Current Challenges

Web 2.0 tools such as wikis in the classroom have the potential to enrich student learning opportunities through creativity, collaboration, communication, and self expression.

Unfortunately, students in special education often have learning deficits in reading and writing that may limit opportunities to participate in such activities.

This presentation will examine and explore best practices, teaching strategies, and technological resources to help teachers design lessons that integrate wikis into their lessons by promoting differentiated instruction and meeting the learning needs of their students.

Objectives

Participants will learn how to design lessons that both integrate wikis and address a diversity of learning needs in order to help special education students be successful, and understand the seamless integration of available assistive technologies.

Participants will learn to integrate wikis in classroom activities from an instructional lesson design process: Teachers must understand the instructional benefits and components of using wikis and their relationships to vocabulary and background knowledge. Lessons must integrate technology as a means to address curriculum content and promote reading and writing skills, as opposed to just using technology.

Participants will learn to approach use of wikis with students from an understanding of differentiated instruction, adaptation, modifications, and teaching strategies: Designing lessons for a variety of student abilities provide opportunities for all students to demonstrate their knowledge and learning.

Participants will learn to approach wikis using Assistive Technology to enhance student access and participation: Presenters will review current assistive technology resources to promote student engagement in the classroom.

Technology interventions
Make Sense Strategies (Graphic Organizers)
Assistive Technology: SOLO Program

Lesson plans or instructional activities/strategies
-Graphic organizers
-Content differentiation, prereading and writing strategies, differentiated instruction: flexible grouping/ small group differentiation/ individualized instruction.
-Assessment: individualized rubrics
-7th Grade authentic lesson showing student work and teacher strategies.

Outline

Agenda and Outline

I. Introduction: The Promise of Wikis, The Challenge of Diverse Learners and Special Education Students

II. Using Wikis with Diverse Learners and Special Education Students
a. Understanding the Needs of Diverse Learners and Special Education Students and How it Impacts Using Wikis in the Classroom
b. Differentiated Instruction Strategies: Steps to Making Wikis accessible

III. Technology Integration: Technology in the Learning Process
a. How to Use Assistive Technology with Wikis
b. Examples

IV. Lesson Example

Participants will be engaged through presentation of actual classroom scenarios, student challenges, student work, and practical solutions and strategies.

Supporting Research

CALL Essentials: Principals and Practice in CALL Classrooms, Joy Egbert
Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement, Robert Marzano
Classroom Instruction That Works, Robert Marzano
Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools, Lynn Schrum & Gwen Solomon
Handbook on Differentiated Instruction for Middle and High Schools, Sheryn Northey

Presenter Background

Patrick Ledesma is a School Based Technology Specialist and National Board Certified Teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools. A former elementary and middle school special education lead teacher, he worked at the central office level in staff development with new teachers and teachers pursuing National Board certification. He has taught at the graduate level for George Mason University and is currently in the PhD program at George Mason studying teacher education and instructional technology. During the summer, he teachers web and graphic design to middle school students, and is currently actively involved with helping students learn Web 2.0 tools.

Lara Long is an Assistive Technology Resource Specialist with Fairfax County Public Schools where she helps students with disabilities use various technologies to enhance their learning. She has been involved in curriculum development and co-presented at the Closing the Gap conference.