Scaffolding and Assistive Technology

Vygotsky believed in ‘scaffolding’ as a way for students to ‘build on what they know’. This theory is one of the foundations of Constructivism. In using Assistive Technology, students do just this. If students had a writing assignment for example, they could use the graphic organizer program called Inspiration to help them get started. This program allows students to use diagrams, pictures, or words to organize their thoughts and ideas in order to show what they know. This is a critical opportunity for students with learning difficulties as these students often are high visual learners and do their best work in this way.

Inspiration has two main views to it: the diagram view, and the outline view. In these options of the programs, students most often start with the diagram view. They find it easy to use, and easy to see what information they are including in their work. Once they are done the diagram, they simply go to the tool menu to choose outline view. What is beautiful about this program is that now, it takes the information the student entered on the diagram, and formats it into an outline that they can use for the start to a story, essay, or report depending on the task at hand.

We can see clearly how this program scaffolds the child’s learning assisting them in compensating for their learning deficits. Without this opportunity, many of these students would never be able to gather their own ideas independently to get even close to the level of performance expected in the classroom.

A point well taken is the fact that students have traditionally perceived using technology in a playful or ‘non-educational’ way. As a result of this, students are open to using technology, and willing to do whatever they can using it. They see it as fun. Educators can capitalize on this aspect, and ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed to their personal best levels of achievement.