1.1 The contribution of educational technology With that said, the potential of technology to enhance learning cannot be overemphasized. The use of technology is something that started a long time ago for students with special needs. For example, brail machines have been utilized for the visually impaired. In addition, special needs programs that help children with autism use technology to enhance learning. By integrating technology into education, educators aim to engender pedagogical change and address fundamental issues that affect learners with special needs. Technology can therefore be seen as both a tool and a catalyst for change.
Today, technologies used to improve and facilitate learning can be found everywhere. Leaving other contextual factors to the side – such as unequal access to technological innovations and connected technologies across schools and districts – we can only say that we have embraced technology in education when it is used for both teaching and learning. With the incorporation of technology into schools, the main purpose is to change how teachers and students gather, access, analyse, present and transmit information. This can democratize information in classrooms as well as help differentiate instruction, particularly for students with special needs.
Assistive technology can be defined as an item, piece of equipment or product system that can be used to maintain, increase or improve functional capabilities for any person with a special need. Thus, the incorporation of educational technology can also provide benefits to students with disabilities who may be in a better position to interact with the lesson through technology. Moreover, technology can place teachers in a better position to customize learning for students with special needs.
What is the relationship between technology in education and pedagogy?
Research has illustrated that many educators have had a hard time integrating technology into education. This may be because many educators have yet to explore the relationship between technology and pedagogy. Doing so could play a huge part in encouraging critical thinking by teachers as they attempt to integrate technology into education.
At the same time, for technology to work effectively, it should only be incorporated in classroom if it is appropriate for a given instructional task. Also, technology can only be an effective teaching tool if teachers participate in decisions to adopt technology. This is because teachers have the responsibility of facilitating instruction and incorporating technology at the classroom level, yet many school administrators tend to make decisions related to technology adoption/training without consulting teachers2.
