These tips can be used by all students, but they are especially helpful for students who have special situations such as learning disabilities or dyslexia. These tips were gained through my personal experience and the experience of my friends. I started college with significant handicapping conditions and lack of preparation. I have dyslexia (severe reading disorder) and now have three college degrees. When I first went to college I was reading at the third-grade level and could barely pass my classes. These are the things that I learned on my own in order to get through college. I hope my tips will help you as you go to college.
My own experience and the experience of others point to two factors that help to increase college success for students with learning disabilities and dyslexia.are
(1) Choose the college which is close to home, 30 to 45 minutes away at most. Frequently, your home can be a great support network while away at college. Parents, like me, can scan your textbooks into a computer file for you. Students at the dormitory will be having a big party because their exams are over. But you most likely will still have an examination. You can go home and study and get some sleep before your big exams. This is a big plus to living near home!!
(2) I prefer smaller schools. Smaller schools mean you'll get more attention. Large schools have the reputation as being great "party schools". In my experience, smaller schools generally net you more friends, smaller classes, professors who actually know your name and many good lifelong memories.
Most college campuses now support a center for services for students with special needs like dyslexia and learning disabilities. Services often include readers to read books to you, note takers, and accommodations for tests -- like more time. These services are critical for getting through college. When considering a college, you should visit the center. Talk to some students to see if they are happy with these services.
College requires at least two hours studying time for every one hour in class. Good students quickly learned that the rule is much more like three hours of studying for every one hour in class. Very good college students read/study their college textbooks/assignments at least three times! This is a major strategy of straight A; students. You read material three times but not all on the same day. In fact, it may stretch over several days to several weeks. But three times is the charm.
When you read the assignment once, you become familiar with the material. On your first read don't mark anything yet. The second time throught you highlight the important material. The third reading of the chapter is done several days before the test. If you're using text-to-speech or audio books this still means reading your textbook/assignments three times. I found that if I read the assignment three times it made me look like a genius in class and on the tests. This way of reading assignments changed me from a D student to a straight A student. This strategy will make taking tests a snap!!!
(1) Computer. You will need a computer with adaptive software. Many colleges now require students to have computers. A computer with adaptive software will go a long way in helping with coping for college. Scanning and reading books and creating your own e-books can help overcome a lot of reading problems for college. You can now get a computer inexpensively. This is very important if you're using scanning/reading software. I recommend a computer running with the processor (CPU) at over 2GHz, 1 GB of memory, a good-sized hard drive, and CD-RW drive for saving your work.
(2) A scanner is necessary in order to scan your textbooks and assignments into the computer. I highly recommend the OptiBook 3600 from Plestek line of scanners.
(3) MP3 player. You will be able with your computer to change text into audio files or audio books. You can then load these audio books on to an MP3 player to take with you to the library or wherever you study. I highly recommend an MP3 player which is able to hold a large number of audio files, at least 512 MB or 1 GB. One feature for in MP3 player is very important. You should be able to turn off the MP3 player and when yAptou turn it back on it should resume where you left off.
(4) Key to Access vPod: this device is an MP3 player and a flash memory drive. The drive comes loaded with lots of adaptive software specifically designed for learning disabled/dyslexic students. Key to Access has programs for word processing, text-to-speech reading and text audio conversion. One of the programs which is really great is called PDF Equalizer to help you read documents that are in PDF format.
(5) BookPort: A piece of equipment often overlooked by students with learning disabilities or dyslexia is the Book Port. Book Port is produced by American Printing House for the Blind. It was designed for blind individuals. However, I now use this device to read all of scanned books. Book Port has a built-in text-to-speech chip which can read in English and Spanish. Although the voice is not as good as NeoSpeech voices, the voice is easy to get used to. You can carry around hundreds of books at one time. You can bookmark all of the important places in your books. I highly recommend this product. APH is coming out with a new model Book Port in September 2007. You may wish to put off your purchase until the new model is released. Book Port now functions as my e-book reader. I no longer convert my scanned books into audio MP3s. I simply let the Book Port read all my material to me. Book Port can function as an MP3 player also. It is also compatible with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic books.
(1) Scan and Read books on your computer. Kurzweil 3000 is a scanning and reading software. It is expensive, $1,495. If you can possibly get this software it is worth having. You can scan and read your books and assignments. It sounds like a lot but college requires lots of reading. If you are barrowing to finance your college education test this software. It may help you succeed in college. With Kurzweil you can also make mp3 files of your reading to use on an mp3 player.
Scanning/reading programs are not very good with mathematics or chemistry. For these subjects you should utilize live readers and tutors.
Another great source of assistive software is from Premier Assistive. If I were to get any one piece of their software it would be there Scan and Read Pro-($150). This software scans, reads, creates audio books, has word prediction wordprocessing and a built-in dictionary.
(2) Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic has a wide variety of college textbooks already recorded on CD. This saves a lot of time in the preparation. They will record books for you for free.
(3) Colleges sometimes offer reading services for blind or dyslexic students. Often this is a great way to get to know other students.
(1) I scan a library book using the Plustek Optibook Scanner.
2) FineReader Pro allows you to quickly scan and turn print books into an ebooks. FineReader Pro is a less expensive alternative for scanning books and articles. FineReader Pro costs $150 for the upgrade. Anyone can order the upgrade.
(3) TextAloud reads aloud to you any text on your computer. You can also change ebooks and articles into mp3 audio files. So you can make your own audio textbooks. This is why I mentioned buying an MP3 player.
(4) AT&T natural voices. ATT Natural Voices gives the computer actual real human voices to read and talk. So, your audio books will be better than most live readers. You can also get NeoSpeech voices, which sound even better than the AT&T voices.
(5) As I mentioned earlier I now use the Book Port to read all my books to me. I now skip the step of creating independent audio books.
I am now dictating these tips to you using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9.5 voice recognition software. If you buy a new computer with Microsoft Vista, it comes with voice recognition build-in. I highly recommend voice recognition software to assist with writing. It takes time to get used to using voice recognition software, but it is worth the effort. I also recommend you find a tutor to help read what you have written prior to turning in papers.
Students find using note takers can be highly variable depending on who is taking the notes. Here are two methods for coping with note taking.
(1) You can use a small tape digital recorder to record the lecture to listen to more than once.
(2) Reading the assignment / textbook before going to class makes a biggest difference in understanding the lecture. Working ahead of the class by reading assignments early is the KEY to get the most out of classes.
(3) Studying ahead of time frequently will overcome the obstacles faced when you cannot find a good note taking assistant.
Scanning/reading programs aren't much help for math. So, it is best to start your math classes with tutors already lined up to help you. If you know the subject area will present problems don't wait until the problems are on you for getting a tutor. If one tutor cannot give you enough time get two tutors. Often colleges now have tutoring centers set up specifically for mathematics. It is helpful to take your assignments in math and study at such centers.
1) Tips for studying.
b) Study between classes. Studying between classes can help you optimize the time that you have at school. Don't leave all of your work until the evening, because you'll be overloaded if you do.
c) Try to make friends with good students who can advise you can assist you with your studying. This is especially important after you choose a major field of study.
(3) Tutors. As stated earlier if you know you're going to have difficulties in a particular subject line up the tutors before classes begin. If possible even meet with these tutors before the classes begin. Your tutors should review all of your assignments even if you have them correct. This review will help both you and the tutor to stay on track.
(4) Auditing. If you feel unprepared to take a class that is required consider first auditing the class before you take it for credit. If you audit the class, be sure to read the textbook and follow the lectures. This will prepare you to take the class for a grade the next time around. However, this generally does not work for mathematics classes. For math classes you should prepare yourself by taking more introductory courses before the harder courses.
(5) Dropping/withdrawing from a class. You should decide early if you're having difficulties with the class. There is no shame in dropping a class if you're having difficulty and it looks like you will not pass. Frequently, this means that you need to take a preparatory class to help you before you tackle the more difficult class.
(6) What to do with you are getting any "D" in a class?
b) consider dropping the class and focusing on your other classes.
c) if you continue in the class get a tutor.
If the class is required for your major take the class a second time. My daughter needed at least a B in Anatomy and Physiology in her major area. She passed the class with a C. She then retook the class in order to obtain her B. Second time was the charm.