ADHD+and+Social+Media

 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a learning disability that affects 8 - 10% of children that are in school. Students with ADHD have difficulty learning because they have difficulty focusing and are easily distracted. They often have a difficult time sticking to a task. It affects the way they function in school, at home and in social situations. These kids active impulsively. They may blurt out answers, talk excessively, get out of their seat, or they may just be daydreaming and not paying attention to what is going on around them. Often times these students understand the task that is requested of them, but usually cannot stay focused long enough to complete the task. ADHD has nothing to do with intelligence, it is about focusing, organizing, and keeping their attention directed long enough to complete the required task.

 Lectures are usually difficult for the ADHD student. They need to be active, but sometimes may get too excited during these active times. A student with ADHD will have a difficult time completing a long task, or a task with a lot of steps. The task may need to be broken down into several smaller steps. Organization may also be a problem area for the ADHD student.

 One Web 2.0 tool that may help the ADHD student succeed is social media. An example of a social media that may be used within the classroom is Edmodo. All students will enjoy reading and commenting on each other's posts, even the student who finds it difficult to sit for extended periods of time. When a teacher uses Edmodo or other social site, many different tasks can be assigned and students may select the order in which they complete the tasks. Students may watch videos linked through the site, complete assignments, take quizzes, upload photos, and ask questions and respond to their peers. Because there are a variety of tasks that can be completed within this one site, even the ADHD student can enjoy being able to move around, working at his own pace, and completing tasks in an order that works for him, without having to spend long periods of time on one task, or listening to a teacher lecture.

 Although there are many benefits to a social media site, such as Edmodo, the ADHD student may also have some difficulty. Organization is sometimes an issue with this student, and because of all of the ways a site like this can be used within the classroom, the ADHD student may need assistance from a teacher, or could be partnered with another student to be sure he is completing all of the assignments. The student and partner can go through each assignment and ensure that each one was completed. The benefits of a site such as this far outweigh any barriers that the student may encounter.

[|http://webaim.org/articles/cognitive/#attention] [|http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/learning/adhd.htm] Nancy, You have really done a great job with this article. There is a lot of good information here not only on Web 2.0, but on students with ADHD as well. I think you hit the nail on the head with a major barrier of organization with students with ADHD. I would like to add that so many times these students need medication and don't get it, and other times the ADHD can be helped in the classroom with a behavior contract. I really like trying the behavior contract when students blurt out, and cause other distractions. Kathy