+Technology provides an access portal to learning for a variety of students with learning disabilities. Students with ADHD are no different in their access needs, but have the added concern of distractibility. Technology can help or hinder these students. This presentation will outline ways that technology can accommodate ADHD students as well as how to troubleshoot the novelty factor and the steps needed to overcome it. Annalee is a Special Education teacher in Alternative Programs at the Peel District School Board, with a valued expertise with troubled teens and learning disabilities.

+AD/HD and Technology: Good Fit or Major Distraction ?

Presenter: Annalee ClaridaPeel District School Board

+GOALS FOR SESSION:

+Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

is a neurobiological disorder

interferes with an individual's capacity to :

- regulate activity level (hyperactivity)

- inhibit behavior (impulsivity)

- attend to the task at hand (inattention)1

+AD/HD and Complicating Factors

+Executive Functions…Where it all falls apart.

Executive functions - skills that are crucial to school performance, behavioral control, and social interactions.

Technology can support weaknesses in executive functioning – this is the HELPING TOOL side

the novelty of the technology leads to THE …

+

…HIGHWAY TO DISTRACTION

+What are the 4 Executive Functions?

For the purpose of this presentation, executive functions are considered to include the following:

Problem Solving (Tasks/Activities/Situations)Define the problemSet a goalPropose strategiesPrioritize, organize, sequence the

steps/skills/materialsEstimate and allocate time needed

+Flexibility (Cognitions/Behaviors/Emotions)

Adapt/change or shift responses, behavior, and emotional reactions when faced with new, unfamiliar, or unexpected situations

Initiation/Execution (Tasks/Activities)Begin and carry out a task or activity

without prompts

Self-Monitoring/Use of feedback/Self Correction

Identify and evaluate one’s own performance and behavior before, during, after a situation

+Technology = Compensatory ToolOur goal is to integrate the mediums and

tools already used by students in innovative ways – with ADHD that innovation goal, is accommodating the weakness in executive functions

Key to a successful integration is an effective introduction – we want to change the way students see technology, therefore changing how they use it

How to introduce technology in learning environments?

+How do we strategize against the novelty factor… BE PREPARED!

Recognize and accept that novelty is inevitable – accept it before it discourages you

Novelty works to our advantage – kids learn when they are excited, engaged and at PLAY– what could be more fun than a new laptop or IPOD?

Framing the technology in learning terms…introduce the learning strategy first, then build on how to integrate the technology to improve the strategy

+Teaching a Technology Strategy – a work in PROCESS

DESCRIBE the strategy and CONNECT the strategy to the technology.

MODEL how to use the strategy with the technology – use a data projector, with a walkthrough on screen

STRATEGY CUE CARD – visual guide of step-by-step instructions (with screen shots to connect the steps with the strategy process) in multiple formats

GUIDED PRACTICE - teacher led

+TECH BOOK – have students keep manual,

instructions for the technology and strategy cue cards in a central location (electronically or hard copy)

CHECKLIST – (part of tech book) explicit direction in what success will look like, teacher “look for”

INDEPENDENT PRACTICE – make practice meaningful by having an outcome expectation

EVALUATE the skills students demonstrate in using BOTH the strategy and the technology

REVIEW the strategy before introducing a new strategy or technology

+AVOID TECHNOLOGY OVERLOAD!!

+Connect the Strategy to the Technology

When deciding what technology will fit with what strategy there are some key considerations:

1. Start with the strategy – technology can fail, the strategy is what will continue to support the student.

2. Keep it simple – low tech solutions are sometimes easier to use, cost effective, readily available and provide a stepping stone to justify more expensive/sophisticated hardware.

3. Remember your audience.

P.L.

A.N

PROPOSE GOALS for the strategy

LIST ANDANALYZE available technology resources

APPLYTECHNOLOGYbest suited tostrategy

NOTICE

ERRORS AND EDIT if needed

CHOOSING TECHNOLOGY FOR STRATEGIES P.L.A.N

+Necessity, the mother of invention. George Farquhar

The Daydreamer – off task, managing time

Strategy: daily and monthly calendars

- improving awareness of amount of time spent/needed for tasks (realistic estimation of time)

- Improving awareness of the passage of time

Technology: Smartphone or IPOD touch

+I’m Bored/tired/too excited/confused etc… to workSTRATEGY:

- provide learning activities that will interest/motivate (the technology can be the motivator)

- ensure student understanding

- Increase student capacity for handling length/difficulty with task

TECHNOLOGY: computer with Dragon Naturally Speaking or IPOD/SMART PHONE (with Dragon APP)

+I hate details, spatial visual struggles or information processingStrategy:

- The misinformation letter

- Help student predict performance requirements before beginning

- Provide the exact number of required responses needed

- TECH BOOK ENTRY

+TECH BOOK ENTRY

Self – Questioning Questions to

Monitor Task Requirements

1. What did the teacher ask me to do?

2. Do I know how to do it?

3. What do the directions mean?

4. Does this make sense to me?

5. Which strategy should I use?

6. Do I understand? / Not understand? What do I do?

7. Have I finished what I was supposed to do?

+Technology: Computer with Premier or Kurzweil These questions can be read aloud to the student – this

helps focus the student on the task (students listen to the list, before, during and after the task)

Students have a visual/auditory guide to follow.

Read aloud software focuses the attention of the student with ADHD in multi-sensory ways (visual, auditory, tactile) this increases attention and retention

+Other Technology Strategies Thrill-Seeker

Strategy:

- Multi-media presentation

- Technology:

- Digital camera, movie editing software

+Undependable Memory / Shutdown

STRATEGY:

- Mnemonic Device

TECHNOLOGY:

- MP3 player (and a personal willingness to make a fool out of yourself – I have no problem doing this)

- Audio books

- PODCASTING

- YOUTUBE

+TECHNOLOGY … I have used successfully in the classroom

VPOD

NINTENDO DS

IPOD/ SMARTPHONE with voice recorder, DRAGON and DOCUMENTS TO GO App

Digital voice recorder

Talking calculator (PREMIER AND KURZWEILL have this)

IRIS pen scanner

eBOOK reader

Digital camera / or IPOD/PHONE with camera

+

How do you and your learners use technology?

+ Please feel free to contact me for further information or

for a copy of this presentation, the resources I mentioned, or for ideas.

annalee.clarida@peelsb.com

akclarida@yahoo.com

http://twitter.com/annalee_clarida

Thank you so much for your time!

Have a safe trip home and enjoy the rest of your afternoon!