Thoughts on Assistive Technology
At Quillsoft, our extensive experience in researching and developing assistive technology (AT) and supporting its users has led us to some important insights that we believe are worth sharing:
Assessment and Customization: Students should undergo assessment by experienced professionals to determine the suitability of AT. Customization is crucial to ensure its effectiveness since there's no one-size-fits-all solution.
Instruction and Awareness: Providing AT is not sufficient on its own. Instruction on its usage and its integration into educational settings is essential. Both students and their support network (parents, tutors, teachers, etc.) should be aware of its capabilities and limitations to maximize its benefits.
Addressing Stigma: Teachers should be mindful of potential stigma associated with AT usage among students' peers and take proactive steps to normalize its use in the classroom.
Stress Reduction: AT has the potential to alleviate stress and anxiety, which are major contributors to student dropout rates.
Compensatory Nature: AT doesn't fix learning disabilities but enables students to leverage stronger skills to compensate for weaker ones.
Role of AI vs. IA: While AI has its place in assisting students, it shouldn't replace the development of essential skills. Intelligent Assistance (IA) emphasizes supporting students rather than doing the work for them.
Realistic Expectations: AT doesn't instantly bridge years of academic gaps. It's unrealistic to expect immediate parity with peers after years of falling behind.
Regarding WordQ, it can significantly lower barriers for students in expressing their ideas and knowledge by:
Supporting reading and writing across all subjects.
Reducing the cognitive and physical demands associated with writing mechanics.
Enabling students to keep up with regular school workload more efficiently.
Minimizing conflicts at home by facilitating quicker, less effortful completion of homework, potentially reducing or eliminating the need for parental oversight.
Boosting self-esteem and reducing self-doubt by empowering students to demonstrate their capabilities despite dyslexia-related challenges.
Saving teachers and staff time that would otherwise be spent scribing for students.
These insights underscore the multifaceted benefits and considerations associated with integrating AT like WordQ into educational environments.
Students and educators demonstrate how word prediction can help students with the physical act of writing and help reduce spelling, grammar, and handwriting errors.
Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium - ERLC