Assisting student learning for a buck or two

Part of our class today was spent discussing different example/s of low-tech assistive technology. One of the great things we learned is just how inexpensive low-tech assistive technology can be and how many items can be purchased from any local dollar store.

For the second part of our class we went to the dollar store to scope out some of these items. The following items are just a few examples of off the shelf assistive technology.

1. A kitchen timer. Kitchen timers can be purchased from the dollar store for one dollar. They are great for students who have difficulties staying on-task. They are visual and can be placed right on the student’s desk so they know how long they have to work on a task. They can also be used with groups of students to see how quickly they can transition from one task to the next or how quickly they can complete less desirable tasks such as cleaning the classroom.



2. Ear plugs. Ear plugs can be purchased for a dollar. They are great for students who enjoy a quiet work environment or who are easily disturbed by various classroom noises. They can help students stay focused and block out distractions. They are particularly useful during exams or tests.







3. Chewing gum. Most teachers do not allow gum in their classrooms however chewing gum can really help students with ADHD and it can help kinesthetic learners. For some students keeping their mouth moving helps them to stay focused and complete work more efficiently.



4. Baseball cap. I actually didn’t find any baseball caps at the dollar store, but I know they can be purchased for a few dollars from stores like Zellers. Again, not all teachers allow students to wear caps in the classroom, but for students who are very sensitive to bright lights wearing a cap can really help. Often students with ADHD are more sensitive to bright lights and can find them very distracting, a cap allows them to block out some of the light which improves their learning environment.

These are just a few examples of low-tech assistive technology and I will be discussing more examples in further detail in an up coming blog.