Technology Assessment #1-Enabling Dreams

            Today’s educator have somewhat been in the comfort zone with lesson plans that they have carefully worked on at their first year of teaching.  Little do they realize, the students are hurting and crying out for help.  Enabling Dreams (Curtis, 2005) have opened the minds of teachers.  Teachers who has once thought or doubted disabled student gave a second thought and has seen the difference in those students.  Most importantly, there are three areas of concerns with preparing a lesson plan: analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

            First, analysis of the lesson plan is significant.  Here is something to keep in mind.  What are the important parts or features of a revised lesson plan that include opportunities for disabled students to be successful participants?  Most of the time, teachers sigh and wish these types of students do not exist in their rooms.  However, objectives are one part that can be revised so that there is a form of measurement to attain that goal.  Then one of objective should be geared for disabled student. 

            Second, synthesis of the lesson plan is another important aspect.  What ideas can be added to the activities for inclusion of assistive technology?  What steps should be taken to create/design a revised activity to include students with disabilities?  Some ideas can include typical hands on activities that regular students can do and at the same time, disabled students can complete the same activity but via Internet.  Before creating an activity, keep in mind the disabled student’s limits.  For example, if the student is in a wheel chair then the class can do activity that requires moving around (Curtis, 2005).

            Last, evaluation of the lesson plan is important as well.  Here are other questions to ponder.  Why must lesson plans be revise to include disable students?  What do you think about lesson plans including participation of students with disabilities?  What criteria would you use to assess the appropriateness of the revised activity for the inclusion of disable students?  According to IDEA, which stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, disabled students have the opportunity to be in a regular classroom.  Therefore, they have to be included in lesson plans.  Disabled student is just like any regular student in the classroom.  The criteria to assess should be based on the modifications of disabled student’s Individual Education Program, or IEP for short.

            Moreover, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation are key components to have an essential lesson plan especially dealing with disabled students.  Disabled students are humans, too.  They should not be deprived or taken the opportunity to learning.  So before a teacher start lesson planning, think out of the box and address the different types of students especially the disabled student because they are unique.  A teacher assist at fulfilling the dreams of all your students and they will thank you later.