Access Technology: Making the Right Choice

Day, J. (e)(1995) Access Technology: Making The Right Choice COVENTRY; NCET

Types of Access for IT
  • Physcial Access
Technology provides independent access to a world of communication and learning that has been closed until now. It is no wonder than we consider IT in the context of physical access as a lifeline.
  • Cognitive Access
By experiencing learning in an active way, they are helped to identify similar situations in the world around them. The common factor in these experiences is that IT is providing an additional resource to facilitate the learnig process for these pupils.
  • Supportive Access
The power of technology to support pupils in different areas of difficulty.
The pupil who is wary of failure in the learning process can explore ideas on the computer in a supportive environment.


Framework for ICT-based Provision
  • Context
  • Purpose
  • Resourcing
  • Support
  • Expectations
  • Management
  • Monitoring
  • Transition
(this could be used as a basis to ensure the progression from stroytelling using the ICT program into written / drawn stories, or recalling a story without a visual prompt)


IT and Emotional / Behavioural
  • IT can provide a non-threatening environment in which to achieve success
  • The computer provides a neutral setting... the pupil is controlling the pace and level of work
  • for the learner who is unsure about the acceptability of his work, the computer constitutes a private world in which to experiment safely

Speech and Language
  • For some learners with speech and language difficulties, information technology is a lifeline, enabling them to communicate with the world around them.