Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits
Professionals
SEAT Center provides on-line training module to Region IV Education Service Center in Texas! Under contract with Region IV, SEAT personnel developed an on-line module titled, “Technology Supports for Struggling Writers,” to be used in professional development throughout the Texas Assistive Technology Network for the 74,989 education professionals who serve more than 1 million students. The module content is based on work emerging from a federal grant from the U.S.D.E., “National Assistive Technology Coalition” and a Tech in the Works grant from the National Center for Technology Innovation, "Documenting the Impact of SOLO on Writing Outcomes.”
SEAT Center personnel report results of an important writing research study in collaboration with Don Johnston, Inc. and HILIA! Through a Tech in the Works grant awarded by the National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI), the writing outcomes for students with learning and academic disabilities (n=33) were examined subsequent to teacher professional development and access to SOLO®, Don Johnston's new state-of-the-art software. The report for this study is posted at the NCTI website. The researchers asked the questions: Would students’ writing improve with the assistance? in what ways? by how much? and could the teachers help collect the data in a manner that allowed them to use the data to improve instruction? This significant study is an important advancement in the national knowledge base regarding writing AT outcomes, and extends the Center’s efforts to translate research into best practices for teachers.
During the 05-06 school year, the SEAT Center has provided assistive technology training to more than 1400 pre-service teacher education students at Illinois State University. Future teacher education students in early childhood, elementary education, middle school education, secondary education, and special education participate in the Instructional Technology Passport System Competency 9: Assistive Technology. The Future teacher education students receive online instruction in multiple areas of assistive technology focusing on academic areas, communication, mobility and positioning, and working with students with sensory disabilities. They then attend workshops at the SEAT Center to receive hands-on experience applying various assistive technologies to the classroom.