sped teacher

Posted on 11/03/09

I was like you and had one overhead that is older than I am (and
I'm 34) and one computer. I was told that my special education
students can barely read why do I need them on the computer. I
just wrote a local grant for a mimio board, projector and
student response systems. I would also suggest start looking for
grants and have a reliable reason as to why you need/want the
technology within your room. Let me know if I can help.
On 11/02/09, techTeacher wrote:
> This is most certainly NOT stupid!!! And you are not the only
one!
>
> We're using donated 2nd and 3rd generation machines and big old
> CRT monitors. Perhaps you could find a business or another
> school (college?) in the area that would give you their
> hand-me-downs? Maybe there's a business in the area that would
> be honored to have a new computer lab that they purchased for
> you named after them? I know there's some Obama stimulus money
> designated for technology. And grants.... It's out there and it
> is a lot of work to find it.
>
> I would suggest shooting for something smaller and more
> manageable rather than a Smartboard or suspended
> projector/laptop system right off the bat - those just scream
> dollar signs! Perhaps try for a few projectors that teachers
> can share. We finally have 3 (for 400 students) and it's a
> battle to find one that's free! I use my personal laptop with
> it. I can only dream of a day when there will be a designated
> laptop for each projector!
>
> You can also use resources from the web on your overheads...
> you'll have to get creative, but use whatever kinds of
> technology that you can squeeze into anything you do in the
> classroom. You could burn some DVDs of online videos and show
> it on a TV screen, or listen to a podcast. You could print out
> online pictures for references. You could create a teacher
> website and post "cool links" for kids to explore on their own
> to begin to point them in an educational direction.
>
> What kind of computer access do your students have in their
> homes and/or the library? Perhaps you could create an
> assignment for them to complete on their own?
>
> We've got a hand-full of teachers that came from tech rich
> schools are are chewing their nails from not having those
> resources available to them here! We're creating a technology
> committee to try to come up with some solutions and a plan for
> the near future of technology integration in our school. Maybe
> you could create a focus group and create some data about how
> having a few of these resources available for your students
> would be of a great benefit. Find studies online to show your
> administration. It could be that someone is tying their hands
> with this tech problem? Is there a school board to get all
> fired up?
>
> I'm in my 3rd year here and it's just going to take time to
> catch up, and I have a feeling that we won't ever be caught up,
> but at least we'll be in the race. Good luck with your efforts
> - gather the troupes and go get what you need! And network with
> whomever you can that has resources or can get your resources!
>
>
>
>
>
> On 11/02/09, BethAnn wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> This is really stupid, but it's really frustrating. The
>> only technology we have are the old-fashioned overhead
>> transparency things.
>>
>> Anytime someone mentions Smartboards or ceiling-mount
>> projectors that connect to the computer, we are just told
>> how poor we are. There is only one computer in my room,
>> and the computer lab is open only on Monday afternoon.
>> There's 350 kids in our school.
>>
>> Thanks for listening!
>> BethAnn

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