Using Technology to Teach Students with Special Needs

More than 80 people gathered in the DeVos Center on January 31 to learn about the use of technology in special education classrooms. The seminar, hosted by the alumni department and the Alexander DeJong Center for Special Education, welcomed students, faculty, and alumni; administrators and teachers from Elim Christian Services; and parents and families of children with disabilities.

Jennifer Leese, an educational consultant with the Bureau of Education and Research, presented “Making Best Use of the iPad, Mobile Devices, and Other Cutting Edge Technology Tools to Strengthen Learning of Students with Special Needs.”

Rebecca Harkema, director of the DeJong Center and assistant professor of special education, said that the seminar included a lot of hands-on practice. She said the event proved to be a confidence booster for those who may have access to new technology but do not know how to use it. 

“Leese encouraged us to set a goal at the beginning of the seminar: to walk away with one thing that we could try in a classroom,” Harkema said.

Current licensed teachers gained four professional development units (PDUs). All teachers need a specific amount of PDUs in order to renew their licenses. All attendees received an access code to a LiveBinder, which Harkema described as a “one-stop shop” for special education teachers and administrators that allows access to thousands of apps grouped by categories.

“I learned so much from the education seminar,” said Erica Barragan ’15 of Oak Lawn, Illinois. “I was exposed to many of the great and helpful ways technology can be used to help students and teachers alike, and I look forward to being able to use these apps and strategies in my future as an educator.”

Learn more about Trinity’s special education program.