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Goals

Goals. Understanding of Learning Disabilities Why do we want to help? How can we help? Potential pitfalls Specific task needs of children with a LD. Hierarchy of Neurodevelopmental Status. Variation Leads to a developmental weakness (Ex. Expressive language) Dysfunction

Michelle
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Goals

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  1. Goals • Understanding of Learning Disabilities • Why do we want to help? • How can we help? • Potential pitfalls • Specific task needs of children with a LD

  2. Hierarchy of Neurodevelopmental Status Variation Leads to a developmental weakness (Ex. Expressive language) Dysfunction Interferes with acquisition of a particular skill (Ex. Writing) Disability The impaired skill is integral to productivity and acquisition of reasonable gratification in our society Handicap

  3. Affect the ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do math calculations

  4. Impact Social behavior and interactions, Home environment, Critical life events, Mood, Health,etc. Resilience, Malleability Learning process Academic performance, Skill, Interest, Self- esteem, etc.

  5. Kids don’t outgrow LD, they may improve, but they are at continued risk for underachievement.

  6. Assessment • Complete medical history and examination • Tests • IQ • Academic achievement • Informal classroom observation • Psychological assessment as indicated

  7. Assistive Technology • Bypass strategy; it “Helps to get the job done.” vs. Instructional software • Develops specific academic skills

  8. Computers—How do they help? • Tool to expand a child’s access to the curriculum, not purely for remediation • Increase interest and motivation • Immediate feedback • Don’t give negative comments • The “Great Equalizer” for kids with writing difficulties

  9. Potential Pitfalls • Too much information can be counterproductive • “The less clutter on the screen, the better” • Make programs modifiable (speed, number of problems, instructional level) • Make small increments between levels (don’t get “too hard too fast”) • Allow limited number of attempts at a response to discourage guessing

  10. More Pitfalls • Provide clues to the correct answer when the student makes an error • Need good record keeping capability, so students can track their progress and set goals • Offer built-in instructional aides (particularly in math programs), such as number lines, fraction strips, etc. • Use real life scenarios (esp. for math)

  11. What else? • Frequently need to look at the curriculum and then ask how tools might assist the student in the learning process/ achieving outcomes

  12. Types of Computer-based AT Interventions • Spell checks • Word prediction • Word processing • Proofreading programs • Outlining • Graphic organizers • Speech recognition • Screen readers • Calculators and electronic math worksheets

  13. Important Questions • What are the specific needs to be met? • What abilities/strengths are required to use the AT? • What setting will it be used in? • Age-group targeting • Need simple operating instructions • What system will it work in? • Technical support

  14. Signs of Weak Language Skills • Asks to have things repeated • Difficulty following instructions • Uses the wrong words or gets mixed up • Difficulty telling a story

  15. Basic Tasks in Reading • Phonemic awareness: Hear speech sounds and tell them apart • Phonics: Match sounds to letters and make them into words • Semantics: Word knowledge • Syntax: Sentence comprehension • Fluency/Discourse processing: Ability to read quickly and fluently to remember and understand what has been read

  16. Reading Comprehension Tasks • Increasing vocabulary • Understanding word parts and changes in the inflections of words (present) • Understand meanings and relationships between words • Know the rules for putting words into sentences • Having background knowledge

  17. Spelling • Phonology • Segmentation • Visual recall (grapheme) • Rule recall • Morphology/Semantics • Reading skill

  18. Writing Tasks • Concept development/Ideation • Expressive language: Communication • Organization: Sentence structure, Paragraph structure • Memory functions: • Long term--Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, Beginning and ending • Short-term—Copying, Note-taking • Fine motor coordination

  19. The Wrath of Math • Effective memory functions (factual recall, procedural recall, pattern recognition, multi-tasking) • Accurate spatial processing • Concept formation • Language ability • Problem-solving skills

  20. Broader Tasks • Accessing the web to learn

  21. Summary • Understanding of Learning Disabilities • Why do we want to help? • How can we help? • Benefits and Pitfalls of AT • What are the underlying tasks that children with LD struggle with?

  22. Resources • www.schwablearning.org • www.ldonline.org • Educational Care by Mel Levine, M.D.

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