Mobile Learning: A Handbook for Developers, Educators, and Learners (Wiley and SAS Business Series)

by Scott McQuiggan

Virtual schools, where students learn exclusively using online classes and curricula, have seen increasing prominence. With greater access to technology and online educational resources, virtual schools provide a viable alternative to traditional school for students with disabilities, students with demanding schedules such as semi-professional athletes and musicians, and students seeking greater challenge through higher-quality school districts or college-level courses. Again, mobile devices provide great promise in mitigating the current limitations of virtual schools. For students with disabilities, the conventions of brick-and-mortar schools—noisy classrooms, sitting quietly for long periods of time, and so on—can trigger certain behaviors that might be disruptive and make learning challenging for everyone. However, the feasibility of virtual schools as an alternative solution is highly dependent on the accessibility of the curriculum.22 As discussed in depth in Chapter 14, mobile affords several unique accessibility functionalities for special populations—support for screen readers, Braille input, and nonverbal communication just to name a few.