Expanding educational opportunities for exceptional children in Trinidad and Tobago: A training program for their teachers in computer assisted instruction

Computers and computer assisted instruction have proven their value for effective learning in every day educational settings around the world. Often perceived only for the intellectually and physically able, the use of computer assisted instruction for children with various disabilities is recorded in recent computer-assisted instruction literature. However, some countries have been reticent in utilizing computers for their special needs learners due to many factors, not the least of which is the unavailability of funds. In this paper, the authors relate how a small amount of funds, minsisterial will, and initiative, educators of the handicapped were taught how to use micro-computers to teach children language arts and mathematics. Objectives of a one-week workshop are outlined and carried out. The evaluation, both in qualitative and quantitative terms are presented. COmments provided by the trainees were used as a basis for planning a further one-week follow-up and evaluation. The major significance of this paper is the excitement, enthusiasm, and motivation generated among educators and children with a variety of handicapping conditions as a result of the introduction of computer assisted instruction. This article will prove to be most valuable to educators of children with handicapping conditions in developing and least-developed countries