Assistive technology as a factor of improving education achievement for students with visual impairment at Kibos secondary school Kisumu county, Kenya
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Date
2014-10-03
Authors
Oira, Maaga
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to encourage teachers and students to shift from over
relying on old technology to new technology that is quick and efficient in acquisition
of education. Also to analyze the contribution and role of assistive technology in
improving education achievement for students with visual impairment at Kibos
special secondary school. The objectives of the study include; to establish the access
technology engaged in the teaching of students with visual impairment at secondary
school level, identify the kind of technology used in Kenyan secondary schools,
examine the criteria used in selecting the best media that suits the student's individual
needs, to find out the challenges faced by teachers and students using access
technology, determine ways teachers and students with visual impairment cope with
the various types of assistive technology and finally, the impact of assistive
technology on the education achievement of students with visual impairment.
Students in United States and countries like Canada and Australia work independently
as they use modem technology to complement them in their academic activities in
revision, socialization and sharing in many areas of education. In Kenya, the
curriculum and policies guiding technology utilization among students and teachers
are lacking. It is even worse among students with visual impairment whose education
has been emancipated by technology. Technology used by these students is manual
braille through use of bailers, slate and stylus which require to be replaced with
efficient technological innovations such as Smart Bailers; computers fitted with
assistive technology such as large print access, speech access, Braille access, and
scanned material access. Modem technology has a high ability to unlock learning and
expand possibilities of students. Assistive technology can be a great equalizer in the
sense that for the Braille user, it allows students to provide feedback by producing
materials in Braille for personal use and then in print for the teacher, classmates,
parents and others who may not be conversant with Braille. The technology gives
students with visual impairment the power of storing, retrieving and disseminating
information. The study methodology employed is case study and the design is
descriptive. The sample size is 40 respondents, comprising 30 form two and three
students, eight teachers, a transcriber and a librarian. Methods of data analysis will be
Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) and will be presented in percentages,
graphs, charts, and tables to reflect the findings ofthe study
Description
School of Education