Monday, April 21, 2014

Key Questions when Selecting Educational Applications

When selecting a educational application for a student with a disability, it is important for teachers to consider certain aspects , mainly the needs of the child and their learning objectives/goals that are included in the IEP. The educational Application should naturally fit with the learning objectives and goals and should be appealing to the student's interests. When selecting an educational application it is best practice to use a user-centered approach, meaning the program fits with what the students needs.

Here are some key questions to consider that will help you better fit the educational application to your intended student.:

  • What is the intended outcome of the application? i.e. rote memorization for speed and accuracy or working on problem solving skills
  • Is the educational applications likely to fulfill its purpose (identified by the first question)? will the child receive feedback in said problem solving skills, or will it just assess whether the question in right or wrong
  •  Can the applications be used as an alternative to traditional classroom activities to enhance child's participation? will the student be able to better access online manipulatives than traditional manipulatives
When a teacher considers these questions, and selects the application with the child's goals in mind, the teacher will be following best practice and the student will be getting the greatest benefit because it will be meeting his/her needs. 

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