Smart board technology in the classroom for special education Essay

Smart board technology in the classroom for special education - Essay Example Technology is indispensable in our lives. Today's standard norm in teaching, involve the use of the latest technologies. Social tagging, digital story telling and interactive white boards are the latest advancements in electronics. The smart board technology is part of the interactive white board technology. It can be described as an assistive technology. It assists the teacher make the learning experience worth while especially for those students with special needs. It is a white board that makes use of the computer and the data projector in teaching and the carrying out of presentations. Computers with windows or mackintosh applications, which are the most common, can support this technology. The images on the computer are projected on the board for better viewing. The good thing about this technology is that it allows for the use of the fingers on the touch sensitive surface as a way of controlling the computer. Thus, instead of students being at the computer they can easily carry out their presentations at the front of the class. More over, through the use of the smart pen, it is also easy to write on the white board. Another important aspect of this technology is that one can also save all the notes that may be written on the board as a computer file. The notes and images created can also be easily printed out. The smart board is of immense help with a wide range of uses. It can be used for presentations, music lessons, mathematics lessons, can be used in assemblies to communicate something to the students, for brainstorming purposes, for language lessons (students can learn how to write stories, learn about verbs an nouns by highlighting them on the board), in art class, and for computer lessons. (Smart board, n.d.) Resources. According to Martin, technology is a vital tool in special education. Special education targets children/students with disabilities/special needs. These needs may stem from mental or psychological impairment. Her writings on special education, technology and teacher education provide a secondary source of literature in support of technology in special education. Edyburn, in the remedial and special education journal also provides more information in support of technology use in special education. Mull & Sitlington in the journal of special education have also provided meaningful insight into assistive technology. Findings. One of the most important issues espoused by Martin has to do with the proper integration of appropriate technology into the education system to benefit all students, those with disabilities and those without alike. Of particular importance is the No Child Left Behind Act. This act should be implemented in schools to ensure that even the educational need of student's with disabilities are addressed appropriately. More over, technology has been found to play a pivotal role in as far as academics, their independence after school, for employment and career purposes and for productivity both at school and in their lives out of school. Particularly, technology is important as it helps these students make full use of their independence advantage in their educational and employment tasks. Secondly, it also helps the children take a more proactive role in class by encouraging their participation even in classroom discussions. This is important because the best way to learn is not only by obs erving but also by participating/taking part. Through the use of technology, a whole new world of peers, mentors and even role models is open to them. These maybe the instructors who share the technology, their life experiences and may serve to also motivate these children. Technology is also good for self advocacy. Technology can help those who are not quite able to communicate effectively for whatever reason do so