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”?
Top Related