QF academic stresses key role of tech in special education

An academic from Qatar Foundation has emphasised the significant role of technology for students’ communication in special education while highlighting the involvement of parents within this learning process.
Matthew Campion, director of Renad Academy, QF noted the importance of technology in enhancing education, ahead of the International Day of Education observed Wednesday through a series of activities and sessions at Education City.
Campion explained: “Renad Academy, which supports students with autism and their families, is committed to integrating innovative technology within the classroom, while prioritising the involvement of parents within this learning process. The technology for special education is fundamental for children in terms of their communication and their access to learning.”
Campion said that many of the children at Renad Academy are preverbal. “So they can use the technology to communicate, and this gives them the opportunity to have a voice, to be able to speak, and to share their needs and their feelings. The use of interactive applications or games to access the learning world and the wider world is vital for all our children,” he said.
The academic noted that the institute is keen to integrate technology into the educational process in effective and innovative ways, and use a variety of applications and programmes that give the students access to educational resources and enhance their academic experience using devices such as iPads and Chromebooks, as well as interactive boards, to facilitate the learning and communication process.
The director stressed the role of parents in this learning journey. “A big part of the learning technology is that we train the parents to support their children. Our team, especially the speech and language therapists, work with children on a particular application, but they've also created training modules, like webinars or screencasts, to guide parents through a step-by-step journey,” he said.
“We pay special attention to continuous communication with parents. We hold face-to-face meetings with them regularly to review their children's needs and consider the resources available to them. By cultivating these relationships with parents, we have been able to increase communication, which has facilitated ongoing conversations about what is appropriate for each case,” he pointed out.
“Concerns were also raised about the excessive use of electronic devices at home, and their impact on children’s behaviour. We provide support and guidance to parents through workshops and collaborations with different organisations. We work to develop positive strategies, allowing technology to be used more selectively and effectively in the educational process,” he said and highlighted about the need for distinguishing between the use of technology for educational and entertainment purposes.
Campion stated that with collaboration between school and parents, and the technology used, students can express themselves more effectively which reflects the transformative power of technology in education and the importance of the role of the family and school in supporting student development.
“I call on all parents to focus on their children's abilities and uniqueness rather than on their disability. We know that not every child will be able to go to work, go to university, or live independently, but each of our children can achieve at different levels, and, therefore, technology will be very important because having this ability to communicate first and foremost is the primary need. Each child must communicate to advocate for his or her own needs,” concluded Campion.