Matching Technology Resources to the Needs of At-Risk Students
The table below shows how selected assistive and instructional technology products can match the various needs of at-risk students.
| Learning Difficulties | Strategies |
| Difficulty remembering things to do, sequence of tasks |
Provide a reminder service: http://www.iping.com. Use a specialized prompting device: Job Coach at http://www.attainmentcompany.com. |
| Inability to read and comprehend at grade level |
Provide digital text in a text-to-speech program: ReadPlease at http://www.readplease.com. Provide instructional materials with multiple levels: http://www.windows. ucar.edu. |
| Difficulties in written expression |
Use a predictive word processor; e.g., Co:Writer (http://www.donjohnston.com) or WordQ (http://www.wordq.com) Offer support for dictation: http://www.idictate.com. |
| Difficulties in math computations and concepts |
Use online calculators:WebMath at http://www.webmath.com Use teaching tools such as Virtual Math Manipulatives at http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/vlibrary.html. |
| Lack of motivation to engage in school work |
Shift power and control for the student to take responsibility; e.g., clipping services like Crayon (http://crayon.net) to create their own newspaper or My.Yahoo (http://my.yahoo.com) to manage a personal calendar and to-do list. Use TrackStar (http://trackstar.4teachers.org) to organize engaging instructional activities that parallel the curriculum. |
Excerpted From:
© 2010, Allyn & Bacon, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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