July 11th, 2014 – Webinar on Executive Functioning and Apps to support EF and LD in the Inclusive Classroom

First I would like to start off by saying – I HAVE POWER (and internet)!  We had power restored on Thursday night around 8pm.  That was a little less than 6 days after we lost it.  Although frustrating, it has certainly motivated me to take action so hopefully nothing like this will ever happen again to the residents of (mostly) small, rural communities.

Second, I would like to say how much I really enjoyed engaging in the Blackboard Collaborate Webinar.  I think that programs like this open up so many possibilities for students and the field of education and it was very cool to be a part of one.  The chat feature being available was also something that was really interesting (although it was not available for us I don’t think), because if you were working with a group of students, they would have questions.  Being able to offer something an interactive chat feature would be very important, and I can see Interactive Webinars becoming more and more common in the future.

Webinar 1 - Apps to Enhance Executive Functioning

I was very interested to learn more about Executive Functioning and how I could help support students with executive functioning deficits in my classroom.  Having sat in on a number of meetings with School Psychologists, one thing I have found that is many of my students have had deficits with executive functioning.  Below you will find 3 important themes I took away from this webinar which I think are important for educators working with students with executive functioning deficits, as well as 3 apps which can help support students in the inclusive classroom.


What does executive functioning really mean?
Frontal lobe dysfunctions (where executive functions mostly happen) are common in many psychiatric disorders found in the classroom, like ADHD, ODD, CD and ASD.  Executive functioning processes all have to do with self-management.  Executive functions are responsible for behaviour management and time management.  They affect how students Think àDecide à Act.

How do executive functioning deficits affect our students?
Often students with executive functioning deficits underachieve in our classrooms.  When these students are supported through scaffolding, they are more successful; however, when asked to work independently this is when the downward spiral often begins for these students.  The biggest impact educators will see in the classroom is most likely to be in the area of production. 
Here is a photo detailing some ways EF can affect students abilities in the classroom:

How can educators help support students with executive functioning deficits?

2 words…… ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (I will get to apps for i-technolgies a little later)!
With that being said, teachers and support staff can also mediate executive demands by, cueing students and acting as a “surrogate frontal lobe.”  This can be accomplished though scaffolding and facilitating highly structured classrooms and work spaces.  IT would also be helpful to understand where the deficits are for your students, for example is it planning and prioritizing, working memory, time management, organization, or metacognition, and find ways to support those areas. 

 There are a lot of different ways to support executive functioning difficulties, including apps available for iPhone, iPads and iPods.  Here I will list 3 that I think would be helpful for students, focusing on 3 different areas of executive functioning.

1- App – Let Panic Go (focusing on deficits in emotional control).  This app can be used specifically for students who suffer from panic attacks, or students who are in stressful situations.  Oftentimes, kids with anxiety are able to process more and take on stress.  This app comes with a breathing regulation portion and also asks if you are feeling better and if you are it will end and if not it will continue with more calming exercises.  The only downside to this app is you do need to have good working memory and reading ability.  Two others I thought might be better for my younger students who do not have good working memory or reading ability could be Colorful Aquarium or Balloon Poppers. 

2- App – Sound Curtain (focusing on deficits sustaining attention).  I absolutely loved this app for students who have trouble attending to tasks or are easily distracted.  Sound curtain is an acoustic masking app, which adjusts the sound output to create a quiet work space for students.  They need headphones, and the 7 different sound choices help mask ambient sound.  I can see how this would be so helpful for students with ASD or ADHD in the classroom!  I can’t wait to try it out!
 

3- APP – iRewards (focusing on deficits in 

metacognition).  In the past I have used a number of different rewards systems with students.  Students with ADHD and ASD are often very reward driven, and I have found reward systems in the classroom to be extremely helpful when encouraging desired behaviours.  This app offers rewards charts for younger students, which can be personalized with pictures and made specific for each student.  You are able to choose the reward from a list given or create your own reward with the child, as well aschoose the amount of stars each child needs to receive their reward.  One thing I really love about this compared to my previous experience with reward programs is that is portable and easily accessible!  I hope to use this app with my Grade 3 student with ASD next year, as I am hoping his programming will allow him the use of an iPad in the classroom.

Webinar 2 – New, Exciting Apps for LD:

As I watched these 2 webinars, I was reminded of how useful apps can be for students who are struggling in our educational system.  Students NEED to have the ability to access assistive technology, so that they are able to succeed.  Really, for Universal Design for Learning to be achieved, students (especially those with any learning strategies), need to have access assistive technologies.  The iPad can offer SO MANY apps and functions for students, that it seems silly to me that we do not implement a plan that allows all students with LD the ability to have an iPad to help them succeed.  This way, we could keep learning disabled students engaged and involved in all facets of our daily education (instead of being frustrated and feeling like they are stupid – cause they are not!), in a truly inclusive classroom. 

My main take away from this webinar was really that LD students need to be able to access all curriculum outcomes with the use of assistive technology.  Here is a photo outlining Learning Disabilities:

Learning disabilities can interfere with the acquisition of one or more of the following areas: oral language, reading, written language or math.  If a student has an iPad, there are apps that can help them with both remediation and compensation strategies.  This way, students are able to access all curriculum outcomes and achieve success in inclusive classrooms.  Below I will outline 3 apps which I can see being helpful for students in my 2/3 classroom next year (in particular one student, who although having intense remediation is not yet meeting ELA outcomes).

1- Accessibility Options – The iPad, iPod and iPhone, have so many opportunities for students just simply by unlocking some of the accessibility options.  For example, just by enabling speak selection, you can access websites and have the iPad read you the information.  There is also the opportunity to adjust the speech rate (so it could be slowed down) as well as the dialect.  I could see this being helpful next year for research projects or when students are working on the internet looking for information.  In conjunction with this, one thing I did not know about – but will certainly be using – is guided access.  This allows the iPad user to access just one app, and only leave that app with the passcode.  I can definitely see this being useful if you are worried that the student will leave the remediation app you have asked them to use, to instead play a game.  I have already turned this app on my iPad J

2- Puffin Web Browser – This is an app I can definitely see myself using as there are many flash based websites that I like to use as remediation tools with students.  I do know that RazKids now has it’s own app, however, there are still other flash based websites that are engaging and helpful for students.  Another one I like using with my students is Starfall as it has a reading and math component, as well as IXL for math skills.  With the use of Puffin Web Browser I can use these helpful websites to help support student learning in my classroom.

3- iWordQ – I was soooooo excited to see that WordQ had an app.  This has been a computer program I have used in the past with students who struggle with written output and I have found it to be extremely successful in the classroom.  The word prediction and speaking commands help students to quickly and easily record their thoughts just by writing the first sound of each word.  It also has the ability to read back what you have written which is also helpful for students.  Although WordQ is amazing, there is a learning curve and students do need to have mastery over basic letter sounds to use efficiently.  One thing that is also appealing about iWordQ is that is has the ability to open in other programs, so students could use it when writing emails, or doing other web-based writing. 

Here is a quick video about iWordQ.  It is a bit biased, but you get the picture.  This app is $24.99 (and in my opinion, would be worth it).