Tools to Support Executive Functions (parent presentation) Karen Janowski

“She doesn’t know where to begin…..”

“He’s got great ideas but just can’t get them down on paper….”

“She takes hours to finish her homework ….and then she forgets to pass it in....”

Executive Functions

“The Brain’s CEO”

Executive Function (EF) involves activating, orchestrating, monitoring, evaluating and adapting different strategies to accomplish different tasks. (Horowitz, 2007)

Initiating Sustaining Inhibiting/stopping Set Shifting (Denckla, 1996)

89% to 98% of students with ADHD have deficits in executive skills Russell Barkley

Translation - Five Main Skills

Planning Organization Time Management Working Memory Metacognition

Plan

Strategize

Plan B

Reduce learned helplessness

Interventions Dawson and Guare

Individual Level – Explicit individualized strategy Instruction Programs/Student-Teaching-and-Field-Experience/images/450_student-teacher-1.jpg

Environmental Level – External support and structure

General Guidelines Minimize Paper Use visuals Explicit strategy instruction Monitor time on task Toolbelt Theory (Ira Socol) Manage workflow

Note: The recommendations which follow serve as a starting point. This list is not exhaustive and new apps are continually developed.

What difference do mobile devices make with recommendations?

Readily available Longer battery life Instant on Portable Cool

Planning/organizing Productivity Apps It’s a whole new world

Features of the devices: Speak Selection Camera functions Calendar functions

Features of the devices: Reminder Functions Timer Functions Siri/Speech Recognition

Memory Apps All About Me app ($2.99) Sound Gecko (free online and an app) Screen Casting apps (free) – Educreations, ShowMe, Screenchomp

Getting Things Done (younger students) Waitstrip – easy, visual $.99 app Chore Pad - $4.99 app

Organization Tool Apps Sticky Notes (low tech and app, free) Siri Evernote – free, syncs to everything Errands To do list (free) Quick NotePro app (has record feature, $3.99) Forgetful – (free for two audio reminders)

Homework Apps (priorities, alarms, etc) InClass (free) Erudio (free) istudiez Pro ($2.99) Complete Class Organizer ($4.99)

Time Management Rescue Time – online tool, tracks how you spend time on your computer 30/30 – (free app, with task timers) Tododo HD (task timers, $1.99 app)

Writing

Brainstorming What’s available?

UDLTechToolkit.wikispaces.com iPad Apps – Popplet Lite (free) IdeaSketch (free) Tools4Students ($.99, excellent templates )

Writing Tools Bypass writing challenges Paperport Notes Dragon Dictation speech recognition built into devices

Editing (Evaluate mechanics) PaperRater.com Collaborative revision features in Google docs/drive

LiveScribe Smart Pen Notability ($1.99, excellent app, numerous features, syncs audio to text) Sound Note ($4.99 app, syncs audio to text) Capture Notes ($4.99 appnumerous features) NoteBinder ($6.99 app, numerous features, ) Notetaking

Study Skills Tools Flash Card apps (Quizlet online) Flashcard(let) free iBooks (Active Reading strategies)

Newton Assistive Tech Resource Page: bit.ly/ATIAEF2

Thank you!

PHOTO CREDITS Student against wall - Chessboard - Plan B Large Chessboard Watches Start button - concept-of-begin-go-initiate-etc.htmlhttp:// concept-of-begin-go-initiate-etc.html Shift Disorganization -