Project: One Example

2 Orla is a 14 year old in second year with learning difficulties. She receives assistance from the learning support teacher. She is a hard-worker and very motivated but is finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with her studies which has had a negative effect on her self-esteem. Her parents are very supportive and assist Orla with her studies at home. General Information

3 Good oral language skills Good mathematical computational ability (+_ X /) Very hardworking and motivated to learn Excels at drawing Strengths

4 Weaknesses Poor word recognition with associated reading fluency difficulties. Poor handwriting Poor speller Difficulty constructing sentences Difficulty organising thoughts and recalling information

5 Specific Curriculum Tasks to be Addressed by ICT Task: Reading a passage and answering comprehension questions Critical Elements: Use three cueing strategies to make sense of text –Deriving meaning from text (semantics) –Structures and patterns of the language (Syntax) –Relationship between the sounds of language and the written form of language (Graphophonics) Formulating and writing a response

6 Specific Curriculum Tasks to be Addressed by ICT Task: Writing an essay Critical Elements: Writing process –Planning (organising ideas) –Drafting (putting thoughts on paper) –Revising & Editing (reading what is already written, correct spelling, grammar, etc.) –Publishing ( producing in readable, professional format)

7 Specific Curriculum Tasks to be Addressed by ICT Tasks: Organise and recall information Critical Elements: Store information in long and short term memory efficiently Retrieve information from memory

8 School Setting: Mainstream Classroom, learning support room Class Setting: Group, Paired (with another peer), individual Support- classroom teacher, learning support teacher, parent Environmental Factors

9 Expectations for ICT Teacher Student can participate more fully in an inclusive environment Assist student with classwork Improve self-esteem Student Personal support tool to facilitate learning and assist in achieving greater independence

10 Assistive Technology Laptop- as a personal support tool Scan/read software- to read text aloud and to modify text to suit individual needs

11 Literacy Reinforcement software- to promote word recognition, improve spelling and keyboarding skills Talking word processor -to assist in drafting, editing/revising, and publishing (auditory feedback, spell checker) Word prediction- to assist in constructing sentences (drafting) Appropriate Software (Category)

12 Appropriate Software (Category) Literacy (cont.) Writing frames- to structure and complete a piece of writing Interactive Book- to practice three cueing strategies and strengthen word recognition Multimedia Authoring- to apply artistic abilities to produce professional looking products thereby raising self esteem

13 Write Outloud (Talking Word Processor) Co-Writer (Word Prediction) Frameworks (Writing Frames) Starspell 2001(Reinforcement) Wordshark (Reinforcement) Start to Finish (Interactive Book) Powerpoint (Multimedia) Appropriate Software (Titles)

14 Appropriate Software (Category / Title) Planning and Organising Software Title Chosen: Inspiration Visually organise ideas and information Assist in the planning stage of the writing process Summarise text chapters/ units Locate & remember key facts and ideas View information as a meaningful whole

15 Digital Camera To produce personalised resources which can motivate student Scanner To scan in text for use with scan/read software Hardware (Peripherals)

16 Teaching / Learning Strategies Collaborative Learning Multiple Intelligences Whole class use of ICT One to One – learning support teacher

17 ScoilNet ( LD Online ( BECTa ( National Centre for Learning Disabilities ( Useful Websites