Hasselbring T S, Glaser C H
Special Education Technology, University of Kentucky, USA.
Future Child. 2000 Fall-Winter;10(2):102-22.
Millions of students across the United States cannot benefit fully from a traditional educational program because they have a disability that impairs their ability to participate in a typical classroom environment. For these students, computer-based technologies can play an especially important role. Not only can computer technology facilitate a broader range of educational activities to meet a variety of needs for students with mild learning disorders, but adaptive technology now exists than can enable even those students with severe disabilities to become active learners in the classroom alongside their peers who do not have disabilities. This article provides an overview of the role computer technology can play in promoting the education of children with special needs within the regular classroom. For example, use of computer technology for word processing, communication, research, and multimedia projects can help the three million students with specific learning and emotional disorders keep up with their nondisabled peers. Computer technology has also enhanced the development of sophisticated devices that can assist the two million students with more severe disabilities in overcoming a wide range of limitations that hinder classroom participation--from speech and hearing impairments to blindness and severe physical disabilities. However, many teachers are not adequately trained on how to use technology effectively in their classrooms, and the cost of the technology is a serious consideration for all schools. Thus, although computer technology has the potential to act as an equalizer by freeing many students from their disabilities, the barriers of inadequate training and cost must first be overcome before more widespread use can become a reality.
美国数以百万计的学生无法从传统教育项目中充分受益，因为他们身患残疾，这削弱了他们参与典型课堂环境的能力。对于这些学生而言，基于计算机的技术可以发挥尤为重要的作用。计算机技术不仅能够促进开展更广泛的教育活动，以满足轻度学习障碍学生的各种需求，而且现在还存在适应性技术，即使是那些重度残疾的学生也能够在课堂上与没有残疾的同龄人一起成为积极的学习者。本文概述了计算机技术在促进普通课堂中特殊需求儿童教育方面可以发挥的作用。例如，将计算机技术用于文字处理、交流、研究和多媒体项目，可以帮助300万患有特定学习和情绪障碍的学生跟上非残疾同龄人的步伐。计算机技术还推动了先进设备的开发，这些设备可以帮助200万重度残疾学生克服一系列阻碍课堂参与的限制——从言语和听力障碍到失明和严重身体残疾。然而，许多教师没有接受过如何在课堂上有效使用技术的充分培训，而且技术成本也是所有学校需要认真考虑的因素。因此，尽管计算机技术有潜力通过使许多学生摆脱残疾的束缚而成为一种均衡器，但在更广泛地应用成为现实之前，必须首先克服培训不足和成本这两大障碍。
