Computers, mathematics and the learning disabled student

Includes bibliographical references (pages 56-60)Each year the impact of computers in education\ud becomes more and more important, especially as educators\ud begin to understand its uses and capabilities. This\ud project discusses the implications of using a computer\ud with learning disabled students. The primary sources of\ud information were those of experience of the author, the\ud students who the author has worked with over the past\ud fifteen or twenty years and work with numerous software\ud programs. Section I presents a brief discussion of\ud different uses, currently, of the computer in the\ud classroom.\ud As the cost of computers decreased their\ud availability in schools, although still limited, became\ud greater. More schools could afford to buy at least one\ud computer and in some instances computer companies\ud donated computers. However, many people who knew nothing\ud about computers were often faced with attempting to buy\ud appropriate software and with teaching students to use\ud the computer. Often, the evaluative ability of these\ud people was limited due to the fact that little\ud preparation was available prior to purchase. Section II\ud is an attempt to point out some of the ways in which\ud students with learning disabilities interact with the\ud computer. It is hoped that the educator will then have\ud some ideas to keep in mind while working with computers\ud and choosing software.\ud Section III presents some ideas to be considered as\ud far as developing software that is appropriate for use\ud with students in general, and learning disabled students\ud in particular. Section IV summarizes the effect of\ud learning disabilities on the use of computers by\ud categorizing some programs that are best used with\ud certain types of students