using assistive technology to improve student...

April 9, 2016

Presented by:

Rahila Chughtai

Alana Shields-

Barker

Andrew Barker

Using Assistive

Technology to Improve

Student Outcomes

Assistive Technology is any technology that helps a student with special learning needs maintain or improve his/her academic performance.

Assistive Technology

Its applications and adaptations can help open doors to previously inaccessible learning opportunities for many children with special needs (Judge, 2001).

Receptive / Expressive language ➢ Difficulty understanding & following group direction

➢ Difficulty understanding expectations

➢ Difficulty communicating what they know or understand

➢ Visual learners

Barriers to Learning

Sensory Processing ➢ Inability to focus due to over/under stimulation of senses

➢ Difficulty with handwriting and other motor activities

➢ Easily overwhelmed due to sensory overload, possibly

leading to meltdowns

Executive Function ➢ Difficulty in task initiation, sequencing and task completion

➢ Time management, self regulation and maintaining focus

can be challenging

➢ Lack of response inhibition

➢ Difficulty in working memory and organization

Barriers to Learning

Social skills and the hidden curriculum ➢ Reading non-verbal messages from teachers and peers

➢ Difficulty understanding unwritten rules and expectations

➢ Difficulty with flexibil ity: rule-bound, black and white

thinkers

Why use technology?

Reprinted with permission from Karina Barley, M.Ed.

from her presentation “Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy”

www.digitallearningtree2.com/

Reprinted with permission from Karina Barley, M.Ed.

from her presentation “Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy”

www.digitallearningtree2.com/

“Using the iPad (technology) purposefully with educational outcomes in mind elevates this technology to an educational tool that can be integrated into the curriculum.”

• Sam an 11yr old with GDD and ASD

• Struggles with executive functioning skills and receptive/expressive communication

• Gross motor and fine motor delays

• Has access to computer and iPad at home and school

Student Profiles: Sam

Sam’s Communication Book

Student Profiles: Sam

Student Profiles: Sam Understanding money was a challenge …

Student Profiles: Sam

...but with the right tools, it transformed to a real life skill!

• Now in charge of his communication between home

& school

• Learning new concepts and achieving at a level which was previously considered to be beyond his ability

• Building confidence through independence

• Participating in the school and community at levels previously considered beyond his ability

Student Profiles: Sam

How is technology helping Sam?

• Diagnosed at age 4: ASD (Asperger’s Syndrome), Sensory Integration Disorder

• Additional Diagnosis at age 12: ADD, Learning Disability

• Currently 19yrs old

• Attending Seneca College in Dual Credit Program .

• Accepted into CYW program at Seneca for the fall.

Student Profiles: Andrew

Fine motor skills + language comprehension challenge = OVERLOAD

Language comprehension + teasing out the actual math problem = OVERLOAD

Student Profiles: Andrew

Grade 5 Math: Introduction of language-based

problems created more Learning difficulties

Handwriting lengthy paragraphs for test questions Teasing the math problem out of the jumble of words

Scans, completes & submits worksheets on iPad

Student Profiles: Andrew

Executive Function Challenges Tech Support Solutions

Difficulty tracking assignments & due dates

Scanning, completing & printing worksheets was time consuming and teacher/EA dependent

Google Calendar helps him track important dates

Teacher uses Moodle program for the whole class

• Task planning is easier to break down

• Eliminated the stress and sensory overload

• Increased Autonomy and Independence

• Now has CHOICE - Completes 1500 word essays using both computer and handwriting

• Became Honours Student in Grades 11 and 12 consistently

Student Profiles: Andrew

How did Technology help Andrew?

• Nick, 10yr old boy with Autism

• Non-verbal and sensory seeker

• Not being able to communicate led to “behaviours”

• Uses Proloquo2Go on iPad at home and school

Student Profiles: Nick

Expresses his wants and needs

Student Profiles: Nick

“I want pancakes”

Socializes with peers

“play with me!”

Student Profiles: Nick

Student Profiles: Nick

Expresses his feelings and emotions

“I feel sick”

“I am hurt”

Student Profiles: Nick

How is technology helping Nick?

● Family, therapists and teachers now have an understanding of his abilities, and are able to teach and challenge him at his level

● Nick is not getting frustrated and has much less “behaviours”

● As he is able to communicate Nick can now focus on learning at school and socializing with his peers

Technological Supports: Computers

Word prediction & writing software helps students struggling with fine motor and writing

Text to Speech & Speech to Text software makes curriculum accessible for students with reading/writing

challenges

Graphic Organizers help visual thinkers create mind maps

Alternative Keyboards help students overcome visual, fine motor and reading/writing challenges

Notability

Scans handouts and converts to PDFs, which can be

completed by stylus or typing Book Creator

Create stories, social stories, learning new

concepts

Reminder

Use for daily, weekly reminders, homework

reminders, checklists, to do lists

iWordQ

Reading & writing app, offers word prediction, speech

feedback, document sharing, proof reading and reading

to learn assistance

Technological Supports: Tablets

Read2Go

Accessible ebook reader for Bookshare titles

Gives access to largest online library for people with disabilities

MathBoard

Configurable math app, for grades K to 7

Teaches addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

Pictello

Create social stories, visual schedules, write personal

narrative using pictures, create ebooks

Popplet

Capture and organize ideas, make visuals for clarity,

create mind maps

Technological Supports: Tablets

...must be an integral part of daily learning for students with special needs, always accessible and seamlessly integrated

Technology...

...does not replace social interaction and good teaching practices

Reprinted with permission from Karina Barley, M.Ed.

from her presentation “Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy”

www.digitallearningtree2.com/

“For people without

disabilities, technology makes

things easier. For people with

disabilities, technology makes

things possible.” Mary Pat Radabaugh Director IBM National Support Center for Persons with Disabilities, 1991

Micah and Mandy Klein

Robyn and Nicholas Senior

Andrew Barker

Karina Barley, M.Ed.

Jodi and Kyle Echakowitz

Anne Mason

Sherry Caldwell

Daniele Fiorindi

With Special Thanks to....