Technology for Students with
Learning Disabilities
ChapterThree
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Overview
• Defining Learning Disabilities
• Instructional Approaches
• Uses of Technology in Content Areas
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Defining Learning Disabilities
• A discrepancy between ability and performance
• Categories include– Auditory-language– Visual-spatial– Motor-related– Organizational– Academic difficulty– Social skills disorders
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Instructional Approaches for Students with LD?
• Remedial
• Task analysis
• Project-based learning
• Direct instruction
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Advantages of Technology for Students with LD
• Individualized instruction– Focus on specific skill or task– Immediate feedback
• Interesting and engaging presentation
• Students have greater control over learning environment and work at own pace
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Technology in Content-Area Learning (Part 1)
• Reading
– Phonemic awareness (software such as Earobics)
– Basic skills remediation (Reading Blaster)
– Integrated remedial instruction (READ 180)
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Technology in Content-Area Learning (Part 2)
• Written language
– Word processing
– Text to speech
– Word prediction
– Voice recognition
– Keyboarding
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Technology in Content-Area Learning (Part 3)
• Mathematics– Practice skills– Integrated into problem solving
• Study skills and organization– Note-taking– Scheduling (with a personal digital assistant)– Brainstorming and concept mapping
(with Inspiration)
• Interdisciplinary activities– Authoring programs, web-based learning
FIGURE 3.3 A screen from Inspiration
An Example of Concept Mapping with Inspiration
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Summary
• Learning disabilities include a wide range of abilities and disabilities
• Students need specific instruction on deficit skills while enriching strengths
• Technology can support both remediation and enrichment