The idea behind this statement had been cropping up in my mind throughout the latest unit of my course. I kept feeling that in a lot of cases, when deciding on where and how to use technology in the classroom it automatically made it easier for my students with specific learning needs to be more successful. When carefully choosing what tech to use, the process of meeting students’ needs becomes more fluid. All students benefit from resources that can help with organization, engagement, creativity etc. Having multiple options open to students, like in my lesson for Settlers of New France for example, each student is able to jump in where they feel comfortable and everyone is still accessing the same information and activities. While many students would have been able to complete a pen and paper task, my students with special needs would have struggled. They need assistive technology to reach their potential. But the benefits are not just limited to them. Having a variety of options open means everyone can try and explore something new to them. All students can access material that they might otherwise not be able to and do this independently. This leads to more confidence, better discussions, understanding, collaboration and ultimately performance for everyone in the classroom.
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