Educating AutismThe Use of Technology to

Solve the Puzzle

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IntroductionUnlocking the Puzzle

Teaching any child is a rewarding experience. Teaching a special needs child is an adventure. The challenges to teaching a student can be frustrating and agonizing, but there are technologies that exist that can make teaching a very happy decision. Those same technologies can make learning a fun and successful endeavor for children also. This presentation will discuss how new technology can benefit any child especially special need children and those children with Autism.

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Podcasting

Computers

Communication

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Click on the puzzle piece to learn more about Autism.

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Introduction

PodcastingEducating the Future Through Fun

In reviewing the webpage Learning Hand, I discovered exactly what I’d hoped for. This website was informative, user friendly, and educational on its own. The site explained podcasting in simple and exact terms that help the user understand the benefits for using podcasting as an educational tool. There were links on the page that helped with many other topics and promoted the educational functions of using educational feeds. Tony Vincent’s Learning in Hand-podcasting allows teachers to utilize the information offered on his site to create a comprehensive, web-based curriculum project. learninginhand.com/podcasts.htmlMen

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The Sound of Their own Voice

Learning in Hand helps teachers organize personalized lesson plans to engage their students interest and imagination. There are links to also help the children create personal podcasts and even publish versions on the web. Students can build self esteem and technical strength while completing an assignment that they can find fulfilling and enjoyable.

This site also offers many other links to explore that help a student connect with the community, technology, and the world.

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learninginhand.com/podcasts.html

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Tony Vincents Learning In Hand-Podcasting

Opening Minds and Making Smiles

Children with Autism have communication issues. To be able to create an audible assignment or just a message they can share with others could open doors that would never have been touched. All children are different, but many enjoy hearing their own voice. To be able to hear that voice over the computer makes it even more fun, and more importantly, more concrete. I can remember when cassette tapes were new, and the kids in my class were passing them back and forth to share thoughts. It was fun. But for children with Autism, it can be beneficial. Many children respond to audio devices with enthusiasm. Some love to use the computer or their iPods and can function with these devices with more comfort than actually having a conversation. A teacher could reach a student with a podcast that may have been unreachable on any other level.

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ComputersCommunication is the Key

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The article “Computers Make Special Education More Effective and Fun.” describes the effects of performing a trial experiment on a group of children to ascertain whether computers were indeed too difficult for them to master or if computers would help increase their[the children] abilities to learn in a more positive aspect. There were many negative comments and opinions about this topic. They ranged from saying that children with special needs would not be able to comprehend the use and instructions of a computer to the children would become frustrated and the effect would be opposite of what was intended. However, after the study was complete the outcome was a very positive one.

After the ten weeks with computers in their classrooms, the teachers summarized their views as follows: "In addition to the fun, the children enjoyed improved communication skills, an increased ability to handle frustration, an opportunity to progress in academic areas, and a growing independence within their learning environments. The success that the children experienced at the computer enhanced their self-esteem. Communications between parent and child, teacher and child, and teacher and teacher improved. All of these aspects helped establish a happy, friendly, and positive climate within the classroom."

Glenn M. Kleinmann; Mary M. Humphrey

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Having Fun is only Half the Job

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The students in this study were chosen from special education areas in their school. While some of them were from special education classrooms full time; others were children with special needs that were only spending an hour in their resource room a day. They were inclusion. Although this study was primarily dealing with special education students, the effect that a positive experiment had on the students was shared with the teachers.

http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n10/96_Computers_make_special_ed.php

Glen M. Kleinmann; Mary M. Humphrey

Computers Make Special Education More Effective and Fun

A Good Thing

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While this article was representing special education, computers in classrooms have become necessary for curriculum. This covers both special education and regular education classrooms. There are so many required tests and data lists to acquire throughout a students academic term that a computer only makes things simpler. Special needs or not , children can learn to use a computer. In current times, many are learning at a pre-school level. Children of all circumstances will learn faster, and retain longer, if they enjoy what they are doing.Menu

CommunicationCommunication is the Key

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This article will discuss how various modes of technology (including technology designed as augmentative communication systems), can be used for children with autism to increase or improve their:

   Overall understanding of their environment;    Expressive communication skills;    Social interaction skills;    Attention skills;    Motivation skills;    Organization skills;    Academic skills;    Self help skills;    Overall independent daily functioning skills.

By: Susan Stokes

“Assistant Technology for Children with Autism” by Susan Stokes was a very informative article. It introduced different forms of technology to aid in communication for children with Autism, ranging from “low” to “high” technologies. There are descriptions of everything from line drawings to programs and equipment that have been found to promote communication and education in special needs children. Computers are an excellent choice of equipment to begin with. Children can create, learn comprehension, and engage in a fulfilling activity with limited assistance. The article includes links that help direct the reader to different forms of technology for different purposes.

Unlocking the doors

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“Typically, children with autism process visual information easier than auditory information. Any time we use assistive technology devices with these children, we're giving them information through their strongest processing area (visual). Therefore various types of technology from "low" tech to "high" tech, should be incorporated into every aspect of daily living in order to improve the functional capabilities of children with autism.”(Stokes) There were many options offered through this article to help provide information on how to utilize technology resources for communicating social skills, life skills, and educational skills.

Research on the use of computers with students with autism revealed the following (15):

Increase in focused attention; Increase in overall attention span; Increase in in-seat behavior; Increase in fine motor skills; Increase in generalization skills (from computer to related non-computer activities); Decrease in agitation; Decrease in self-stimulatory behaviors, and Decrease in preservative responses.

By: Susan Stokes

http://www.specialed.us/autism/assist/asst10.htm

See It-Believe It

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Using technical devices in the classroom is “old news”. However, it is important to remember how quickly technology changes. There are so many informative sites and so little time to explore them all. This article was mapped out with very user friendly links that let me explore many different options. With so many different kinds of children, options are a necessity-not a luxury. I appreciate as many ideas as I can work with.

Internet hand held devices teachers computers modified keyboards

“Assistant Technology for Children with Autism”.Susan Stokes

http://www.specialed.us/autism/assist/asst10.htm

Conclusion

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Although, I found the articles I reviewed and the websites very helpful, finding the information is only half the battle. Technology is not effective if it is not utilized. I plan on working with many of the different forms of technology that I have read about. I have already worked with some. But as time changes so do the educational needs of students everywhere. Working with whatever a teacher can find helps, but making that work fun—that changes frustration into smiles. Any classroom is a better classroom with a smile.

AHA….Finding information is only half the battle. It has to be implemented

AHA….Whatever you choose to use-HAVE FUN

AHA….Don’t be afraid to try new things-They make a difference

Have A Nice DayConnecting the PiecesOne By OneMakes Learning EasierAnd Fun

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