Lesson 3 - Special Needs - Accommodations in an Online Environment
Assignment: Reflect on your experiences with your students. Think of a situation in
which online education may have been a preferable option for one of your special
needs students or a student with an extenuating circumstance.
which online education may have been a preferable option for one of your special
needs students or a student with an extenuating circumstance.
Describe student’s disability, special need and/or the extenuating circumstance.
This year I had a student, we will identify him by M, in my advisement class who was absent
for a period of 6 weeks. Upon his return to school, we were told that he was out for medical
reasons. M shared with me that he was absent because he attempted suicide and was placed
in a residential facility. In his absence, he was not able to fully keep up with assignments
(even though there were tutors and ‘school’ at the facility). M has worked hard to catch up while
still working on his recovery, though he still misses on average two days of school due to anxiety,
lack of sleep the previous night, or just a general not ‘feeling like it.”
for a period of 6 weeks. Upon his return to school, we were told that he was out for medical
reasons. M shared with me that he was absent because he attempted suicide and was placed
in a residential facility. In his absence, he was not able to fully keep up with assignments
(even though there were tutors and ‘school’ at the facility). M has worked hard to catch up while
still working on his recovery, though he still misses on average two days of school due to anxiety,
lack of sleep the previous night, or just a general not ‘feeling like it.”
Identify at least three specific aspects of the online environment you feel would be beneficial forthis student’s situation or disability. Explain why each aspect of the online environment
you identified above would be advantageous to your student, using specific examples.
you identified above would be advantageous to your student, using specific examples.
In this specific instance, I feel that an online situation would have been beneficial
M for the following reasons:
M for the following reasons:
Access 24/7
Since his return to traditional school, M has stated that it is hard for him to sleep at night and
that is when he feels most productive. As a result, he sleeps during the day - or is tired when
he is attending face to face school. If he was taking classes online he would have access to
everything he needs for learning, content, help desk, assignments, etc whenever he wanted.
M could ‘attend too school’ during the hours that he feels he is most productive instead of the
country mandated hours.
that is when he feels most productive. As a result, he sleeps during the day - or is tired when
he is attending face to face school. If he was taking classes online he would have access to
everything he needs for learning, content, help desk, assignments, etc whenever he wanted.
M could ‘attend too school’ during the hours that he feels he is most productive instead of the
country mandated hours.
Accountability
While students do not have to worry about ‘seat time’ as mandated by the state or attendance
issues - there is still accountability with online learning. Logging into the LMS would track M’s
progress. This would help keep track of M’s progress and access to the course no matter
where he was. In the residential facility, he would not have to wait for work to be transported
from our face to face school and he could have
issues - there is still accountability with online learning. Logging into the LMS would track M’s
progress. This would help keep track of M’s progress and access to the course no matter
where he was. In the residential facility, he would not have to wait for work to be transported
from our face to face school and he could have
No Surprises
In my discussions with M over the course of the semester, he has indicated that he is suffering
from depression and anxiety. If he was in an online program, there would be no surprises in the
course - possibly reducing the anxiety school might be giving him. In a face to face environment,
students often complain they do not know when things are due when exams are, etc. In an online
environment, the entire syllabus is laid out for the semester. There are no surprises that could
make a student reel with anxiety. Plus knowing that assignments are due on a certain day at a
certain time, can help a student plan their week around times they are feeling up to working and not.
Along the same line, he would be able to access his grades at all times to know where he stands
in the class.
from depression and anxiety. If he was in an online program, there would be no surprises in the
course - possibly reducing the anxiety school might be giving him. In a face to face environment,
students often complain they do not know when things are due when exams are, etc. In an online
environment, the entire syllabus is laid out for the semester. There are no surprises that could
make a student reel with anxiety. Plus knowing that assignments are due on a certain day at a
certain time, can help a student plan their week around times they are feeling up to working and not.
Along the same line, he would be able to access his grades at all times to know where he stands
in the class.
What challenges do you suspect your student may encounter in the online environment?
Lack of Motivation -
One thing M has indicated in our conversations is his lack of motivation to do his work at home
or in school. This is probably brought on by his depression. In turn, it causes his anxiety to be
worse because he could be getting further behind. On an online environment, being a self-motivator
/starter is an important characteristic. You do not have a teacher ‘standing’ over you to ensure you
are completing your work. Often it takes students new to online learning to adjust to this. Students
need to look at their syllabus and be diligent about staying on track. They need to understand what
is being asked of them in their assignments and be willing to ask if they do not.
or in school. This is probably brought on by his depression. In turn, it causes his anxiety to be
worse because he could be getting further behind. On an online environment, being a self-motivator
/starter is an important characteristic. You do not have a teacher ‘standing’ over you to ensure you
are completing your work. Often it takes students new to online learning to adjust to this. Students
need to look at their syllabus and be diligent about staying on track. They need to understand what
is being asked of them in their assignments and be willing to ask if they do not.
Feeling Disconnected
While there are many benefits to online learning - it is not necessarily for everyone. In M’s case,
he might feel disconnected from his peers and teachers. In an online environment, you can limit
your social interaction with people a great deal. When students are suffering from depression, lack
of connection can be hard and actually worsening the depression. To be successful would ensure
that M attended the synchronous sessions to have the connection that they might miss in an online
environment.
he might feel disconnected from his peers and teachers. In an online environment, you can limit
your social interaction with people a great deal. When students are suffering from depression, lack
of connection can be hard and actually worsening the depression. To be successful would ensure
that M attended the synchronous sessions to have the connection that they might miss in an online
environment.
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