IV. Technology

I believe that technology and computer science are instrumental in the current state of our society and is gaining momentum in changes for the future for which we are preparing our students. As educators, we have a duty to match this momentum with innovative design of instruction to meet the demand of the unknown future.
I believe this because what we do know is many current jobs did not exist as little as five years ago and with the continued struggle to reduce unemployment rates, hundreds of thousands of jobs in technology are left unfilled because citizens are not qualified due to the delayed implementation of instructional technology and infrastructures in education.  Computer coding and programming will become the new language required to meet the demands of future, and it is a positive challenge that public education has begun to take on by increasing the ratio of student-computing, making internet available in rural areas and implementing instructional technology at the primary level.
There are many aspects and issues with technology in education. Issues such as closing the digital divide, professional development in instructional technology, digital content/resources, assessments, accessibility, personalized and blending learning, virtual learning and the progress of technology infrastructure to support the current and future needs of education.
I’d like to highlight the role of technology in Special Education.  Education Specialists are to learning how to utilize technology to meet the needs of students with disabilities.  As I plan for my instruction, I utilize the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to design instructional goals, assessments and materials to better meet the learning style of my student through a variety of methods of engagement, representation, action and expression. This is made possible by implementing technology and adaptive programs. Technology can not only supports them in meeting current individual educational goals, but also narrows the gap in career and college readiness for students with mild/moderate disabilities. ​