After reading the paper "TECHNOLOGY-SUPPORTED MATH INSTRUCTION FOR
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: TWO DECADES OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT written by
Ted S. Hasselbring, Alan C. Lott and Janet M. Zydney in 2006 for Center for Implementing Technology in Education", I realized how much I have
wanted to do the same here in the Philippines. Every time I listen to a
colleague report about a topic or every time I hear new research about special education
and technology, I always wonder how far are we or are we (Filipinos) or are we even at par to
the current developments in using multimedia and technology in our instruction?
What do you think? Are we at par? or not? Click read more...
One of my influences for being very passionate in
pursuing the use of technology in instruction in my career as an educator is due in part to my exposure
to Intel Teach to the Future. I think technology will play a big part in the
evolution of education to cater to the changing needs of our students as well.
I expect a change in the students’ needs based also from the influences and
research I heard from my mentors here in UP such as Dr. Bustos (the need for
teachers with SPED background in mainstream schools) and Dr. Camara (Digital
Natives).
I support the use of technology as a tool to alleviate
the existing difficulties in the supply and demand for quality teachers as
well. If currently there is a brain-drain here in the Philippines due to the
high number of migrating professionals, then let’s be resourceful and creative
by providing the teachers who decided to stay with the tools they can use to
maximize their potential in teaching a large number of students with even just
a few qualified teachers.
For me all the lessons I have received during my Special Education Masters Program are interrelated which inspires me to create something from the
knowledge I have accumulated here in the university. I think its time to think
on what works instead of what is not working. A saying I got from the ADHD
society puts this in perspective “I know already my garbage, now help me find
my gems”. We know what is lacking and that is a big question which requires a
bigger answer of “So now let’s find a way to answer that question and let’s not
just think of a solution but rather produce something concrete and tangible
that we can test and get results.
Let’s take a risk to try out something; do something;
produce something; even if it means that we fail on this “something”. What
matters is that we learned something. We’ll never know what works until we’ve
tried it out for ourselves. Even if it means trying a thousand times at least
we know 999 ways that will not work. That for me is learning. Real learning. As
Bill Gates said, “success is a poor teacher”. It makes us think we are
invinsible. As for me, learning from mistakes is as valuable if not more
valuable as learning from successes because failures teach us the importance of
values.
I think the problem why there is not much being done
in the Philippines compared to the technologies abroad is because we
have not cultivated the desire to experiment, to create our OWN technology.
There is this thinking that products abroad are better than
what we will come up with. But how can we think or even dream of ever acquiring
better products if we’ve never even tried to come up with our own prototype.
And so in my thesis, I hope to create a program that is a prototype of
something I think will not just help children learn math easier but teach a
life skill which is financial literacy. If this program of mine can work for
children with special needs then what more for those who do not need special
attention? Just as Montessori first developed her program for children with
mental retardation as the beta testers at that time. It’s a win-win project for
everyone if it becomes successful. The question is if its successful? If its
not then I know that my study has provided an inch forward to what could be greater
improvements if not from me then for other researchers who would be inspired to
do something about the shared we advocacy we have which is teaching the future.
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