National Centre for Technology in Education

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Matching Technology and Students

There are several critical areas to be considered in selecting and using technology. This section covers an easy to use framework for matching technology and students developed by Joy Zabala (see references below).

The SETT model focuses on four critical areas:

- The student
- The environment
- The tasks
- The tools

In assessing any intervention the professionals and student (where appropriate) involved in the student’s education need to gather data on these four topics, to make informed decisions.

STUDENT
The prime focus should be the needs of the student and the purpose of ICT.
- What are the barriers to learning?
- What does the student need to be able to do?
- What are the student’s particular special needs?
- What is the learning style of the student?

ENVIRONMENT
- Where will the student use ICT?
- How will ICT be provided or accommodated in each setting (class, computer room, home)?
- What support is available?
- What are the expectations of ICT (for both student and teacher)?

TASKS
- What tasks is this student expected to complete?
- What particular elements of tasks are problematic for this student?
- What activities take place that the ICT could possibly support?
- Which curricular elements can be supported by ICT?

TOOLS
After considering who will use the ICT, where it will be used, what it will be used for, then look at available tools.

- What hardware, software, on-line resources might meet the needs of the student?
- What teaching/learning strategies will facilitate learning through ICT?
- What strategies will you use to support the student while they learn to use the technology available?

You may need to make modifications to your chosen ICT to make a good match.


References:

Zabala, J. (2002). Get SETT for successful inclusion and transition. Available at http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/technology/zabalaSETT1.html

Zabala, J. (1995). The SETT Framework:  Critical areas to consider when making informed assistive technology decisions. Available at http://www.joyzabala.com

Zabala, J. Welcome to the Ready! SETT! Go! Online Workshop. Available at http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/workshops/sett3/index.html