This article outlines the results of an exploratory study designed to measure changes in the awareness of preservice teachers concerning technology for students with disabilities. A pretest-posttest survey collected data on (a) awareness of the types of instructional technology available for students with disabilities, (b) ability to integrate technology into the classroom, (c) knowledge of the operation of computers and peripherals, (d) knowledge of technology available for assessment, and (e) extent of dissemination of new knowledge to colleagues. Results of this study indicated that participation in a technology-rich field experience increases the likelihood that preservice special educators will perceive an increase in (a) knowledge concerning the appropriate use of technology for students with disabilities, (b) the use of technology to facilitate student learning, and (c) the use of technology as a teacher tool.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AndersonC. & AndersonK. (2000). Integrating technology into field experience in regular and special education. Proceedings of SITE 2000. 1478–1486.
2.
AndersonC.AndersonK.BriscoeJ., & SmithB. (2001). Using school district standards to develop thematic lessons for electronic portfolios. Proceedings of SITE 2001, 3–8.
3.
BarksdaleJ.M. (1994). New teachers: Unplugged. Electronic Learning, 15(5), 39–45.
4.
BennettL. (2001). Links to the classroom: Technology in early field experience for elementary social studies. Proceedings of SITE 2001. 2969–2972.
5.
BlackhurstA.E.MacArthurC.A., & McClellanE. (1988). Microcomputing competencies for special education professors. Teacher Education and Special Education, 10(4), 153–160.
6.
BurgessG., & HolmesB. (2001). Using electronic portfolios to support accountability and preservice teacher preparation. Proceedings of SITE2001, 149–152.
7.
CherupS., & LinklaterL. (2000). Integrating technology into preservice education: A model implemented at one small liberal arts college. Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 16(3), 18–22.
DawsonK., & NorrisA. (2001). Preservice teachers' experiences in a K-12/university technology-based field initative: Benefits, facilitators, constraints, and implications for teacher educators. Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 17(1), 4–12.
11.
EdyburnD., & GardnerJ. (1999). Integrating technology into special education teacher preparation programs: Creating shared visions. Journal of Special Education Technology, 14(2), 3–17.
12.
GoldenC., & ErbD. (2001). Breaking down barriers: Integrating technology in teacher education and distributing it to K-12 schools. Proceedings of SITE2001, 1638–641.
13.
HandlerM. (1993). Preparing new teachers to use computer technology: Perceptions and suggestions for teacher educators. Computers in Education, 20, 147–156.
14.
HargraveC. P., & HsuY. (2000). Survey of instructional technology courses for preservice teachers. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 8(4), 303–314.
15.
International Society for Technology in Education (1999). Will new teachers be prepared to teach in a digital age?Santa Monica, CA: Milkin Family Foundation.
16.
JinS.H. (2001). Mentoring collaboration to integrate technology into science curriculum: A PT3 project. Proceedings of SITE2001, 1980–1983.
17.
LahmE., & NickelsB. (1999). Assistive technology competencies for special educators. Teaching Exceptional Children, 32(1), 56–65.
18.
LiL.PorterA.HopkinsD.ClarkeD., & IronsM. (2001). Developing a foundation for enhancing modeling of technology integration. Proceedings of SITE2001, 2013–2017.
19.
LudlowB.L. (2001). Technology and teacher education in special education: Disaster or deliverance?Teacher Education and Special Education24(2), pp. 143–153.
20.
Market Data Retrieval. (1999, June). Teachers use of technology increases as the Internet permeates schools. DataPoints [On-line]. Available: http://www.schooldata.com/datapoint35.html
PlathotnikM. (2001). InTime: A PT3 catalyst grant. Proceedings of SITE2001, 2050–2052.
23.
RobertsS.K., & HsuY. (2000). The tools of teacher education: Preservice teachers' use of technology to create instructional materials. The Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 8(2), 133–152.
24.
RyanD.OnarheimK., & AndersonC.L. (2001). A partnership for training teachers: Using technology-rich cohorts. Proceedings of SITE2001, 1916–1918.
25.
SeeversR.MartinS., & CrawfordC.M. (2001). Assistive learning within a special needs environment. Proceedings of SITE2001, 2639–2641.
26.
SPSS (1991). Systat for Macintosh. Chicago, IL: SPSS, Inc.
27.
StephensG.E. (2000). An analysis of the instructional use of technological tools by field-based preservice teachers. Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 16(3), 28–32.
28.
Task Force on Technology and Teacher Education. (1997). Technology and the new professional teacher: Preparing for the 21st century classroom [On-line]. Available: http://www.ncate.org/projects/tech/TECH.HTM.
29.
ThompsonG.HoskissonD.BassD., & GrootersL. (2001). Integrating technology into the K-6 classroom. Proceedings of SITE2001, 2125–2127.
