Eric.ed.gov – Online Teacher Training: The Early Childhood Technology Integrated Instructional System–Phase 3

Legislation, research, and practice support access to technology by young children with disabilities. Yet barriers to technology use–lack of training, inadequate funding, failure to acknowledge technology as a relevant issue, or disbelief that technology can positively impact young children with disabilities–often prevail among many disciplines important to early childhood teams (Barnett, 2001; Healy, 1998; Hutinger, Hall, Johanson, Robinson, Stoneburner, & Wisslead, 1994; Pressman, 1999). The purpose of this study is to present the findings from the Early Childhood Technology Integrated Instructional System (EC-TIIS)–Phase 3 project. EC-TIIS utilizes nine online workshops (Adaptations, Computer Environment, Curriculum Integration, Emergent Literacy, Expressive Arts, Family Participation, Math, Science, and Social Studies, Software Evaluation, Technology Assessment) to assist teachers’ use of technology with children with special needs. It was also designed as a training tool for teacher candidates. The online workshops were made available to in-service and pre-service teachers, and evaluated with the use of mixed methods. (Contains 1 footnote.)