
education classrooms because the teacher is able to guide students using the pointer tool or
computer mouse which enables the student to actively participate in the lesson, rather than just
watch it. As stated in the eBook, Research is revealing that students retain knowledge longer
when they are actively involved in using digital media to meet learning objectives and related
benchmarks (Gunther, 213-14). The SMARTboard technology also assists the teacher in class
communications and classroom management.
Computers
Using the computer in the classroom as a learning center allows teachers to provide
different methods of instruction by rotating groups of students with to create diverse learning
environments. One example of integrating the use of computers in the classroom is rotating three
groups of students with three different learning stations during the reading or writing block of
instruction. One center being a library station where students are looking at, reading, or
listening to books. Another station being on a set of computers where students are using
educational websites or software such as www.ABCya.com, www.BrainPOP.com, or
www.quizlet.com. The last center is ran by the teacher who provides more 1:1
instruction/assessment of reading and writing.
Tablets/Ipads
Tablets or Ipads support app-based learning within the classroom. Operating systems on
both Apple Ipads and the Android tablets offer a wide-range of applications and assistive features
that support independence among the various special needs of your students. Tablets have
tremendously helped special education students complete daily living tasks and also serves as a

communication device for students whom are deaf or non-verbal. Digital media software
applications assist teachers in meeting diverse learning styles by combining interactive software
integrated with teaching strategies to enhance the learning process (Gunther, 207).

References:

Gunter, Glenda A., Randolph E. Gunter, and Gary B. Shelly. Teachers

Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology in a Changing World. 8th ed.
N.p.: Cengage Learning, 2014. Web