Date Approved

4-29-1999

Embargo Period

8-2-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Special Education

Department

Interdisciplinary and Inclusive Education

College

College of Education

Advisor

Kuder, S. Jay

Subject(s)

Computers and people with disabilities; Education--Data processing; Special education teachers--Attitudes

Disciplines

Special Education and Teaching

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the use of computer technology during the instruction of students with special needs. The study examined how computer technology was used during instruction by special education teachers and by students with mild disabilities and students with severe disabilities. The relationship between the category of student with special needs, the academic areas of Language Arts and Mathematics and the computer application used during instruction were the focus of the research. Special education teachers of students with mild and students of severe disabilities teaching in a variety of classroom setting were surveyed. Teachers of students with severe disabilities were found to use the computer as frequently as teachers of students with mild disabilities. The computer was utilized more often during Language Arts instruction for students with mild disabilities and during Math instruction for students with severe disabilities. The computer application of drill and practice was found to be used most often during instruction by students with special needs. Special education teachers considered the computer to be an effective instructional tool, but teachers of students with mild disabilities were found to consider the computer to be more effective than teachers of students with severe disabilities. This research suggests that the computer is a viable and effective mode of instruction that is being utilized by special education teachers to instruct students with mild disabilities and students with severe disabilities.

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