3 ways to support SEN students online

Lessonspace is a virtual classroom tool designed to enhance education by focusing on key educational principles and student engagement in online lessons, benefiting both students and teachers.

Introduction

As online learning continues to grow, it’s important to ensure that students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are supported in their educational journey. SEN students often require tailored methods to maintain attention and succeed academically, and technology plays a key role in making this possible. By using education-focused tools like Lessonspace, teachers can create a more inclusive and supportive virtual classroom that fulfils the unique needs of these students. According to recent research, digital tools are highly effective in fostering educational and social inclusion for SEN students, especially when combined with the right pedagogical interaction.

Here are three effective ways to support SEN students online:

1. Create a Customizable Learning Environment

Research suggests that one of the most effective ways to support SEN students is by personalising their learning environments—not just following general guidelines, but fully customising the materials and environment to meet each student’s individual needs and interests. 

For example, Lessonspace allows teachers to adjust whiteboard colours, fonts, and backgrounds to accommodate sensory preferences. It also includes options for custom stickers, games, and an interactive cobrowser to truly personalise the student experience. These seemingly small changes can greatly reduce distractions, helping students focus better on the lesson and feel more at ease, which is critical since anxiety often plays a significant role for these students.

Here are some ways to customise a virtual classroom and whiteboard environment:

• Customise colours: Think beyond just the whiteboard colour. Adjust pen, highlighter, and even emoji colours.
• Add personal touches: Adding elements like stickers or whiteboard borders relevant to the student’s interests can help maintain focus and attention.
• Customise the layout: Some students prefer larger videos, while others may want videos off. On Lessonspace, teachers can adjust the whiteboard and video layout to meet each student’s needs.

In addition to customising visual and sensory elements, providing flexible pacing options can help enhance the learning experience for SEN students. Many students with learning disabilities, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorders benefit from being able to pause, rewind, or review material at their own pace. Virtual tools like Lessonspace can create an inclusive environment for neurodiversity. They can also allow for asynchronous learning options, where students can revisit recorded lessons, giving them the time they need to fully absorb the material. This flexibility helps reduce anxiety and ensures that each student can progress at a comfortable rate, without feeling overwhelmed by the speed of a live lesson.

2. Use Multisensory Learning Tools

Engaging multiple senses is key to helping SEN students understand and retain information. Multisensory learning materials—such as visual aids, audio clips, and interactive elements—make lessons more engaging and accessible. Virtual classroom software like Lessonspace supports various content formats, allowing educators to seamlessly incorporate these tools into their lessons. Whether it’s using videos to explain complex concepts or interactive whiteboards to encourage participation, these tools cater to different learning styles and help SEN students stay engaged and motivated.

One of the biggest benefits of virtual classrooms is the ability to combine multisensory learning tools, such as text, pictures, video, sound, and animation. According to research, universal learning design is crucial for increasing interest and motivation among SEN students. On Lessonspace, teachers can easily integrate resources like PDFs, videos, and even websites into the interactive whiteboard, giving SEN students access to a variety of learning materials in one place.

The use of assistive technology, such as text-to-speech or speech-to-text tools, can also enhance the accessibility of multisensory learning environments. These tools ensure that students with dyslexia, visual impairments, or motor disabilities can participate fully in lessons. When combined with Lessonspace’s ability to integrate interactive elements, teachers can ensure that all students, regardless of their learning challenges, can access and engage with the content in ways that are meaningful and effective for them.

3. Provide Real-Time Feedback and Interaction

Real-time feedback is essential for keeping SEN students engaged, calm, and on track during online lessons. Immediate interaction helps students feel connected and supported, which is especially important in a virtual setting. Lessonspace offers features that facilitate real-time feedback, including live annotations, emoji reactions, and timers. These tools help teachers respond instantly to student questions, guide their learning, and help them maintain focus throughout the lesson.

Teachers can also create structured feedback loops using progress tracking or point systems to motivate SEN students. Gamified elements, such as earning rewards for completing certain tasks or reaching learning milestones, can enhance engagement and reinforce positive behaviour. This type of ongoing, visual feedback not only makes learning more interactive but also boosts confidence and motivation among students who may otherwise feel disconnected from the virtual learning environment.

Virtual classrooms offer both group interaction and individual work, both of which are important for SEN students. Immediate feedback may sometimes need to occur privately rather than in front of the entire group. Using breakout rooms is a great way to achieve this. Additionally, gamified feedback (such as a thumbs-up or thumbs-down emoji) can create a highly interactive and engaging learning environment, which is especially beneficial for SEN students.