assistive technology – computer software and apps as support for students with reading and writing...

Assistive Technology – Computer Software and Apps as Support for Students with Reading and Writing

Difficulties/Dyslexia in Higher Education

Emma KjellénDyslexia Counsellor at University of Borås

13 300 students (5900 full-time) 680 employees

Library and Information Studies Fashion and Textile Studies Business and Informatics Behavioural and Education Sciences Engineering Health Sciences

The University of Borås

Special pedagogical support 2013: 194 students (114)

Coordinator for students with functional disabilities, 75 %

Dyslexia counsellor, 100 %

Language and speech support

Support for students with functional disabilities

Academic writing Oral presentation Pedagogical language support for students

with Swedish as a second language

Speech anxiety support/Public speaking course Pedagogical guidance for students with reading

and writing disabilities/dyslexia Information/coordinating special pedagogical support Dyslexia assessments Academic writing Study skills Software and apps (compensate, improve and facilitate)

Language and speech support

Lecturer in Swedish and English

Dyslexia counsellor (Speech and language therapist)

Student needs and comments

Are you interested in trying out reading and writing software or apps together with the Dyslexia counsellor?

If you’re interested in trying out software or apps – what kind of guidance do you prefer?

Try on my own (with tutorial video online) 11 29 %

Individual guidance 9 24 %

I’m not interested 8 21 %

Drop in (no time booking) 4 11 %

Try on my own (with written instruction) 3 8 %

Group workshop 2 5 %

Other 1 3 %

Web or phone meeting 0 0 %

Guidance – Assistive technology

Computer software

Apps

Text-to-speech software

Spelling software Scanner, translation,

screen ruler, colour filter…

One hour ”Hands-on” Followed up by

tutorial videos

Reading and writing apps

iPhone/iPad (Android, Windows mobile…)

One hour ”Hands-on” Handout – list of

apps

Drop in

Talking books, software, apps (including software and apps for talking books)

Library assistant and Dyslexia counsellor

”The iPad Project”

3 iPads 4 weeks loan One hour guidance One hour follow-up/assessment Reading and writings apps

Text-to-speech

Glossary & translation

Talking books

Scanner

Reading

Mindmaps

Speech recognition

Note taking

(audio notes)

Word prediction

Writing

Student comments

I feel more independent being able to do it myself. (Jenny, 21, iPhone user, second semester)

I didn’t get it, I didn’t understand the apps or the tablet. I wanted more guidance but didn’t have the time. (Susanne, 39, Android user, first semester)

Great! Fantastic [Prizmo]! Really nice to try these apps out, I didn’t know that they existed.(Martin, 24, iPhone and iPad user, fourth semester)

Individual needs and adjustments!

Future ambitions…

Tutorial videos? A ”tutorial website”? Android tablet? Other tablets? Additional ”drop ins”?

Contact

E-mail: emma.kjellen@hb.se Phone: 033 435 4310