Tech tools can reduce stress and overcome barriers for students
Would you like to see more smiles on the faces of frustrated college students? I have a few suggestions.
Distance learning has its own set of challenges and pandemic related stress is everywhere. Individuals with learning and attention-related differences are experiencing a whole new set of routines and obstacles. They need guidance but parents, educational consultants, and tutors are also struggling to figure out solutions. A new app, tech tool, or feature may be just what is needed for emerging adults to achieve mental well-being, resilience, and independence.
As I help older students learn to leverage the benefits of technology to take advantage of strengths, it’s exciting to see their smiles when they begin to see the benefit of just one or two new features or products. Life looks a whole lot brighter. So many aspects of life these days are beyond our control but becoming more tech-savvy is something students can achieve with guidance. Learning what is possible is the first step.
A colleague of mine who also specializes in assistive and educational technology (Dr. Brian Friedlander) and I are sharing what we’ve learned to empower students to overcome challenges. We are passionate about helping students use more effective ways to access content, actively learn, and demonstrate knowledge.
We’ve created a mini-course to help students, educators, consultants, and advocates connect and collaborate to learn more about available technologies and strategies for effective implementation. Everyone is welcome to register. To learn more, please go to https://innovativespeech.com/college-tech/.
The fun begins on Dec. 8, 2020. Sessions will be recorded and available until the end of December. We are offering online presentations, Q & A sessions, and the opportunity for private online coaching sessions tailored to your needs.
Enabling a couple of mainstream accessibility features or using a new app or special gadget may be just what is needed to make the 2nd semester of this year a bit less stressful and more academically successful.
While parents may assume that their grown kids are already tech-savvy, many of our “digital natives” aren’t “in the know” when it comes to using their phones and computers to improve productivity and learning. It’s not intuitive for them to use their devices to assist with implementing a timeline for projects or managing attention with so many distractions getting in the way. Many students in college who are distance learning now are finding it difficult to keep track of where to access materials, due dates, and meeting links that are posted in different locations.
In a recent interview with Eric Endlich, the founder of Top College Consultants, I shared why I felt it was important for independent educational consultants to be familiar with cutting-edge technologies in order to advise college students more thoughtfully. The article was published in the Oct/Nov 2020 issue of IECA INSIGHTS, The newsletter of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. We talked about examples of useful tools many people don’t know about as well as new tools for taking notes and the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning. Click here to read the article titled, Jump-Start Student Learning with Technology.
Everyday routines have changed and the learning and organizational supports of prior years are gone as students enter college and learn from a distance. Taking notes during online courses and paying attention to either pre-recorded lectures or synchronous sessions present new challenges to navigate.
Students deserve our help.
Please reach out to me at Joan@innovativespeech.com. I offer free 15-minute phone consultations and 1:1 online tech coaching sessions to help you figure out your next steps toward success! More information is available at www.innovativespeech.com.