Over 7 million disabled pupils overcame educational challenges in 2019 while enrolled in school. That represents 14% of all enrolled students. Teachers help these children in the classroom by creating Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that are organized with the use of assistive technology. In an online environment, teachers adhere to the same procedures, but the assistive technologies and instructional strategies that are available are very different. The top ten assistive technologies for your online classroom are listed in this post, along with each one's special advantages.
What Is Assistive Technology in Special Education?
Any tool, program, or product that increases a person's capacity to complete a task is considered assistive technology. Students in a special education setting use assistive technology to meet the learning objectives outlined in their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). These tools might range from basic calculators to sophisticated speech recognition software.
In general, assistive technology can be divided into three groups:
In general, assistive technology can be divided into three groups:
- Low-tech: Term used to describe technologies that do not require sophisticated circuitry or specialist software. Pencil grips and graphic organizers are two examples.
- Mid-tech: Mid-tech assistive technologies improve the functionality of other technologies. Talking calculators, customized switches, and screen magnifiers are a few examples.
- High-tech: When assistive technologies are standalone devices that improve functionality, they are regarded as high-tech. Typical examples include text-to-speech software, word prediction tools, and keyboard and mouse substitutes.
Teachers provide assistive technology to their pupils in the classroom with the understanding that they can keep an eye on usage and direct group instruction. Teachers who use online courses are unable to use tangible assistive devices. Still, there are a lot of useful strategies that kids can employ at home, either on their own or with assistance from a caregiver.
How Can Assistive Technology Be Used to Help Students?
Assistive technology facilitate students' navigation of impediments to learning. This can require some students to move to a quiet, darkly lit environment in order to reduce stimulation. Some pupils might need further assistance, such as braille text or math equation alignment. During at-home instruction, students can utilize assistive technology to help them with the following tasks:
You can provide your pupils with internet resources that are easily accessible through assistive technologies. If you provide online resources, think about consolidating all of your resources onto a single webpage within your lesson plan. Students won't have to go through a number of webpages in this method.
- Pay attention carefully and hear the directions.
- Recognize mathematical concepts
- Boost your writing skills
- Remain involved
- Write down their ideas and solutions in full, legible text.
- Go through the assigned text.
- Interact online with instructors and fellow students.
You can provide your pupils with internet resources that are easily accessible through assistive technologies. If you provide online resources, think about consolidating all of your resources onto a single webpage within your lesson plan. Students won't have to go through a number of webpages in this method.
You can also provide assistive devices for use at home, like a braille printer or an alternate keyboard. These expenses could or might not be covered by your institution. If not, offer advice to the parents of the pupils, but be ready if the student is unable to use sophisticated assistive technology.
The Benefits of Assistive Technology for Online Education
Students can learn more easily thanks to assistive technologies. For students with impairments, being able to take charge of their education is extremely important. This sense of control may potentially transform someone's life. The following advantages are made possible by the employment of various assistive technology tools in an online classroom:
1. Instills a Sense of Independence
Everyday obstacles are overcome by students with disabilities. These difficulties at school may cause kids to feel reliant on others. While there's nothing wrong with asking for help, some kids might feel differently from their peers who don't depend on teachers as much.
Students' independence is restored with assistive technology. It enables students to take control of their education by enabling them to use technology autonomously to complete assignments.
Students' independence is restored with assistive technology. It enables students to take control of their education by enabling them to use technology autonomously to complete assignments.
2. Allows Students to Realize Their Potential
Students that take ownership of their education discover untapped potential as a result of their newfound independence. It's possible that stigmas and a lack of technology created barriers that pupils found difficult or impossible to overcome. Students can overcome these challenges when they have access to assistive technology. It is possible for students with impairments to complete more difficult and substantial assignments, setting them up for future success.
3. Restores Confidence in Students With Disabilities
Students with impairments are more self-assured and capable when they have a sense of independence and untapped potential. In the absence of assistive technology, students could lose patience when they can't finish a task. With the help of assistive technology, kids' willingness to learn and grow comes back with each job they finish.
4. Brings Students With Differing Abilities Together
Different skill levels might cause social distancing. Students acquire core principles in school, such as social skills, that they will utilize throughout their lives. Interaction between pupils of different abilities is crucial because:
Allow equal access to assistive technology for all users in an online environment. Students may feel alienated from the group if assistive technology is only available to a small number of them. Ensuring equal learning opportunities for all individuals aligns with the previously mentioned advantages.
- Students with physical disabilities are able to connect with those who are different from them, dispelling the stigma that comes with having diverse abilities.
- Students with impairments experience inclusion, which boosts their sense of value.
Allow equal access to assistive technology for all users in an online environment. Students may feel alienated from the group if assistive technology is only available to a small number of them. Ensuring equal learning opportunities for all individuals aligns with the previously mentioned advantages.
10 Best Assistive Technology Tools for Teachers and Students
For many educators, teaching online can be difficult. Even though in-person training is the norm for special education, assistive technologies enable online instruction. After creating each student's IEP, have a meeting with them to create a strategy. Make lesson plans that are both synchronous and asynchronous. Consider the learning challenges faced by the kids when reviewing their IEP, and compile a list of assistive technology that could be useful to them.
If necessary, think about using these ten assistive tools within your online training:
If necessary, think about using these ten assistive tools within your online training:
1. Speech Recognition Software
Speech recognition software, sometimes referred to as speech-to-text, interprets spoken language and uses it to carry out predefined actions. You may be familiar with modern smartphones and their speech recognition software, for instance. The software may be activated with just one sentence, and you can then speak commands to it. You can instruct the speech recognition software to call your friend, and it will initiate the call on your behalf.
Speech-to-text software helps students with disabilities, such as those with mobility disorders, by removing the need for them to physically use a keyboard or mouse. Additionally, kids who excel in verbal communication rather than writing can finish tasks like essays and short-answer questions more quickly.
Speech-to-text software helps students with disabilities, such as those with mobility disorders, by removing the need for them to physically use a keyboard or mouse. Additionally, kids who excel in verbal communication rather than writing can finish tasks like essays and short-answer questions more quickly.
2. Speech Synthesizer
In contrast, speech synthesizers, sometimes referred to as text-to-speech systems, read texts aloud to students. An audiobook is a typical text-to-speech software example. To construct whole, logical phrases, the software recognizes syllables, speech patterns, dates, abbreviations, and other elements.
Students can collaborate with text-to-speech and speech-to-text technologies. In this manner, students can converse with their speech software and the program can converse with them. Students who struggle to understand sentence and word structures or who are visually handicapped can benefit from this reciprocal interaction.
Students can collaborate with text-to-speech and speech-to-text technologies. In this manner, students can converse with their speech software and the program can converse with them. Students who struggle to understand sentence and word structures or who are visually handicapped can benefit from this reciprocal interaction.
3. Electronic Math Worksheets
It is difficult for students with dyscalculia to comprehend mathematical ideas. Differentiating between numbers is hard, and math formula alignment is hard. Students can use software applications called electronic math worksheets to align calculations, solve problems, and arrange their ideas in a single area.
Together with text-to-speech software, electronic arithmetic worksheets read math problems aloud. Talking calculators can be integrated into certain software, saving pupils from having to switch their focus between worksheets and calculators. This facilitates the completion of assignments by students with attention disorders as well as those with vision impairments.
Together with text-to-speech software, electronic arithmetic worksheets read math problems aloud. Talking calculators can be integrated into certain software, saving pupils from having to switch their focus between worksheets and calculators. This facilitates the completion of assignments by students with attention disorders as well as those with vision impairments.
4. Word Prediction Program
Word prediction software assists pupils in composing coherent phrases when they use a physical or virtual keyboard. Word prediction tools identify a student's speech patterns as they finish tasks. The software offers words for the kids to click or tap as they type more.
Programs that predict words are useful resources for children who struggle with writing in general. Word prediction software can be quite helpful for students who struggle with keyboarding, since it can save them a great deal of time. Others find it difficult to slow down long enough to form meaningful sentences. In any event, this kind of software is beneficial to all students.
Programs that predict words are useful resources for children who struggle with writing in general. Word prediction software can be quite helpful for students who struggle with keyboarding, since it can save them a great deal of time. Others find it difficult to slow down long enough to form meaningful sentences. In any event, this kind of software is beneficial to all students.
5. Alternative Keyboards and Mice
Some kids find it challenging to use conventional mice and keyboards. Students with restricted mobility may find it challenging to perform fine and gross motor movements, and those with vision impairments may find it challenging to see keyboard typefaces.
Alternative mouse and keyboards are readily accessible. The majority work on contemporary laptops and PCs. Other features of keyboards and mice include:
Give parents information on where to look for a different keyboard or mouse that will work for their child. Alternatively, think about discussing the possibility of giving pupils access to these keyboards and mouse with your school's administrator.
Alternative mouse and keyboards are readily accessible. The majority work on contemporary laptops and PCs. Other features of keyboards and mice include:
- bigger fonts
- grouped keys according to color
- angled keyboard layouts
- Mice in orbit
Give parents information on where to look for a different keyboard or mouse that will work for their child. Alternatively, think about discussing the possibility of giving pupils access to these keyboards and mouse with your school's administrator.
6. Braille Support
For certain visually impaired pupils to follow along with lessons, Braille help is necessary. There are a few online learning resources available in Braille. Among the most effective assistance resources are two:
- Refreshable Braille display: A keyboard add-on that shows text from a computer screen is the most prevalent type of Braille display device. It reads data from the screen, regardless of where the cursor is, and adjusts the Braille letters' height and position to match the displayed data.
- Braille printer: A Braille printer functions similarly to a standard printer, however it prints text in Braille rather than ink. When providing worksheets or textbook pages, this assistive technology is really helpful.
A lot of conventional schools have access to Braille printers. If the student does not have access to a Braille printer at home, it will be more difficult to provide Braille text in an online environment. Since not everyone can afford Braille printers or displays, effective parent-teacher communication is essential for providing Braille help.
7. Proofreading Programs
It can be challenging for some disabled kids to type and construct whole phrases. Word prediction software and proofreading software are comparable, although the former doesn't plan forward. Rather, students' previous writing is examined by proofreading software, which then provides recommendations based on grammatical rules.
Students can install proofreading software on their web browsers, and many of these apps are free. The application will work as a personal trainer, quickly translate text, fix errors, define words as needed, and correct mistakes as they are typed.
Students can install proofreading software on their web browsers, and many of these apps are free. The application will work as a personal trainer, quickly translate text, fix errors, define words as needed, and correct mistakes as they are typed.
8. Talking Calculator
Similar to a regular calculator, a talking calculator features an integrated speech synthesizer that speaks numbers, operations, symbols, and answers. Specially useful for visually impaired pupils are talking calculators. As students work through the solutions, the calculator vocalizes the computed solution and verifies they clicked the correct number.
Additionally helpful to children with other difficulties could be talking calculators. Student attention and engagement can be maintained with the additional component of verbal confirmation. Online talking calculators are available to students. Alternatively, they might like getting a real talking calculator.
Additionally helpful to children with other difficulties could be talking calculators. Student attention and engagement can be maintained with the additional component of verbal confirmation. Online talking calculators are available to students. Alternatively, they might like getting a real talking calculator.
9. Timer
A good assistive technology tool is a timer. When giving online education, using a timer is advantageous for:
- Task switching: Changing tasks can be stressful for pupils, particularly those who have autism spectrum disorders. Students can better prepare mentally and stay motivated for the shift by setting a timer.
- Remaining focused: Students could be more driven to accomplish their assignments ahead of schedule if they can see the meter running down.
- Encouraging independence: Task timing provides pupils with a clear understanding of what has to be done and how long it will take. Students' sense of control encourages their independence.
You can purchase timers for your pupils to keep on their desks, utilize a digital timer, or have a timer visible on your webcam.
10. Graphic Organizers and Outlining Programs
Students' schedules are hectic. For kids with learning problems, graphic organizers and outlining software are essential because they help them maintain a manageable schedule. Students who have a hectic schedule may feel overburdened by it, which will reduce their enthusiasm to learn and attention span.
One effective method of breaking down everyday work for your children with learning difficulties is to use visual organizers and schedules. Without overwhelming or overstressing students, they can assist them in handling their assignments independently. Schedules that arrange assignments using visuals and color coordination can also aid pupils in remembering and comprehending what has to be done.
Make the greatest possible program outline for your teacher module. Maintain an open calendar with synchronized due dates on it. Additionally, remind students to add additional crucial dates and times, such as one-on-one training, by sending them reminders. Maintain the same channel of communication with the parents of the pupils as well.
Browse Learning Aids for Online Teaching at Enabling Devices
For many teachers, teaching special education online is something new. When combined with appropriate training, Enabling Devices' assistive technologies enable students to learn from the comforts of home. We have been creating assistive products for 40 years to meet the expanding needs of the modern world. Take a look at our assistive technology now if you're a teacher or administrator trying to find methods to improve your online instruction.
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