Education In The New Millennium

1. Education In The New Millennium Mary Ellen Kearns Chapter 16

2. What does the future of education look like? • More main streaming, less children in special ed. resource classes • Increase use of assistive technology • Increase in parental and society involvement in school activities • Decrease class size and increase adult to student ratios • Increase curriculum offerings • Changes in teacher education • Better salaries and working conditions for teachers

3. Increased Mainstreaming • The law requires students to be taught in the least restrictive environment- inclusion • We should minimize labeling and maximize healthy peer relations • Majority of students remain in the classroom unless they have severe emotional, physical or are severely learning impaired

4. Increased use of Technology • Due to laws passed in the 1990’s there has been a greater increase of technology in the classrooms -included are TV’s, computers, listening centers • Training of the teachers for computer use • Evaluations of specific learning interventions effectiveness for LD • All assistive technology to be evaluated by school districts for effectiveness • It has been shown that LD children produce more written work when done on the computer

5. Class Size & Teacher Preparation Class Size • California has shown improved student achievement by limiting class size to 20 for grades K-3 • Class size needs to be restricted so students are not “warehoused” Teacher Preparation • Additional course work should be required throughout a teachers career • Need to increase the general ed. teachers knowledge of techniques for LD children • Colleges and school districts will need to provide training in special techniques to teach reading impaired children such as Lindamood Auditory Discrimination Program, Gillingham- stillman approach

6. Professional Salaries & Working Conditions • Teachers need to be monetarily compensated for their time and responsibilities