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I agree that this Module has been most helpful in consolidating all the official refernce documents for Digital Learning . It has provided all the material needed to make an informed start in our SSE process in September and while I was previously daunted by the idea of technology , I see that the inclusivity features on the devices we already have are certainly a good place to start .
Reading the School Development Planning section of the Inclusive Education Framework reminded me that digital technologies are most effective when they are part of a whole-school approach. For pupils with additional needs, technology can remove barriers, promote independence and increase participation. It also highlights the importance of planning, collaboration and ensuring all pupils have equal opportunities to succeed. For this to be effective , it invoilves whole school committment to upskilling and being consistent in the use of the technologies with all pupils.
In September, I will be working with three pupils in 6th class who have a range of literacy, numeracy and dyspraxia needs. They are all capable learners but need additional support with reading, spelling, written work, organisation of their thoughts before writing and presenting their written work . I hope to use technology to help remove some of these barriers and build their confidence and independence.
- Immersive Reader (Microsoft 365): Reads text aloud, highlights words and allows changes to text size and spacing, making reading more manageable.
- Dictate (Microsoft Word): Lets pupils speak instead of type, supporting those with spelling, handwriting and coordination difficulties.
- Read Aloud in Edge: Helps pupils access online texts independently while improving comprehension.
- Nessy Reading & Spelling: Provides structured literacy activities that support reading, spelling and dyslexia-friendly learning in an age-appropriate way.
- DoodleMaths: Provides personalised maths practice and instant feedback to develop confidence.
- Microsoft Maths Solver: Supports pupils by explaining maths problems step by step.
- I will also use X Mind to assist pupils in organising their written work into sections .
These tools will help my pupils access learning more independently and participate more confidently across the curriculum.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ro3vv3FGqFgs7fztrPGT11X2L3BBQqV3/edit#heading=h.sxhfwa3ldynv
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m having difficulty pasting anything from Word today , Im not sure why .I agree that the use of technology needs to be tailored to individual pupils` needs. All pupils have access to the same devices but in reality, the needs of the pupils will be completely dfferent so will need to use the device in completely different ways and for different reasons.
I like the idea in Deirdre`s post about using the picture dictionary to make reading more accessible . In addition to it helping our high numbers of EAL pupils , it wouls also be beneficial for all pupils , vocabulary extension and enrichment is always an important part of all literacy lessons and the picutre dictionaryis available for all pupils who can access word meanings that are specific to their level of understanding during a lesson .
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s2Wyc_-1DDr7ttMrRLf7B_aIZsbMXyT0/edit
I was unable to copy my submission over from MS Word .
I was not aware of the inbuilt picture dictionary in Immersive reader and feel this would be very useful for all of our EAL pupils in particular and pupils with language processing challenges. I also like the fact that text layout can be simplified. Someting which our senior pupils comment on is the fact that their Starlight book in particular, has too much on the page and the layout does nothing to help them when looking for answers to questions etc. I will certainly use this feature with them daily .
During this module , I learned a lot about the accessibility features in Microsoft 365 that I can see making a real difference for my SET pupils. I found Immersive Reader will be particularly useful as it supports pupils by reading text aloud, highlighting words, adjusting text spacing and reducing visual distractions. This will help improve reading confidence and comprehension while encouraging independent learning .
I was also impressed by the Dictate tool, which would benefit pupils who find handwriting or spelling challenging. I will be working next year with 3 pupils with Dyspraxia and Dictate will enable them to express their ideas verbally, helping them focus on the content of their work rather than the physical act of writing.
I also explored the built-in accessibility features in the Microsoft Edge browser such as Read Aloud when accessing online content. This makes websites more accessible and helps pupils engage with digital texts more effectively.
Overall, these tools would support not only inclusive practice but support all learners , by providing different ways for pupils to access learning and demonstrate their understanding.
In looking at how I could adapt our existing equipment , I will set up Microsoft accounts next year, which is also the platform our pupils will use when they move to secondary school . I have been using Google up to now, however Microsoft allows more in terms of accessibility features
As a SET teacher with 5th / 6th Classes I wanted to upskill in the area of technology this year as I feel competence in assistive technology is essential for all learners. I initially used some aspects with the pupils in my support class but as we became familiar with apps such as Seeing AI and the free accessibility tools on tablets and IPads , I was very eager that all pupils in the classes could use the same . We live in a world where technology is everywhere and being able to effectively use even the phones we all have , is an essential life skill.
