1) The document discusses using computerized and mobile technology to help overcome dyslexia and teach students with learning disabilities. 2) It provides examples of computer-assisted lessons and language learning apps that make the learning process more engaging for these students by incorporating multimedia and gamification. 3) The document also outlines how virtual learning communities and adaptive testing accommodations, such as extra time and use of electronic dictionaries, help motivate and support students with dyslexia.

1. Computerized Lessons as aWay
Of Overcoming Dyslexia.
Julia Koifman, Beit Ekstein high school, Israel
МЕТА Conference,
Chisinau, 2018

2. Programme
• Introduction
• Technology in Israel’s Schools
• Computer-Assisted Lessons
• Motivating LD Students
• Communities of Students
• A Demo Lesson
• Dyslexia and Matriculation Exams
• More LearningTools

3. Where do Learning Disabilities
Come From?
Learning
Disabilitie
s
(LD)
Attention
Deficit
Disorder
(ADD)
Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD)

4. Ways ofTeaching LD Students
Multisensory
Teaching
Seeing Hearing Touching

5. Why should we use mobile
technology in LD class?
• LD students can use 3 senses
• They can play with language.
• They can create learning communities.
• They can publish their own work through blogs, eBooks,
interactive magazines, comics, stories, and so on.
• They can now create their own learning situations
collaboratively.
• They can download music and video and create their own
ones.
• We promote education in the natural way.

6. Technology in Israeli School
The use of technology in teaching and learning of foreign
language like English has made the process more effective
and dynamic.
The use of computer technology in EFL classrooms has many
advantages for developing the EFL learners’ language skills,
such as:
* listening comprehension,
* reading comprehension,
* speaking
* writing.

7. Computer-Assisted Lessons
Research studies show that good computer software enhances
learning in the less motivated student. Almost without
exception, LD students enjoy the computer sessions.The aims
of EFL classes in special education schools are:
• To develop students' listening skills
• To develop their vocabulary
• To improve their spelling and grammar
• To develop their writing skills
• To improve teaching literary texts
All the skills are necessary to prepare LD students for the final
exams.

8. Motivating LD Students

9. Communities of Learners
• Schools can use them for learning, teaching and
professional development.
• Learning communities are spaces that serve as electronic
communities of practice where you can find groups of
people who have a common topic for learning.
• They contain lessons, tools, exercises and comments.
• They provide learning autonomy.
• Communities of learners are also good for distance
learning.

10. How the communities enhance language
learning.
• they improve their spelling, writing, listening and general
understanding of English
• most EFL students do not live in an English-speaking
environment, so they don't get much exposure to the
language
• students are often placed in large groups and have only a
few classes per week, thus they do not get enough
practice in the target language
• learners as often as not have access to a limited range of
resources

11. When learners become active members
of a virtual community they can:
• correct their mistakes
• gain access to a larger amount of language resources
• get plenty of exposure to the target language
• learn how to interact, co-operate and share things with
real people
• be able to cope better with problems
• be involved in more individualized interactions with the
teacher
• become more involved and independent learners

12. Benefits of virtual communities in terms
of classroom management:
• teachers have less discipline problems
• LD students are busy, motivated and less frustrated
• all the interactions and materials produced are recorded
in order to make it easier to analyze and share them
• if someone is sick, he or she doesn’t miss the class
material
• marking and assessment procedures will be simplified

13. Demo Lesson
ThankYou, Ma’am
(by Langston Hughes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHyhYa9CQcQ

14. Reading and Post-ReadingTasks
Read the story in your textbooks and listen to the recording.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6mSVeYeBpc
Answer the questions:
http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=thank-you-mam_1
After reading: http://montanna2015.blogspot.co.il/2011/09/thank-you-mam-
letter-from-roger.html

15. Dyslexia and Matriculation Exams
Israeli Ministry of Education practices the following
testing accommodations for LD Students:
• Extra time (usually 25%)
• Electronic dictionary
• Ignoring spelling mistakes (if written in the exam
booklet)
• Computerized exam (optionally)

16. Computerized Exam or Itest
In order to be tested online, LD students must have a special
permission and get registered for the itest.
• While doing listening comprehension they can record their
answers OR type them directly on to the computer.
• While doing reading comprehension they can listen to the
text and record their answers OR type them on the computer.
• They will receive the exam booklet for writing rough drafts,
however it is NOT graded.

17. 50 Popular iPad Apps For Struggling Readers
&Writers
http://www.teachthought.com/apps-2/50-popular-ipad-apps-for-
struggling-readers-writers

18. More LearningTools
• Audacity http://audacityteam.org/
• Delicious https://delicious.com/
• Diigo https://www.diigo.com/
• Evernote https://evernote.com/?var=3
• Kahoot https://kahoot.it/#/
• OxfordOwl http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/
• Quizlet https://quizlet.com/latest

19. Thank you!
Julia Koifman
f3djd@yahoo.ca