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USING I.C.T. TO
SUPPORT PUPILS WITH
Some pupils in your class may have problems in accessing the curriculum due to learning difficulties with reading, writing, spelling or numeracy, visual or hearing problems, emotional or behavioural problems. I.C.T. can, in many cases, help to alleviate the problems. For pupils who find handwriting difficult or impossible the use of a keyboard might enable them to record their work for easily. Speech to text software is readily available now and has a high rate of accuracy. Pupils with visual problems can be helped through the use of different coloured screens and fonts; icons and screen menus can be enlarged to suit. For those with co-ordination difficulties, mouse speed and number of clicks to open a document can be varied as can the use of the mouse for left handed people. Setting up sticky keys can mean one key will do the job of two - for capitals to avoid the need for the use of the Shift key. Software
programs often come with facilities whereby teachers can set different
levels for each pupil. This is very useful for those with learning
difficulties. Not only does it mean they are using the same program
as their peers but it means they can set themselves targets to work towards.
These programs are bright and attractive and make use of multimedia which
appeals to those who need stimulus from more than one sense. They
can be used regularly for reinforcement as often as a child needs in order
to grasp
the concept. A list of software provided by Granada for using with pupils
who have special educational needs is provided at Using the computer with pupils who have emotional or behavioural difficulties can allow them to have periods in a non-threatening environment where they are likely to be more motivated and less likely to ‘fail’. Use Power Point presentations
to help concentration. The children have to memorise what appeared on
the screen etc..what's missing?, what order did they appear etc.. Powerpoint and Opus can be used very effectively for pupils with severe and complex needs. There are many examples of this at http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/meldreth/textandinfo?powerp/Media2.html
Becta booklets supported by video case studies. |