Course Description
Students analyze issues in technology integration in special education and speech-language pathology. Directed focus on universal design for learning and forms of assistive technology. Students design, develop, and assess technology- based instructional materials for students with a wide range of exceptionalities. Students perform relevant service work in partnership with public/educational institutions.
Athena Title
Assistive and Learning Tech
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EDIT 5100, EDIT 5100E
Non-Traditional Format
Course includes a service-learning project during the semester that either employs skills or knowledge learned in the course or teaches new skills or knowledge related to course objectives. Student engagement in the service-learning component will be up to 25% of overall instruction time.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Through course readings, activities, and discussions participants will be able to: •Define assistive technology–from low to high tech •Describe relevant legislation and regulations and their implications for assistive technology •Articulate the principles of universal design for learning and response to intervention and their connection to assistive technology •Describe the collaborative process of assistive technology needs assessment for development of individual educational plans (to include parents, district level staff, outside agencies, etc.) •Identify models for selection of assistive technology devices and services •Select, adapt, and apply assistive technology to promote communication, independence, socialization, academic performance, and functional skills based on individual learner needs •Modify, customize, fabricate a range of low to medium tech assistive technology devices •Develop learning activities that incorporate assistive technology targeted for individual learner needs •Report the results of an independent research project relevant to the field of assistive technology •Identify collaborative networks to support professional development •Reflect on lessons learned from a service learning project relevant to the field of assistive technology
Topical Outline
•Definitions of assistive technology (AT)-low and high tech •Relevant legislation and regulations •Universal design for learning and response to intervention •High incidence disabilities and AT •Assessment of AT needs •AT for communication •AT for academic performance •AT for independence and socialization •AT for functional skills •Online AT resources–selection and organization •Low tech project development (service learning component) •Mobile learning with AT •Funding for AT (service learning component) •Learning activity development with AT (service learning component) •Independent research project on AT •Professional learning network development