Can EdTech Improve Special Education?
Let me come clean. I’m pretty cynical when it comes to education technology (EdTech). That said, I’m starting to believe that technology might be able to improve the work lives of special educators, which in turn, will help kids with special needs.
Special education teachers are in short supply and many of the ones we have are overworked and burning out. We desperately need more but we have fewer every year. As school and district leaders, we need to make their jobs easier; EdTech can do that.
What’s The Goal Of EdTech?
Investors love EdTech; teachers, not so much. Too often the software, app, platform or service just doesn’t seem to help kids much and staff have to work harder to get to the same result. I think this is because so much EdTech seems focused on replacing the teacher, rather than empowering and freeing them up.
The EdTech that could help improve special education is the stuff that can enable teachers to be more productive. Basically, look to EdTech to ease the administrative burden of special education, not the teaching. This includes:
There are technologies on the market now that can make it easier for special educators to communicate, collaborate, and plan with fellow teachers, including general ed classroom teachers.
Scheduling software can streamline the sometimes complicated, always tedious job of making sure every child who needs a service gets it without missing critical core instruction.
Some software augments clunky IEP systems to help teachers write better IEPs, faster.
Special Educators Need This
I never recommend specific products, but the idea that technology can streamline administrative efforts and improve communication is the bedrock of modern-day technology, like Microsoft Excel and email. Unlike hoping that technology will be a better teacher than a teacher, assuming it can make repetitive tasks easier and better seems like a safe bet.
Now is a great time to ease the work life of special educators. Everyone had a tough year, but special ed staff had one of the toughest jobs before the pandemic, a lot of extra responsibilities during remorse and hybrid schooling, and staff shortages keep rising. If staff can spend more time with kids and less time building schedules, tracking down other teachers, and writing IEPs, then morale will increase and more kids get more services as well.