ERIC Number: EJ1470742
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2165-3151
EISSN: EISSN-2165-316X
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Preparation of a Teacher to Use Digital Technology in Teaching Primary Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Nazira Naimanova; Aizhan Sapargaliyeva; Bibigul Almukhambetova; Assem Mamekova
Journal of Information Technology Education: Innovations in Practice, v24 Article 6 2025
Aim/Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the methods of training future teachers to use information and virtual tools to work with younger students with intellectual disabilities. Background: The relevance of training future teachers to work with students with intellectual disabilities is quite high today. This is explained by the fact that the educational environment is developing based on the principles of equality and accessibility. Therefore, it assumes the provision of educational services to all categories of schoolchildren. In this context, the introduction of digital technologies into the process of interaction between a teacher and a child with intellectual disabilities is relevant. Methodology: This study explores the use of digital learning tools to improve the education of primary school children with intellectual disabilities. A quasi-experimental design was used with 30 students divided into an experimental group (n=15) using digital tools and a control group (n=15) using traditional methods. Over one month, the experimental group showed significant improvements, with 86% correct answers in test tasks compared to 66% in the control group. Additionally, 80% of the experimental group achieved "good" grades for written tasks versus 53% in the control group. Tools like PearDeck, Kahoot, and ZOOM enhanced cognitive, emotional, and social skills. Contribution: The study demonstrates that integrating digital tools into the education of children with intellectual disabilities significantly improves learning outcomes, highlighting the potential for technology to foster both academic and social development in this population. Findings: It was found that working with younger students with intellectual disabilities involves some features that teachers must consider when planning a training session. It is proved that special educational needs in younger schoolchildren affect emotional, volitional, and cognitive areas of activity. The study drew attention to these features and revealed the ways of their development based on digital technologies. Recommendations for Practitioners: The findings can be used in the preparation of teachers for classes with younger students with intellectual disability and in the development of curricula for this category of students. Recommendation for Researchers: The paper presented various approaches that can be used both in the course of full-time and distance learning. It is established that the involvement of digital tools in educational and correctional activities presupposes the mandatory availability of teachers' skills to use them effectively. Impact on Society: The findings suggest that incorporating digital technologies in special education teacher training could significantly improve educational outcomes for students with intellectual disabilities across the global education system. Future Research: Future research should examine the long-term effectiveness of digital teaching tools for students with intellectual disabilities across different cultural contexts, age groups, and disability levels, ideally with larger sample sizes and more diverse digital technologies.
Descriptors: Preservice Teacher Education, Students with Disabilities, Intellectual Disability, Teacher Competencies, Educational Technology, Technology Uses in Education, Access to Education, Elementary School Students, Program Effectiveness, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Kazakhstan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A