Visual-Spatial / Motor Control Difficulties and Technology Tools

In my last post I discussed educational applications that teachers could use to support students struggling with automaticity and fluency in math. This post will focus on technology tools that can be used to support students with visual-spatial or motor control difficulties. Lets start with what visual-spatial and motor control difficulties are.

Students with disabilities may experience difficulty with writing numbers, aligning digits in computation problems, and creating visual representations usually due to fine motor control or visual spatial issues. Additionally, these students may not be able to understand and interpret their own written work.

So, what can we do to support these struggling students in the classroom. The textbook provides several educational applications that address visual-spatial and motor control difficulties.

• MathPad
• Talking math worksheet program that enables students to perform arithmetic computations with whole numbers on the computer in much the same way they would using pencil and paper. 
• Allows students with fine motor difficulties to demonstrate their skill simply by using the keyboard or clicking the mouse. 
• Provides speech output options for those with visual impairments.
• MathPad Plus
• Extends all of the features or MathPad to arithmetic computations with fractions and decimals.
• Provides several additional features to support student success.

• Virtual Pencil (VP) Arithmetic
• Designed for students who are unable to operate a pencil effectively.
• Allows students to access addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals without using a pencil and paper.
• Offers a speech feedback option for those who cannot see the problem.
• Virtual Pencil (VP) Algebra
• Extends most of the features of VP Arithmetic so students with disabilities can solve algebraic equations.
• Speech feedback option for those who struggle with sight or reading.

• Number Navigator
• Simple math processor to enter and solve basic math problems on the computer.
• Colors, fonts, and font sizes are customizable.
• Free!

• Microsoft Word/ Microsoft Equation Editor
• Enables students who have difficulty with handwriting but have good mouse control to create simple or advanced equations in correct mathematical notation.
• Numerous symbols are provided and are entered via a mouse click.

• Scientific Notebook
• High-end application that is designed to solve equations. 
• Provides students who have disabilities the opportunity to participate in advanced math classes. 
• I think this is so great to have support for students with disabilities in advanced math classes. Just because someone has a disability does not mean that they cannot be successful in advanced classes with appropriate supports. 

• Meanders' Annotation
• Provides a solution to handwriting problems in geometry.
• This is an add-on tool that works in Microsoft Office. 
• Enables students to draw on diagrams, record legible markings, and plot lines. 

Check out this video below on MathPad.

Amy G. Dell, Deborah A. Newton, Jerry G. Petroff. Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities. (Chapter 5) 2012. Second Edition.