Technology Tools that can be Used to Address Visual-Spatial or Motor Control Difficulties.

Students with disabilities relating to fine motor control or visual spatial issues may have difficulty keeping their math problems in the correct format and alignment, drawing the correct dimensions for a geometric shape, or may not be able to read their own work. Here are some great educational applications available to reduce the handwriting demands for students who have visual-spatial and motor control difficulties.  

1) MathPad is a program which allows students to solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems without paper and pencil. This program displays one problem at a time for students with the numbers in the correct place value to eliminate wrong answers and confusion. One feature of the program allows students to regroup to allow for more difficult problems. This program also features a voice output system for students with visual impairments and reading difficulties. Teacher generated problems can be completed on the computer and the student’s will receive immediate feedback after assessment. Teachers can assess the print out with all computation steps included to identify the specific mistakes made in computation.  

2) MathPad Plus includes all of the features of MathPad in addition to mathematical problems including fractions and decimals. This application allows visual learners to view problems in a variety of ways including pie charts, fraction bars, and decimal grids.

3) Virtual Pencil (VP) Arithmetic allows students who have difficulty with paper and pencil tasks to complete math problems including addition, subtraction, and division with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. This application features a speech feedback which reads the problems to students and explains the place value of the digits for students who cannot see the problem. This software includes a tutorial mode and test mode. 

4) Virtual Pencil (VP) Algebra includes the features of VP Arithmetic but allows students with disabilities to solve algebraic equations while reading correct math terminology including square root of, quantity squares, etc. 

5) Number Navigator is considered a “simple math processor”. This application does not offer voice feedback, but it is a FREE application to help students enter and solve basic math problems while customizing the colors, fonts, and sizes.

6) Microsoft word is a program familiar to all of us, but it can also be used as a math processor by using the Microsoft Equation Editor. This allows students to use math symbols.

7) Scientific Notebook allows students to not only write equations on the computer but this program allows the student to solve the equations. This application allows students with disabilities to participate in advanced classes such as calculus.

Hopefully you are able to choose a few of the above applications to help your students in your classroom! Tell me what you think by posting below! 

Reference: Dell, A., & Newton, D. (2008). Assistive technology in the classroom: Enhancing the school experiences of students with disabilities. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.