FEATURE: SEND
The digital world of SEND I
n our second look at the many aspects of SEND this month, Elizabeth Cooper of Help
Educational Games looks at how to use the love of the digital world to help children with dyslexia succeed and be happy in their learning.
What is it about computer games that children love so much? Is it the visual design and vibrant colours? Is it the power to transform into a character? No, it’s the feeling that children get when they have achieved something. Most games are designed around some kind of reward scheme, whether it’s a level up or unlocked content. Reward schemes are attractive because the positive reinforcement makes children feel good. That’s why computer games are being used more and more as an educational tool. They provide the opportunity for working memory, problem solving skills, and critical thinking, all while entertaining. More specifically though computer games are being used for children with dyslexia. Dyslexia can mean children often struggle with things like spelling and mixed up letters but have no impact on their intelligence. Using digital games as an educational tool offers them opportunity to learn literacy skills from a new outlook and software that is designed for their needs, all while lifting their self-esteem and making them feel good. So what else do digital games offer children
with dyslexia that parents and educators find so appealing?
Play The element of play is considered an essential part
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of effective learning especially in the young. This play can cover areas from social to board games and more recently digital games. With video games being associated within the entertainment industry, it is already positioned in our minds, and that of children, as a play tool. When learning is one of the components of this play, the learning is likely to be enhanced. Dyslexia can cause a disconnect between the
sound and sight of words. Many digital games give written and verbal instructions which can be beneficial if children struggle to recall words when they have just read them. For teachers, this can save them reading all the instructions out to individual children. Being able to listen to the game can help children understand the written words by associating the sound and sight every time they play the game. This will in turn improve memory and literacy skills.
Customisation Dyslexia has no effect on intelligence but it can mean that learning can sometimes take a bit longer. To keep up work with other classmates it can be beneficial for children with dyslexia to have extra time to practice some of the simple literacy skills. Ten minutes a day of practicing spelling can be more effective that learning them over the week with a test at the end. The use of
October 2018
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