Adaptive Technology for Diverse Learners

On my own, I learned that there are so many different types of learners that I never really thought of because I didn't see them in my time as a student. I never had any classmates with major learning disabilities. As a teacher, I know that I will have to be able to recognize when a student is having more trouble with learning than the rest of my students. I learned that there are more technologies and software than just audio recorders and text-to-speech.

From the presentations made by my peers, I learned that there are a multitude of new ways diverse learners can be helped. I learned that there are tools for reading such as reading guides and books that can be printed in Braille. For writing there are tools such as pencil weights and grips that make it easier for children to write. There are also sticky keys that help children type if their motor skills aren't as fast as other students. Other ways diverse students can learn is using technology such as an iPad to play educational games with large print and many colors to help those that do not have the best vision. These are just a few of the tools I learned about through peer presentations.


Through the bookmarks and annotations on Diigo, I have learned about so many more online tools to help diverse learners that I did not even know existed. Some are things that even I sometimes use and some are completely new to me but very interesting and definitely useful. There are dyslexia-friendly worksheets online, audio books, accessible keyboard apps and so much more that are free and can help students with disabilities feel more included because they can finally learn in a way that helps their individual needs. The bookmarks and annotations really helped me find resources I could possibly use with future students,  which will allow me to teach more effectively.

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