Kurzweilin' Out

I never had any experience with assistive technology really before this course. I had encounters with students in my student teaching placements who used computers for word processing purposes because of their motor deficits, but not for communication or for understanding material. I think Kurzweil is an interesting and easy to use tool that can benefit not only students with special needs, but also those typically developing students in the general education classroom. I mentioned this in the discussion on the HBSE 4005 Wiki, but I'll mention it again here. Many of my special education professors here at TC have said on various occasions that strategies that work for special education classrooms certainly work in general education classrooms. This is not to say that the needs of students in general education are comparable to those of students with special needs in special education classrooms, but it is safe to say that having access to materials and technology that enhances the learning experience is important for all learners--with or without disabilities.


In that same vein, I have seen that many of my colleagues have posed questions about state testing for general education students. Assistive tools like Kurzweil software will not be available for students in the general education track who will participate in standardized tests. For this reason, for students without special needs, Kurzweil can be used as an enhancement strategy for teaching note-taking and comprehension skills. Students can use Kurzweil as they learn the strategies they need for the standardized tests. However, at least in my case with my 6 students with autism ALL participating in NYSAA this year (oh, the stress!), this will not be a problem.


With all that said, I am eager to continue working with the Kurzweil software because I do believe that it is an interesting piece of technology that can truly enhance the learning experience. I think all students should be able to have access to it as they are learning to become more independent with their reading, and as they learn to self-monitor their own needs and levels of understanding.