Special Education 454
EDSP 454: Technology for Diverse Populations
Cross-Listed: EDET 454
Credit Hours: (3)
Acting as curious and responsible digital citizens, students will explore the applications of educational, assistive, and social technologies. Students will discover how technology can be leveraged to design authentic learning opportunities for all learners, and to support collaboration and communication with colleagues, families, students, and the larger community.
Note(s): Applied Learning designated course.
Detailed Description of Course
This course emphasizes practical applications of technologies to meet the needs of diverse learners in a variety of educational settings. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Teachers and Students will be used as the foundational building blocks for this course.
Specific technologies and topics include but are not limited to:
•How learning is supported through the use of technologies
•Current technological trends shaping teaching and learning
•The legal aspects of providing Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services within public school settings
•The AT spectrum from no to high tech solutions
•Universal Design for Learning principles
•Appropriate digital age citizenship practices
•Development and use of online environments
•Advancement of student learning, creativity, and innovation through facilitation of technology experiences
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This course emphasizes practical applications of educational and assistive technologies to meet the needs of diverse learners in a variety of educational settings. Students will have first-hand experiences with a variety of technologies found in classrooms through class experiences and assignments. A combination of web-based learning modules, lectures, discussions, hands-on activities, media, guest speakers, discussions, and projects will be used to help students understand the strengths and limits of current technologies for education.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Goals, objectives, and assignments address selected Virginia Department of Education regulations for preparing early/primary and elementary educators, the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC), and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards.
Candidates successfully completing this course will demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and dispositions to:
1.Identify current research on the brain, its role in learning, and implications for instruction using technologies.
2.Identify the Virginia Standards of Learning for Computer Technology.
3.Research and evaluate age-appropriate and culturally relevant media, materials, contemporary technologies (educational and/or assistive) to support and enhance learning for all learners.
4.Apply the principles of online learning and online instructional strategies.
5.Demonstrate proficiency in the use of educational technologies for instruction.
6.Model how to guide students in their use of technology for both process and product as they work with reading, writing, and research.
7.Model the use technology as a tool for teaching, learning, research, and communication.
8.Explore practical classroom realities of the integration of technology.
9.Identify equity issues related to use of assistive and educational technologies in the diverse classroom .
10.Explain the legal definition of AT devices and services and the legal requirements for implementation of assistive technology assessment and services in the classroom.
11.Design student learning activities which incorporate educational and/or assistive technologies that foster equitable access which improves or enhances the success of diverse student populations within the educational setting.
12.Model appropriate, legal, and ethical behavior in all technology use and technology-supported environments.
Assessment Measures
Students will be assessed in multiple ways. These may include, but are not limited to:
•Design of learning opportunities and assessments that reflect integration of technologies for diverse learners.
•Utilization of technologies for learning and sharing with classmates, colleagues, and the community.
•Adherence to legal and ethical digital citizenship responsibilities.
•Journal entries, reading annotations, and/or other informal writings.
•Presentations or micro-teaching exercises.
•Quizzes, tests, or formal writing assignments.
•Class participation and discussion.
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
January, 2010
March 01, 2021