Implementing Specialtech Kidz

Specialtech Kidz was born out of a need to support differentiated instruction within my preschool classroom. This idea came about not because of children at different learning stages but because I have the privilege of being teacher to two students who have been formal diagnosed with Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder Level three.

The student with Down Syndrome is often very busy and likes to move away from the classroom continuously. Thus she usually causes a disruption in teaching and learning activities. She has little speech and does not speak in full sentences or coherently, however, she understands instructions most of the time. Her attention span is extremely short except for when she is being engaged with technology.

The student with Autism Spectrum Disorder has many changing moods and consequently some of these moods disrupt not only the teaching and learning activities but is sometimes frightening to the other students. She has little speech and often shows gestures when she wants something. She appears to understand instructions when given although she is not always compliant. She appears to have little patience when engaging in activities and even eating time. She is mostly engaged when placed in a position to view or operate a technological device.

The stake holders involved are mainly the teachers. There is one teacher who officially teaches Robotics to all the students in the school. Class teachers however, provide opportunity for students to be engaged in the online classroom. Parents are encouraged to support the use of technology in a positive way in their homes. Due to past experiences of devices not being returned to the school, it has been decided that the working tablets will remain on the school's compound to be used within the classroom setting.