Wikis+and+Dyslexia

Wikis and Dyslexia

Wendy Dryden

I will never know what it is like to be person with dyslexia but my co-teacher has lived with dyslexia all his life. He says that it is very frustrating to read (even music). Dyslexia makes it hard for a person to read and/or write. There are several ways to help a dyslexia student such as speech to text software and even using larger font for presentations.

Think if you were a student who has dyslexia. For a student with dyslexia trying to keep up with writing lecture notes can be overwhelming or collaborating on an assignment in the classroom because of their low self-esteem or being asked to read out loud to the class.

Teachers that use wikis can help to fill in the gaps for students with dyslexia. A student who has dyslexia would benefit from a wiki because teachers can post lecture notes (text, audio or video). A barrier the student might face is if there is a lot to read on the wiki or if they are judge by their peers because of their inability to write well. Possible solutions to this barrier would be for teachers to provide multiple choices for presenting information on the wiki or read the students writing before it is posted on the wiki.

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Wendy... you hit the nail on the head with your explanation and helpful resource for someone with dyslexia. I have also lived all my life with this learning disability. Often I find myself re-reading things or finding videos on YouTube to explain what I have just read. Sometimes when I am teaching my students will have weird looks on their faces. And that's when I know I have just has a dyslexic moment. I always make a joke out of it or try to make light out of it so that other students with learning disabilities will know that it's ok to be different.

After making a wiki for this class and reading your article I do have to agree with you about how a wiki can bridge the gab for students with this disability. I know that for me as a student reading it, seeing it and writing it, has helped me through a lot of hard times. Giving students will learning disabilities the chance to have a choice in their learning also will make a difference by motivating them to want to complete a project.

Also great websites!

Thanks,

Mel