St. John’s Parish School
925
Chenery Street • San Francisco, CA 94131 • 415-584-8383 •
www.stjohnseagles.com
September 10, 2002
Innovative Technology & Inclusive Education
Inclusive education and innovative technology means empowerment for At-Risk Students. "At-Risk." The phrase is used more or less broadly, but most definitions involve themes of low self-esteem, powerlessness, and an inability to find a way into society's mainstream. In our culture, a student at risk is any youngster who is not doing well in school. If children are not doing well in school they're at risk of not developing a sense of power and self-esteem.
One of the steps toward building self-esteem and inclusive education is to provide technology to all students and educators when and where access is needed. Accessibility of technology is crucial for students who may need instruction outside from the classroom. If access to technology can help at-risk students build confidence in their own learning then inclusive education will be realized.
For St. John’s, inclusive education also mirrors the community to which our students belong. St. John’s is located in the inner city of San Francisco, CA, hence, we welcome families from a variety of backgrounds. Although most of our students achieve excellence in education, there are many others whose home, economic, behavioral and learning conditions sorely handicap their progress. By providing accessible technology we believe we will assist students to overcome some potentially destructive educational obstacles.
Our wireless educational environment makes mobile technology available to our students during actual curriculum instruction and more importantly makes it available to our at-risk students within a small resource setting. Inclusive education at St. John’s does not only mean access to technology but equity of access. Economically, many of our students would have no other access to technology if not for our school’s commitment to making technology equally accessible to all students.
Mobile
technology provides educators and students with the tools needed to encourage
new ways of learning by making technology available to those responsible for
creating inclusive educational environments. Transportable technologies will
extend a special need student’s instruction beyond the classroom and
bridge the child’s learning needs between the classroom environment and a
smaller more specialized learning setting. This educational bridge via mobile
technology makes inclusive education possible.
Inclusive education is not restricted to a classroom or a desk. Technology should not be either. By using laptops anywhere within the school, students can begin an assignment in one location, take it to another or even outside, and continue working on their projects. Mobile technology allows a student who possesses the need for more time to work longer on assignments and therefore, produce higher quality work. Moreover, mobile technology insures that the child’s work can follow the student. Students can also work with different specialized educators at different times to meet specialized learning needs.
Inclusive education also extends beyond our student population. St. John’s has a wonderful teacher who possesses some physical limitations. Her physical challenges enabled us to explore innovative technologies that would accommodate her needs. This teacher now serves as a main catalyst for implementing technology that insures inclusive education for students with physical challenges.
Finally, our students, teachers and families have all been the impetus behind our thrust toward innovative technology. Our sincere desire to meet the needs of those within our educational community that have special needs, has empowered us to constantly explore technologies that accommodate the at-risk student. Our innovative approach to wireless technology will enhance our work with our at-risk students, enable our teachers to be more effective, and ultimately give hope to our families that children with special needs will be included in St. John’s educational community, thus, be the recipients of innovative technology and inclusive education.