instructional technology

Can AI Help With Special Education?

Teachers have been experiencing increased efficiency in handling paperwork thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). However, using AI for instruction for students with disabilities and learning differences is still challenging and requires a cautious approach. A recent article from Education Week, “Can AI Help With Special Ed? There’s Promise and Reason to Be Cautious,” explores the potential and challenges of AI in special education. This article is based on insights from a June 25 panel discussion at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference, featuring our CIDDL PI’s Trey Vasquez Ph.D., a professor at the University of Central Florida, and James Basham Ph.D., a professor at the University of Kansas.

CIDDList: Replacements for Your Retiring Favorites

If you haven’t heard, Google is retiring Jamboard and Microsoft is limiting availability of Flip to those with Teams accounts. While this news may require some revisions to courses and classrooms, it provides an opportunity for teacher-educators and special education personnel to leverage newer innovations in their curriculum. Thus, in this CIDDList, we will highlight tools you can use in place of these well-loved sites.

Myths and Facts of “Hi-Flex” Course Design

On June 26th, 2024, CIDDL hosted a webinar to discuss the evolution and current state of “hi-flex” teaching, addressing common misconceptions and providing factual information. During the webinar, Martha Burtis, Director of Open CoLab Plymouth State University, and Bryan Mascio, Ed.D. Faculty-in-Residence, Power of Place Learning Communities: Educational Consultant emphasized the importance of pedagogy over modality and technology in the ‘Hi-Flex with an AI’ approach.

Person using a laptop computer and taking notes in a notebook.

Technology-Based Graphic Organizers to Support Writing

This brief focuses on the use of technology-based graphic organizers (TBGOs) with struggling writers. Writing is a complex task with which students with and without disabilities struggle (Graham et al., 2017). One practice to help struggling writers is teaching them to use graphic organizers. Graphic organizers support students through visual and spatial displays and can improve comprehension and quality of writing when used during pre-writing activities (Hughes et al., 2019).

Members of the CIDDL Tech Alliance pose for a group photo.

Introducing the Tech Alliance

The first cohort of the CIDDL Tech Alliance met this past week to design a Technology Integration Plan (TIP) for their programs through a collaborative and iterative process, facilitated by CIDDL staff.

Three students work on laptops and write in journals while working together around a table.

Preparing for the Fall Semester: The Wrap Up

This summer, we set out to provide resources to support faculty in aligning technology standards, designing inclusive syllabi, giving tips and tricks to integrate technology, and providing specific tools that can be used in preparation programs.

UDL Implementation in Teacher Preparation Programs

UDL Implementation in Teacher Preparation Programs Author: Ashley Grays; info@ciddl.org CIDDL invited Dr. Stephanie Craig, and Ann Kaufman to discuss using UDL in Teacher Preparation Programs. Facilitated by Dr. Tara Courchaine, Chief Research & Development Officer at CAST, these two…

person holding and ipad looking at augmented reality on screen

5 Augmented Reality Apps Under $5 For Your Science Classroom

5 Augmented Reality Apps Under $5 For Your Science Classroom Author: Shalece Kohnke; info@ciddl.org “Science is too hard!” “I just don’t get it!” “I HATE science!” I heard these three phrases at the start of every school year or when…

person holding iphone in front of lap top

Introducing the Assistive Technology Blog Series

This is post 2 of 13 in the series “Assistive Technology” Assisting Teachers in Understanding Assistive Technology: What Recent Research Says Introducing the Assistive Technology Blog Series Assistive Technology to Support Writing Preparing Pre-Service Educators to Make AT Decisions 3…

Strategies and Technologies Supporting for Co-Teaching

Strategies and Technology Supporting for Effective Co-Teaching Author: Nicholas Jay Hoekstra; info@ciddl.org In the March, 2022 CIDDL Research and Practice Brief, we interviewed Dr. Peggy Weiss to discuss strategies and technologies that can be used to support effective co-teaching. Dr.…

Tag: instructional technology