Formulating
a lesson plan for a class of average setting students is one matter; taking
into account of students with varying circumstances regarding their learning
limitations is another. As a future elementary school teacher, I will have a
melting pot of these students. To have a set lesson plan geared towards teaching
typical individuals is useless if one isn’t flexible in altering the procedure
according to other possible factors, in which this case revolves around
students with disabilities. However, one crucial point a teacher must refrain
from doing is ultimately lowering the standards of the lesson plan in
“accommodating” that one student.
Major leaps have been made in the
field of technology by aiding an individual in school, which allows teachers to
have less of a weight put on them in making alterations to the lesson plan. This
is proven in the video titled, “How Assistive Technology Enables Dreams” (2005)
where the music teacher accepted the individual with trouble using his hands in
playing an instrument. Instead of turning him away, the band instructor allowed
him to continue his membership in the school performances and made the
orchestra continue to play the set song list. He didn’t completely change the
lesson plan for the sake of that one student, such as selecting certain songs
that mostly featured the particular note he is stuck on playing. That would go
against what I stated at the beginning, which is setting lower expectations for
the individual’s sake. But soon came in the assistance of technology that aided
the student’s music playing skills, which also falls in the teacher’s favor.
According
to an online article titled, “How IDEA Protects You and Your Child” (2014)
Andrew Lee states the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act outlines that
it is necessary for “schools to serve the educational needs of eligible
students with disabilities.” As the role of the teacher, being ignorant of
constructing lesson plans that lacks the inclusion of accommodating these
students is unacceptable. So in the future, I would avoid this and tackle the
issue by, first, identifying what condition they have. Next, I would consult
with a specialist of that condition for strategies and handling the individual
for their own success in the class. And most importantly, I would have close
relations with the parents of the individual in keeping them updated with what
is necessary for them to know regarding their child’s condition.
For
sure, I am of no expert as to determining whether a lesson plan with the
revisions of such is adequate, but one thing is for sure: as long as the
teacher doesn’t “baby” the individual or lower the caliber of learning, the
alterations are fine. There is a difference between making modifications of the
same content and downgrading its essence. Luckily, the breakthrough of
technology permitting these students to excel without the teacher having the
hassle of modifying the lesson plan for their inclusion. Their transition comes
with ease when it comes to the assistance of technology, in which many should
take into consideration not just for students with disabilities.
Many would view a tablet as an
entertainment tool. There may be parents who use this as leverage if a child
disobeys. However, the tablet should not be labeled merely as a device for
pleasure purposes. The features hold more value in educating the user, which is
how my cousin uses it to his advantage. His parents are both nurses and rarely
have time to watch over him and educate him. This leaves my grandmother to be
his caregiver for the majority of the time. But teaching him proves to be
difficult since English is her second language, and her educational background
is gradually decreasing with age. Despite this, my cousin is given a tablet
filled with educational apps geared towards enhancing his knowledge. Instead of
dragging behind his peers with the current disadvantage he faces, he has a
higher probability of standing among them intellectually.
Technology
encompasses and benefit not just to students with disabilities in particular;
the assistive use serves as a convenience to the public. This generation has a
huge advantage in excelling and reaching out to more individuals who wouldn’t
have had a chance to succeed if they were born back in the day without any
assistive technology.
References
(2005). How Assistive
Technology Enables Dreams [Online video]. USA: edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video
Lee, A. (2014, April 11). How
IDEA Protects You and Your Child . In Understood for learning and attention
issues. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/your-childs-rights/basics-about-childs-rights/how-idea-protects-you-and-your-child-b
