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There are many ways in which technology can support study skills for dyslexic students. The programs tend to offer help for different aspects of learning and so this web page has been divided into sections:
1. Time Management and Organisation.
2. Memory.
3. Planning.
4. Note Taking.
5. Reading and Writing.
6. Examinations.
Brunel University has a very comprehensive accessible series of web pages, called Study Skills Online. These are suitable for the student at college or university. There are many very useful sections covering general learning skills, as well some that discuss the subheadings above. Fonts and colours for the background of the text can be changed via the website.
WordsWork is a multisensory approach to improving study skills for older dyslexic learners (secondary, tertiary, higher and further education). Wordswork uses graphics, voice-overs, colour and humour to develop a variety of language skills.
The BT Education Program website has many free resources to encourage communication and learning skills for all ages.
Time management and Organisation.
This is about making sure that you arrive on time, complete tasks on time and allow enough time to relax and enjoy life.
It may be easier to use a paper diary or Filofax as methods for remembering when and where you are meant to be and for a more general overview about managing time try the links below:
Dyslexia At College (Editor: John Bradford) has notes on time scheduling with further links at the bottom of the page.
Hull University have a useful collection of time table templates, articles and mind maps related to organisation and time management for those studying in further or high education institutions.
Helping Your Child with Organization and Study Skills from LD Online – an American website with many useful resources.
Computer based diary options. with some on-screen calendars, sticky note reminders or screen savers with alarm settings.
Windows Vista Calendar, free as part of the operating system, can be adapted to suit your needs with colour changes and various themes. You can set up appointments and add tasks you need to complete with warnings appearing days, hours or minutes before they need to be finished! This Calendar works in a similar way to iCal on the Apple Mac OS X operating system but does not synchronise with mobile phones or PDAs. On the other hand if you have iSync for the Mac, iCal 2.0 lets you synchronise your calendar information on your Mac with some mobile phones, PDAs and the iPod.
the Microsoft Outlook Calendar as part of the Microsoft Office Suite 2003 or 2007 . This diary, address book, meeting and task organiser is much more powerful when compared to the Windows Vista Calendar. Windows mobile devices such as PDAs and mobile phones can be set up to synchronise with Outlook but not Windows Vista Calendar.
ReadyToPrint Organizer from NSN Software synchronises with Outlook Express addresses and has many ways of customising calendars and to do lists including the use of pictures.
Say the Time® 2006 from Provenio Software says the time and is a free download program with a pop up calendar.
PrimaSoft Student Organizer. Rather American but it can be used as a course book to keep track of assignments, texts, notes, etc.
MinuteMan Project Management Software for those who need or organise more than just their course work, but have larger projects that need tracking.
Voice Organisers which allow you to save memos and appointments by voice.
TaDi Talking Voice Organiser from The Force Ten Company. Features - Calculator, Clock, Notepad, Diary, Phone Dialler (not mobiles), Address Book, Reminders, Talking Tutorials and more than 900 phonebook contacts.
Electronic Organisers and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). offer diaries with alarms, address books, note pads, To do lists, expenses and many other facilities. The more expensive ones link to computers and have e-mail and even text to speech or voice command recognition.
eXpansys sell PDAs and have good descriptions for each product.
Schwab Learning.org offer advice about electronic organisers.
If time really is an issue there is a watch that can be set with alarms going off or vibrating at regular intervals. It is called WatchMinder.
Memory.
For day-to-day short-term memory difficulties electronic organisers can help as well as any type of recorder but when it is related to learning and sequences this can be more problematical. Pictures and audio placed alongside text will often help but there are very few programs designed to encourage memory skills. When using a wordprocessor highlighting notes, bold headings, using bullet points and different colours can assist revision.
CALSC offer Mastering Memory and Timely Reminders as well as other strategies for helping with revision.
Hagger Electronics offer a wide range of recorders - tape, digital and mini disk.
Audio Notetaker allows you to download your recordings onto a Windows PC. It is possible to orgranise recordings and make notes alongside the track. This software has recently been developed and is sold by Iansyst
3. Planning.
Over the years study skills classes have often included sessions on planning, brainstorming ideas and the organisation of thoughts and there are now several programs that can offer support.
Bangor University has an overview of the subject in their 'Online Study Skills Help'.
It is possible to generate ideas in a pictorial way by using mind maps or concept maps and there are a few programs that offer similar facilities but each one looks different so it is worth exploring the comparison chart and explanations available on Iansyst's website.
If planning is preferred in a linear fashion with bullet points and indented paragraphs it may be easier to use Microsoft PowerPoint or the outliner in Microsoft Word or Apple Works.
Jot+ Notes is easy to use and works rather like a card file program which can be cut and pasted into any word processing package.
DraftBuilder from Don Johnston offers a complete solution with text to speech.
TextHelp Read and Write Gold also has a mapping element (Fact Mapper) to sort and store in a graphical way, research gathered from the fact folder or to generate new ideas.
4. Note taking.
Note taking by hand can be very difficult if the teacher or lecturer talks quickly and has numerous slides. Mind or concept mapping by hand or with a handheld organiser or Tablet PC is an option or even using a laptop if keyboarding skills are good. Notes about computer based mind mapping have been included under Planning. In lectures or talks using a recorder is another note taking option and this has been mentioned under the Memory subheading.
An overview of Mind mapping can be found at the James Cook University study skills online site.
MindManager for PDA or Tablet PC with good exporting to Microsoft Office applications.
MindGenius brainbloom for Tablet PC.
Inspiration is good for those at school as well as in any other setting with text to speech and spell checking – notes can be made in both the outline and diagram view with simultaneous updating.
Claro Mindfull is one of the easiest mouse based mapping programms with clear menus and images for use in maps.
Spark Learner or Kidspark has also been designed with many images and text to speech support.
Dana AlphaSmart with Palm OS can also be used for outlining or mind mapping.
Taking notes from books and at lectures. For dyslexic students at college
or university.
5. Reading and Writing.
There are many technologies that can support reading and writing skills, from the hand held pocket dictionaries to assist with comprehension, to spell checkers with speech and the computer based text to speech software packages that allow the user to hear the words that are displayed on the screen.
Iansyst have a wide range of these products.
Abilitynet have a comprehensive guide to all the technologies that can be used in their 'Dyslexia Toolkit' as well as guidance on making websites more ‘dyslexia friendly’.
Using voice or speech recognition instead of typing is an option that needs to be approached with care as although the programs are now much improved and results can be excellent this method does not suit everyone's writing styles or thought processes. It is often helpful to practice dictating into a recorder before trying with a computer. The Ace Centre offers more advice in their article Voice Recognition Technology in Education
The Call Centre in Edinburgh also offers very useful advice on Speech Recognition in Schools in their collection of guides.
Making your Teaching Inclusive is a wide ranging collection of web pages from the Open University that has many tips on how to help students cope in different learning situations, including those with specific learning difficulties /dyslexia. There are videos from students and staff, links to other resources and a section on assistive technology.
6. Examinations.
It is hard to prepare for examinations and do well on the day if one is worried about how much work has to be remembered, or there are concerns about coping with the time allowed for writing answers. Many of the technologies already mentioned can be used in the lead up to examinations and they have been added to each element mentioned below. Sadly, few are allowed in examination rooms on the day.
- Contact your advisor in plenty of time to check whether extra time is available for examinations - use a computer based diary, electronic organiser or PDA to put in the appointment date with an alarm.
- Check timetabling of examinations and location - use the same technologies as above to make notes of these details. Set up a mind map or outline with To Do notes that can be ticked off.
- Keep the key points in your pocket, or short voice notes on your recorder. Notes can also be held on a PDA. Use the program 'Timely Reminders'.
- Make a checklist of all the items required in the examinations such as spare pens, batteries for calculators and coloured overlays etc.
- Check the computer being made available, if this is an option. Make sure the desktop settings are appropriately set-up to suit your needs, with background colour and font settings ready for when you begin writing.
- Once in the examination room, check the table and chair are comfortable, make sure you have a timing device that you can see clearly and try to relax.
- Having read the paper through, check times for each section, allowing sufficient time to check over work at the end. Some PDA's and electronic organisers have stopwatches and timers but these may not be allowed in examinations, so a watch is preferable.
- If you are stuck, think of the mind maps you have created, the colours you have used for highlighting and the pictures that went with certain topics. Mind maps may also help for generating ideas and planning in a hurry.
- Finish well in time in order to proof-read, which may take longer without text to speech.
Page updated: 15/01/2008
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