As teachers, we're always on the hunt for the most effective software to engage children in learning. Lately, it seems that the choices are endless with the amount of interactive online activities on today's latest technology. Software can be especially useful for children with learning disabilities since it provides multiple means of presentation. On this website, we will explore how to be a wise consumer of educational software and how to know which one is best to meet the needs of your students with learning disabilities.
When you evaluate educational software for your child with LD, several components must be taken into consideration:
The intended use of the software and whether the software is appropriate to meet your child’s learning needs
The content of the software and whether or not the software directly supplements what your child is learning in school
The instructional presentation of the software and whether or not the software meets the learning characteristics of your child, for example, reading level, multiple forms of engagement, multiple representations of the content
Ease of use by your child, for example, can your child read the information, does your child get lost in the software?
Documentation and support should be provided
The technical adequacy of the software, for example, can your child easily figure out basic software functions such as starting up and closing down the program?
Purchasing Software
Hopefully, your school system provides you with the funds to buy the software. Unfortunately, it's more likely you will have to pay out of pocket (and just be reimbursed by parents). Nevertheless, here are some things to consider when looking for the right program to purchase for your students with learning disabilities:
The software should consider the characteristics of a child’s learning disability. For example, it should communicate relevant features of the task to be completed.
The software should provide options for the parent to select according to the type of learning disability of the child. For example, the reading level of the software should be adjustable.
The software should provide instructional options that can be tailored to a child’s learning disability. For example, the software should provide adequate prompts for learning and responding.
The screen design of the software should take into consideration the learning characteristics of students with learning disabilities. For example, all text on the screen should be double-spaced and include color-cueing.
The instructional options built into the software should take into consideration the learning characteristics of students with learning disabilities. For example, the software should have built-in learning guidance for errorless learning and provide for “over learning.”
The sound included in the software should be relevant and not interfere with learning. The software should include an option to turn off the sound.
All feedback included in the software should be consistent, obvious, and overt. A child should not be left wondering if he responded correctly.
The software should provide the ability to support assistive devices, such as text-to-speech technology.