Monkland State School
Improving literacy for students with learning disabilities/ intellectual disabilities through higher order technology tasks and peer tutoring

This program arose through a pilot study that engaged a 10 year old girl with mild - moderate intellectual disabilities in the use of computer technology and enabled her to become an expert in the area of desktop publishing.  This expertise was the foundation for her to become a valuable peer tutor for the regular class members.  The student was part of an inclusion program at the school and this was one strategy to 'include' the student, to overcome her fear of writing text and to improve her social skills.  The program has been described in detail elsewhere e.g. Anderson (1995) 'Inclusive Education: Using Technology to Provide Higher Cognitive Challenge' Australian Disability Review, Vol 2 and Anderson (1995) Beyond Drill and Practice - Higher Order Thinking Skills Through Technology'  Proceedings of the Second Australian Conference on Technology for People with Disabilities, Adelaide and Anderson (1995) No, Belinda Set Everything Up' QUICK.
The successful features of the program were identified and adapted to a group situation.  Six students with mild - moderate intellectual disabilities are undertaking the program.  The steps of the program are to introduce the students to computers in a non- threatening way through games and then to gradually introduce desktop publishing.  In the initial stages text is not used as some of the students have negative prior concepts in this area.  Features such as importing pictures and use of borders are investigated first.  These pictures and borders are linked to a theme chosen by the students.  Constructivist learning theory forms the theoretical basis of this intervention, so the student's prior knowledge, needs and interests are taken into account.  After the students become comfortable with the software, more text is incorporated in their work.
The group consists of six students, three girls and three boys.  Extensive pre-testing and post testing as well as qualitative techniques have been used to determine changes in some self-concept areas, academic achievement and social skills.  As areas of desk top publishing are mastered, the students then assist their regular classmates by peer tutoring them.  Students undertaking the program take part in a series of steps designed to increase their ability to peer tutor others.  It is also planned that students who show early mastery of the desktop publishing software will move on to using 'Powerpoint' to develop presentations and will also try web publishing.  Steps for the program have been developed over 18 months, along with an extensive literature review, to support implementation.  For further information contact Neil Anderson (nranderson1@peg.apc.org)