SOME IDEAS TO APPLY TECHNOLOGY IN THE INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM

SEN stands for "Special Educational Needs". According to Hockly (2017) SEN is the term used to “refer to learners with a wide range of needs that require special supports in the language classroom”.

Several IT tools are useful to deal with the challenges teachers may face when their students present some of these special needs:

• Reading and writing difficulties

• Speech difficulties

• Gifted or talented

Check these apps and possible applications for SEN students!

This tool is really useful for summarizing information. It can be used as a postreading and prewriting activity that helps students synthesize what they have learned. This tool offers four options:

• Bio Cube

• Mystery Cube

• Story Cube

• Create-Your-Own Cube

This app is great because it allows students to start their project ans save their draft to revise later. Once they have finished the cube it can also be printed, and folded into a fun cube shape that can be used for future reference.

HOW CAN I USE THIS TOOL WITH SEN STUDENTS?

This tool is super useful for SEN students with hyperactivity disorder. For example, students can type their writings, but instead of using a normal, boring Word Document, they use the cube. In this way, motivation will be increased and at the same time, they will have a bit of fun!

HOW TO USE IT?

1.Click on "LAUNCH THE TOOL!"

2. Write your name and select which type of cube you would like to make by clicking one of the cubes.

(In this case the "BIO CUBE" was chosen but the same instructions apply to all types of cubes)

3. Complete side 1 with the necessary information (name, time period and place)

4. Click on a box number 2 to rotate the cube. Complete side 2 with the necessary information (personal background)

5.Click on a box number 3 to rotate the cube. Complete side 3 with the necessary information (personality traits)

6.Click on a box number 4 to rotate the cube. Complete side 4 with the necessary information (significance)

7.Click on a box number 5 to rotate the cube. Complete side 5 with the necessary information (obstacles)

8.Click on a box number 6 to rotate the cube. Complete side 6 with the necessary information (important quote)

9. Click on "SAVE"

10. Choose what you want to do with your work: Print, Export or Save

2Evernote is a note-taking tool to create and organize digital notes. You can download it on your mobile phone or tablet or you can use it from the webpage. It is similar to Google Keep, but with the advantage that has many other functions. The free version allows you to work from two different devices at the same time.

With Evernote, you can not only take notes and share them with your students/coworkers, but also draw up a "TO-DO LIST".

Some important concepts that appear in this app:

• Note: A blank sheet of paper where you write your content.

• Notebook: collection of notes.

• Tags: descriptive words you can add to link your notes.

• Shortcuts: quick links to your favorite notes—the ones you come back to over and over.

HOW CAN I USE THIS TOOL WITH SEN STUDENTS?

Evernote is great for SEN students, specially those with motor skills challenges. Instead of using pen and paper to take notes, they can use their finger and write on a tactile interface more easily.

HOW TO USE IT?

1. Click on "NEW"

2. Select the option "NOTE"

3. Start writing your note. Don't forget to give it a title!