Course Information:
EDSE 650: Educational Technology in General and Special Education
Credits: 3
Location: Prospect Park Yeshiva
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dates: May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 June 6, 2004

Instructor: Sara Seligson
Office Hours: By appointment
Contact: 646-472-5345 - office; 646-642-5815 – cell; SeligsonS@bjeny.org (preferred)
For extensive help, an appointment is strongly recommended.

Required Texts:
Belson, S.I. (2003) Technology for Exceptional Learners: Choosing Instructional Tools to Meet Students’ Needs. Houghton Mifflin.
Additional articles will be provided as considered necessary.

Course Description:
Design and use of computer and other technological devices that facilitate communication, learning, and related functions in educational contexts for children in general education and children in special education; technology for use in fostering literacy and remediation of reading disabilities; special applications of computers in and about the classroom; adapting human factors models to the engineering of appropriate technology; recent developments in the field of assistive technology for students with special needs.

Conceptual Framework:
Candidates investigate methods generally and potentially employed to deliver instruction to accommodate the needs of diverse learners in contemporary classrooms. In particular, candidates examine the role of technology as a resource and tool relevant to the support of these learners. The candidate researches and discusses the diverse nature of the student population. The candidate develops coursework, meeting ISTE and NYS Learning standards, sensitive to, as well as understood by, students with varying needs and abilities. Candidates will also learn to use technology as a tool for self-growth and professional development.

Learning objectives:
The candidate will be able to

• discuss the various aspects of diversity and develop an appreciation of the diversity of special needs learners (NCATE I, II)
• observe, reflect and discuss the current issues and problems involving exceptional students (NCATE I, II)
• analyze, organize and manage student behavior and classroom settings.(NCATE I, II)
• apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use and evaluate products and systems to satisfy learning and behavioral needs. (NYS 1.3, 2.4) (NCATE I) (ISTE I,II)
• match appropriate technologies to target projects and populations (NYS 2.2) (NCATE I) (ISTE II)
• demonstrate an understanding of adaptive technologies and web sites that provide information on disabilities for use in lesson planning (NYS 1.1) (NCATE I) (ISTE II)
• implement instructional strategies to meet educational objectives for diverse learners(NYS 2.4) (NCATE II) (ISTE III)
• apply instructional principles to deliver a computer based presentation related to research of a course topic (NYS 3.0) (NCATE II) (ISTE I)
• research and report on the effective use of instruction and technology to address the needs of diverse learners. (NYS 2.4) (NCATE II) (ISTE I)