SETT+ASNAT+Picking+the+Right+Tool

Picking the right tool depends on Understanding **STUDENT NEED (S)** Understanding the **ENVIRONMENT (E)** in which the tool must function: This is a huge area and is often not discussed as part of student assistance or IEP teams. It is the huge reason why technology gets abandoned! Understanding the **TASK (T)** that the tool is supposed to do or support! This is known as SETT and is the basis for the manual ASNAT that we developed in WI to help teams consider technology as part of the support tools package for struggling student. The ASNAT process and manual can be downloaded for free at [|www.wati.org]. Look under the support tab and free publications.

Framed by the concept of SETT, tool choices discussed in these pages are designed to look not only at the individual needs of the student but also the systems that need to be built to make these supports functional, teachable, and usable. If you are not familar with SETT, it was developed by Joy Zabala, [] and offers a framework for thinking about technology implementation. The Acronym stands for Student, Environment, Task and Tool. Student considerations may feel quite familiar. A student meets challenges at school and a meeting is convened. This meeting may be an RTI based intervention team, 504 or IEP team. Notice the emphasis on the word TEAM. When students struggle it helps to have more minds at work helping to generate solutions. This includes the student and their family. Technology supports may be considered during these meetings,Consideration is mandatory for IEP teams. That being said it can easily be overlooked if staff don't have or are not familar with technology supports that may work. Thus the E and T of SETT, namely environment and task.are critical to success but not discussed at the meeting. Unfortunately, this is often where technology integration gets waylaid because the realities of implementation have not been added into the consideration. What equipment is needed? How will we get it? Do we have enough tools? Do we have the right tools? How dow we use the tools? How do we teach students how to use the tool? How do we integrate tools into the places the they are needed during the school day? Are we using the tool to accomodate of modify? Lots of questions arise when it comes to actually using technology to assist learning and very little discussion is spent on how to do it. Again think "team" Check out the System support for E-text page for a sample system response to a growing need for alternate digital material.