English Teachers Guide to Dyslexia: Utilizing ICT tools to enhance motivation of dyslexic students
Course Fee
€480 (Fully Funded)
Accommodation & Other
Up to €160 per day (Fully Funded)
Course Description
As many as 1 in 5 students have dyslexia and according to statistics, it affects 15% of Europe’s population. Undiagnosed or without special instruction dyslexia can lead to frustration, academic failure and low self-esteem. English is considered to have a complicated orthography and a high level of incongruence between its spelling and pronunciation which makes it even harder for dyslexic students to learn.
Although, majority of teachers do not receive training on Dyslexia and other specific learning disorders they are still required to teach dyslexic students without any assistance.
If you are an English teacher and want to enrich your understanding of Dyslexia, then this is the course for you. The aim of the course is to provide you with a thorough understanding of this specific learning disorder and equip you with a number of strategies and ICT resources that will assist and motivate your dyslexic students.
Topics Include
- Introduction to Dyslexia (myths, definitions, characteristics, difficulties)
- Dyslexia and the English language
- How to identify Dyslexia
- Strategies and techniques for teaching dyslexic learners
- How to use ICT tools, games and gamification platforms to engage and motivate dyslexic students
Aims in relation to the development of your organisation
The participating organizations will:
• Increase their awareness and understanding of dyslexia
• Gain knowledge on how to tackle challenges faced by dyslexic students
• Learn how to use ICT resources effectively to motivate and engage dyslexic students
• Upgrade and empower their staff which will result in a more dynamic, committed and professional environment
Course Schedule
* The course can be modified according to the preferences of the attendees
Monday
The first day of the course will kick off with networking/ice-breaking activities so that participants and trainers get to know each other and establish a good rapport. Following the ice-breaking activities, participants will be presented with an overview of the course and its timetable. All participants will register on the “Emphasys Key Action 1 lifetime support platform” in order to gain access to all the material and supporting documentation of the course as well as to a discussion forum for communication with all participants and trainers.
The course will begin with an Introduction to Dyslexia. Before the learning begins the participants will be presented with facts and myths about dyslexia and will be asked to decide which ones are valid/invalid. A knowledge assessment questionnaire on Dyslexia will also be granted to the participants to be completed before the session begins. When the session ends the participants will be asked to complete the questionnaire again and compare/discuss their answers.
Topics that will be covered during this session:
- Overview of Statistics, Terminology and Definitions of Dyslexia
- Causes
- Overview of symptoms and difficulties that dyslexic learners face (reading, spelling, memory, neuro, auditory, vision)
- How are dyslexic people diagnosed?
Tuesday
During the second day the course will focus on Dyslexia and the English Language. The participants will learn and discuss the importance of speaking English and foreign languages in general in the 21st century. Additionally, examples will be illustrated on how dyslexia can affect foreign language learning and the specific difficulties that dyslexics face with English. Moreover, participants will gain input on the psychosocial and emotional challenges which accompany Dyslexia.
The session will end with an open discussion and tips and advice on how to overcome these challenges with an experienced psychologist.
Awareness-raising task: A dyslexia simulation activity that will show participants how it feels to be dyslexic. It will help teachers empathize with their dyslexic students. (example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZznFCz6V1cM&t=26s )
Wednesday
On the third day the trainers will demonstrate tips on how to identify dyslexia so that the participants will become skilled in identifying students that have not been diagnosed yet. The tips on identifying dyslexia will be followed by strategies and techniques related to reading, writing, spelling and assessment. In addition, the participants will be informed on how ICT resources and tools can be beneficial for dyslexic learners and how they can be used to develop skills and reinforce learning in a meaningful and non-threatening manner.
Thursday
During day 4 the participants will get the chance to look at the available assistive technology for Dyslexia. As the majority of the assistive technology tools and software are not available for free, we will proceed with exploring a number of free apps and tools that can be incorporated in the classroom to assist dyslexic students.
Friday
Day 5 of the course will focus on the use of Gamification in learning. What are the benefits, the downsides and how can it can boost the motivation and engagement of dyslexic learners? After the theory, a practical demonstration of a gamification platform (ClassDojo) will follow. Participants will sign up on the platform and get to know its features by setting up their own classroom.
The session will end with a questionnaire to assess the knowledge of the participants on what was taught during the course. In this way, the participants will get to reflect and discuss their knowledge prior to and after the course.
Saturday
The final day of the course will take place in a hotel in the beautiful coastal city of Famagusta.
Morning activities: Recap and conclusion of the course. Course evaluation, recommendations, outcomes and further steps – remote support through the Emphasys Key Action 1 platform. Award of certificates to the attendees. Arrangements and assistance for airport transportation.
Other Activities
- Visit New Hope Private Special School, a special school for children with language-based learning differences.
Available Dates
*The above dates can be flexible, whereas new ones can also be provided to accommodate the needs or availability of participants.
