Using Anchored Instruction to Teach About Assistive Technology

Abstract

This investigation reports about the development and formative evaluation of an assistive technology instructional module that was developed in an integrated hypermedia format according to principles of anchored instruction. The module was field-tested with undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals. Revisions were made in the module on the basis of feedback from the field tests. It was concluded that people respond positively to anchored instruction on the topic of assistive technology and that anchored instruction appears to have utility for both preservice and inservice training. A number of implications are described for those who are involved in the development and delivery of instruction about assistive technology.

An Exploratory Comparison of Traditional Classroom Instruction and Anchored Instruction with Secondary School Students: Turkish Experience

“…Anchored instruction method has been used with positive results to promote content understanding in social studies (Glaser, Rieth, Kinzer, Prestidge & Peter, 1999;Okolo, Ferretti & MacArthur, 2002) and English language arts (Rieth et al, 2003) and to develop proficiency with mathematics (Bottge, Heinrichs, Chan, Mehta & Watson, 2003).The concept has been used to examine gains in achievement in mathematics for students in general (Shyu, 2000) and teaching students and professionals about assistive technology (Blackhurst & Morse, 1996). In the studies where the anchored instruction method is applied on fifth and sixth grade students, it is observed that their academic success improved in terms of their mathematics classes.…”

The Effectiveness of Video Tutorials for Teaching Preservice Educators to Use Assistive Technologies

“…At the time of this literature review, only a few articles were found that described instructional methods or models for integrating assistive technology into teacher preparation programs (Anderson & Petch-Hogan, 2001;Blackhurst & Morse, 1996;Bryant, Erin, Lock, Allan, & Resta, 1998;Jeffs & Banister, 2006;Wojcik et al, 2004). Some researchers described instructional methods for integrating assistive technology into teacher education programs.…”

“…Some researchers described instructional methods for integrating assistive technology into teacher education programs. For example, Blackhurst and Morse (1996) described the development and pilot use of a module on AT developed using hypermedia that followed principles of anchored instruction. The module incorporated videos and other multimedia and was used and evaluated by three different groups (undergraduate students, graduate students, and inservice professionals).…”

A Research Synthesis of the Literature on Multimedia Anchored Instruction in Preservice Teacher Education

“…In teacher education, the intent is to ease the transition from preservice teacher to successful induction. MAI has been used to deliver content in both general education and special education teacher education (Blackhurst & Morse, 1996;Kumar & Sherwood, 1997;Langone, Malone, Stecker, & Greene, 1998;Welch & Brownell, 2002). In light of the proliferation of technology in teacher education and the widespread use of video as an instructional medium, a synthesis of the literature on MAI to summarize findings, discuss implications for future research, and develop recommendations for current practice would be useful.…”