Digital Literacy and Special Education: An Investigation of Special Education Teachers' Digital Literacy Skills

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: Using Technology to Improve Educational Opportunities for Students With Disabilities

Abstract

A goal of secondary education and special education transition services is to prepare students for life beyond high school. That life now requires that graduates have acquired the digital literacy skills needed to attend post-secondary education and/or gain competitive and integrated employment. Research has shown that students with disabilities are not adequately acquiring these needed digital literacy skills in the classroom. This is likely because special educators do not have adequate digital literacy skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate special education teachers’ digital literacy skills to help inform the development of curricular and/or professional development changes. In this session, we will report the results of our inquiry and the implications for research and practice.

Authors

• Michael Humphrey, Boise State University

• Patrick R. Lowenthal, Boise State University

• Quincy Conley, A. T. Still University

• Alison Lowenthal