Apply & Discover 9.1

What does it mean to "provide equal access to the digital world?" Providing equal access to the digital world for special education means that all students, regardless of the learning challenges, must be given use of the technology required to complete the lesson. Therefore, when designing a lesson or assignment, teachers must plan or make special arrangements for all students to have access to the needed technology or software, as well as to give support on how to use the technology. Often teachers may schedule class time in the computer lab or library, or other better equipped classrooms may have class laptops or computers. Extra time after school or during a directed learning time may be given to student so they can access the “digital world”. Distributing the use of technology is not always straight forward. For most Americans, technology affects their everyday lives. Access to the internet at home or at their place of employment is commonly taken for granted. In a public school setting, teachers cannot assume that all students have access to technology or more importantly, that all student know how to utilize technology. We must not only encourage technology use, but moreover, we must provide the means by which students have the opportunity to use it. Similarly, technology has made it easier to support different learning styles and special education students. Technology allows students extra access to information. Whether it is reviewing a teacher’s PowerPoint slides via the class website, or link to the text book that can read to the student, technology can support education tremendously by increasing the opportunity for learning. Until full access to software and the internet is guaranteed for every student, then providing “equal” access will remain a challenge.