This study examines the role of receptive vocabulary knowledge on outcomes of the TOEFL reading comprehension task. Participants included 18 native speakers of Spanish learning English as a foreign language and 17 native speakers of English ranging in age from 19-25 years. Lexical stimuli were presented auditorily and were divided into…

This is a paper focuses on two issues central to improving student achievement, the integration of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into general education and the inclusion of this framework into the preparation program for school administrators. First, this paper details the need to examine curriculum, instruction and assessment in…

Transitioning to and from post-compulsory education often poses problems on students, especially students with disabilities. The fourth Ed-ICT symposium at the FernUniversität in Hagen aimed at discussing new practices, identifying problems and challenges during transition processes, and developing innovative solutions for both individuals and…

As stated in Cardoso, Smith, and Garcia Fuentes (2015), second language researchers and practitioners have explored the pedagogical capabilities of Text-To-Speech synthesizers (TTS) for their potential to enhance the acquisition of writing (e.g. Kirstein, 2006), vocabulary and reading (e.g. Proctor, Dalton, & Grisham, 2007), and pronunciation…

The use of technology is becoming widespread in science and technology classes due to its overwhelming benefits in learning. Yet many English language teachers lack knowledge of the existing technologies and the 'know-how' to use it in the classroom. In this paper, the researchers report the pilot study conducted to explore the effects of virtual…

Text-To-Speech (TTS) synthesizers have piqued the interest of researchers for their potential to enhance the L2 acquisition of writing (Kirstein, 2006), vocabulary and reading (Proctor, Dalton, & Grisham, 2007) and pronunciation (Cardoso, Collins, & White, 2012; Soler-Urzua, 2011). Despite their proven effectiveness, there is a need for…

This work presents the assistive use of a combination of technologies in language learning to individuals with high functioning disabilities within a higher education environment. The primary aim of this research is to introduce the initial findings of a pilot exploratory user test which aims to facilitate a better understanding of the suitability…

This paper updates the efforts to educate blind students in higher education in the digital age and describes how to support the development of mental models in learning through tactile learning and 3D-printing technology. It cites research documenting a drop in Braille literacy along with the growth in use of digital technologies by blind…

The purpose of this study was to examine the needs and availability of assistive technologies for university students with disabilities. The study also explored attitudes toward computers and the extent computers are utilized by students with disabilities. The participants were university students from one private and four public universities in…

The main purpose of this paper is to provide real-life examples for the assistive technology, which are used to enhance preservice teacher-faculty and online designer partnerships in special education. Therefore, a framework developed by the researchers will show the needs, expectations and strengths of preservice teachers, faculty and online…