I went to my first IEP meeting right before winter break in late December. My 15 year old son has been classified OHI because of ADHD-inattentive type. The state of NJ requires that we talk about assistive technology.
His High School has no study halls, and student’ get 2 electives which he has selected in fine art and digital arts (areas which he might pursue at the college level) The independent psychologist who evaluated him said he has to become proficient at keyboarding. I voiced this concern and the other child study team members said he should take the business class next fall. I said that this would not be possible because of state-mandated requirements and his desire to pursue the arts. (If he decides to pursue art he needs art classes to build his portfolio). I asked about keyboarding computer software, summer programs etc. where he could learn to type and I was ignored.
I also asked if the department of special services had videotapes, etc. that taught note taking and test taking strategies. My son has real problems writing reports and essays – and his psychologist recommended that he should learn strategies for organizing materials graphically.
Over the break I went to the NJ Dept. Of Education website and saw that Assistive tecnologies is offering a professional workshop with instruction in Inspiration and Draftbuilder software. Are any of you familiar with these programs? I am going to ask his casemanager about these programs to find out if they are available through special services. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
Re: Anyone familiar with these programs?
We have Inspiration. It’s useful for brainstorming thoughts and then organizing them graphically. If you are just using it as a idea generator, it’s a fun application for that purpose. But whenever we converted the ideas to an outline so we could export them to write a school paper, it had very odd ideas about what level of the outline the idea belonged to. We had trouble getting the ideas to show up in the correct sequence of the outline. It seemed to care more about what order we created them in, than where we organized them graphically. As usual, my son (then 11) perceived it to be additional work above and beyond the writing itself.
Definitely try the 30-day trial before you buy it.
It didn’t really help with my son’s main weakness with writing paragraphs, namely the idea of a high-level topic sentence with related concepts and their supporting details.
Re: Anyone familiar with these programs?
I am a fourth grade teacher and I just love the Inspiration programs. I like to use technology in my classroom. I have seen lots of improvement in test scores when we use this program (especially for studying at the end of a unit). Sometimes I think it is just easier to look at all of the information in one organized manner, rather than reading it from a book, or hearing a teacher talk about it. I highly recommend Inspiration for studying, it is a great way to organize notes before a test.
Inspiration is good..
But, as he is in highschool, look into the pda’s. You can purchase full size folding keyboards to go with them. There is also free software for them that handles graphic organizer notes that are hand-drawn. Try www.handheld.hice-dev.org in the downloads, I think its called picomap. This site is sponsored by Univ of Michigan and is very active in the pda-in-education movement. PDA’s are much cheaper than a laptop, weigh next to nothing and a high school student would be able to handle the recharging etc.
Also look at www.graphic.org -this website has a lot info on how to use concept maps/graphic organizers and has many models to look at.
I would also reccommend the book “Learning outside the lines” by Mooney. Its directly aimed at LD/ADHD highschool kids.
Re: Inspiration is good..
I think this is a fascinating question on several levels i.e. personal, societal and technological. The societal stuff I’m going to have to pass on given the divergent push and pulls of each states resources and the present select administrations promise and quagmire of actual support of education.
This could be wrong but the mental modeling of concepts may be best served by first hand example, that is later bolstered when all fails -by technological tutoring. Expecting a serial binary system to process on an eclectic parallel (and individual without an AI interface) is a stretch of the currant commercial imagination. This is not to say that the witsend need is unwarnted. (A flesh eye to eye, heart to kin, kind to heart, cannot be compaired to a vedeo eye to eye. I’ve yet to examine the free downloads of Inspiration but I will.)
mmm. Posted a note that a PDA with a n expandable keyboard would be cheaper than a lap top.
I’m going to have to question this.
As a test I purchased an Apple 3400 (tend to be more expensive than PC) laptop with ample processing power to run the programs you are seeking advise for. The Ergonomic and perceptual advantages of a laptop over a PDA is obviously the screen size (2in x3in PDA over the laptop 9x10 plus inch.) Along with the processing power and ability to use a CD external drives. Internet cess though limited in the low end laptop ($150 to $400.) still can muster a 56k internal modem. This would enable your child to access the internet for information but not at breakneck speeds to detour him into games or other sorts of multimedia distractions.
Ok that’s enough of the material rigmarole -
To really answer your question (without further distraction) checking out Inspiration in is in order; especially since “aj’s” posting that it didn’t organize the inspired input in a manner other than by the date it was entered.
This is a curious cross of hierarchical and heterarcacal programing requisites. Some folks like it top down others bottom up and then there is always the need of the Mobius.
In the interim, directing contextual distraction may help your Child focus his attention to the subjects that inspire him. (There are other programs and individual efforts such as free play that develope an artistic portfolio. But if you need to challenge your school -ask them about “contextual interference” as mode of instruction. This may spark some changes.
best,
bill
Re: Inspiration is good..
Inspiration has been one of the top-selling software packages to schools for several years. Commonly it is first used by teachers to generate organisers/conceptual maps for students and, eventually, the teachers teach kids how to create their own organisers/conceptual maps.
The PDA-laptop cost thing: a few things to consider. 1) Since the parent is here I felt it safe to assume there is a desktop at home. The PDA should be used as planner, notes, organiser with the final product done in conjunction with the desktop. If for no other reason than a normal screen.
2) durability. a previous poster here has had her son’s PDA survive the wash! Most PDA’s will survive a drop better than a laptop.
3) weight. A high school student lugs an incredible amount of weight ALL DAY LONG. Pickup that sleek laptop and it doesn’t feel likemuch but slug it around with 20-30 lbs of textbooks through 7 periods and it is heavy.
Again I woudl refer you to the Mooney book-it doesn’t address the PDA/Laptop question but speaks directly to older LD/ADHD students who need to self-advocate and discusses, at length, strategies for academic survival.
Re: Inspiration is good..
Hi Bill,
Which programs are you referring to?
> There are other programs and individual efforts such as free play that
> develope an artistic portfolio.
Audrey
Re: Inspiration is good..
Hi Audrey (and all linked.)
My reference to “free play” came by expression not specific program recommendation. A suggestion that micamom’s child be allowed and encouraged to pursue his artistic desire/needs on their own outside of a formalized scholastic frame.
micamom posted:
> My 15 year old son has been classified OHI because of ADHD inattentive type. The state of NJ requires that we talk about assistive technology.
>His High School has no study halls, and student’ get 2 electives which he has selected in fine art and digital arts (areas which he might pursue at the college level)
>The independent psychologist who evaluated him said he has to become proficient at keyboarding.
>I voiced this concern and the other child study team members said he should take the business class next fall. I said that this would not be possible because of state-mandated requirements and his desire to pursue the arts. (If he decides to pursue art he needs art classes to build his portfolio).
end quote:
With all the directions micamom is pulled in here, and without knowing the particular severity of her childs initiative ADHD… It seems that the suggestion of the child study team members to introduce him to a business course comes from concern that an artist cannot support himself, and/or because he shows some sort of aptitude to quick witted thinking when it comes to inventive ideas (product development). This is not a bad way to go (despite a presumed stereo typing of pursuing an artistic endeavor.) Industrial design is a mix of art and commerce.
The “free play” expression comes from a belief that if the desire for artistic expression is deep enough it will survive regardless. There are many a great many ways to develope a portfolio outside of a structured HS education.
I wish I could say I had a SW program that coined the term ‘freeplay” to offer as a graphics tutorial program but at this time (give it a few months) it’s all hard-copy and hands on, no bits and bytes as yet.
Bill
My apologies for any misunderstandings here, or with any other messages.
My 4th grade, 10 year old daughter uses Draft Builder at home. She has used Inspiration - the first time in 2nd grade. Both are great programs. We purchased Kidspiration (the younger version of Inspiration) and wish I had bought Inspiration instead. You can go to www.inspiration.com and get a free 30 day trial. Inspiration is a GREAT graphic organizer.