Low-, Mid-, and High-Technology Tools

Low-tech devices are easy to find in office supply and stationary stores. Typically, they are portable, low in cost, easy to use, and may be virtually transparent in use. For example, a rubber pencil grip can enable a student with poor motor control to grasp a pencil more securely and produce more legible work.

Mid-tech devices tend to be relatively inexpensive, usually do not require extensive training, and are often lightweight and portable, which allows them to be used anywhere.

High-tech tools and devices usually involve hardware and software (e.g., speech recognition software, communication boards, software and equipment for creating multimedia presentations). They are more costly than mid- and low-tech tools. Therefore, to be used effectively, the student should be able to learn how to comfortably use the technology in a reasonably short period of time. If a device takes months to master, the student will lose valuable instructional time. Also, teachers and parents need to learn how to be comfortable in using the technology to support the student and troubleshoot, as needed.

The chart below features links to descriptions of technology tools and suggestions for how they can be used in the classroom.

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