WA education minister Liz Constable said the government was spending $4million over four years to install new interactive whiteboards in classrooms.

The funding would assist public schools to help students with disabilities learn through the use of technology.

The Minister said touch technology was benefiting students, particularly those with special needs such as autism and intellectual disability.

“The technology allows teachers and students to physically interact with education software programs on a large whiteboard screen,” she said.

“Students with autism are visual and the technology allows teachers to run image-based programs on the screen.”

According to Dr Constable, students can use a pointer to move and drag information around the screen.

“At South Ballajura Education Support Centre, teachers are using the technology to help their students develop spelling and numeracy skills using visually-based programs,” she said.

The technology works by connecting the whiteboard to a computer and a projector by a USB cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth.

 

The whiteboard display simulates a computer mouse and keyboard and is operated by using a special pen or by finger touch.

 

Centre for Inclusive Schooling senior consultant Hillary Epton said the use of interactive whiteboards by teachers means assistive technology can be integrated into the classroom, so it becomes more inclusive.

The South Ballajura Education Support Centre is one of the 150 public schools in the first year of the program, to receive funding.

The announcement comes as the More Than Gadgets: Assistive Technology Tools for Access and Learning Conference runs in Fremantle.

 

United Kingdom educational technology expert and former teacher John Crick is presenting a keynote address on the topic of Assistive Technology Doesn’t Just Happen.

 

Mr Crick has wide-ranging experience in software, the creation of reading and writing tools, assistive technology and curriculum content for students with disability.

The Minister said the State Government had allocated $578million for capital improvements and works in public schools across the state during the 2011-12 financial year.