The development of a resource guide supporting the effective integration of microcomputer instruction into the writing process with learning disabled writers

Pineau, Pauline Mary Janice (1994) The development of a resource guide supporting the effective integration of microcomputer instruction into the writing process with learning disabled writers. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (35MB)

Abstract

Microcomputers are an integral part of the instructional tools used in our classroom settings. When used appropriately, microcomputers can be of great value to teachers and students. Moreover, microcomputers can provide instructional material appropriate to students’ individual needs. Currently, a growing body of research reveals that through the use of microcomputers, learning-disabled students with writing problems can receive effective instruction in the classroom setting. – Now that microcomputers are becoming widely used in Canadian schools, educators will be expected to develop the competence required to utilize the technology for classroom instruction. Furthermore, the current prevailing ideology of educational integration will require teachers to adapt instruction and curriculum to match individual learner needs. It is the author’s belief that using microtechnology effectively will help facilitate the match between the curriculum demands in the classroom and the individual needs of learning-disabled students experiencing writing difficulties. – The author conducted a review of the educational literature on the promised benefits of microcomputer instruction in the teaching students with learning disabilities in writing, and incorporated relevant theory and research into the design of a resource guide, appropriate for teachers at the elementary school level. The author consulted with the thesis supervisor who provided feedback during the development process. Consultation led to adaptations and modifications so that the resource guide would better meet the specified objectives. A summative evaluation tool was distributed to educational specialists to evaluate how well the resource guide met the objectives set out by the author. Analysis of the evaluation data collected by the author indicated that the participants felt the objectives stated for the resource guide were achieved. – Enriching the Learner: A Resource Guide on Effective Microcomputer Instruction with Learning-disabled Writers, was prepared as a guide to assist educators with effective integration of microcomputer instruction into the writing process, specific to children with learning disabilities in writing. It is a practical tool designed to support the classroom use of microcomputers among learning-disabled writers. A significant component of the resource guide is a theoretical overview of the myriad of writing problems experienced by many learning-disabled children. The resource guide is unique in its attempt to present a link between effective instructional principles in education and the integration of microcomputers into writing instruction. The resource guide is an outgrowth of the author’s extensive research and clinical experience in the field of special education. The resource guide can be located in Appendix C of the thesis.

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