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Stop making excuses for him and let him figure out that he's an adult and responsible for his own future. He's shown that he's perfectly willing to do nothing as long as someone enables that behavior.
And once again, strongly consider antidepressants. Depression does not always look typical, especially in males, and it often coincides with anxiety. A psychologist is not the same thing as a psychiatrist, as you know, so it doesn't hurt to get a second opinion.
What was this little word processor/laptop thing. Would an ipad with keyboard be the equivalent today. Can one type 90 wpm on a an ipad? Or 90 wpm on a laptop? I wonder if an ipad with keyboard is a possibility? A little smaller. Also, he's taking the History, Government and English Lit courses online to avoid lecture notes. These are the classes he has to repeat.
It was a while back and I'm sure the technology is better now. I'm sure an any small laptop or noteboook computer would be just fine. Not an ipad - I don't think that has a keyborad. But there are inexpensive options - I can type 90wpm on my Asus and it doesn't even have a full sized keyboard.
Anyway, I'm confused - did he take the classes online when he failed them or was that in person? If he failed the online classes, he should retake in person regardless of the note issue. He can bring a laptop or notebook computer or whatever to class. Some teachers will even put notes on the internet or give them to students. It is very important to meet with the teachers - him - and talk about all this. Many will help if they can. I cannot stress enough how difficult online is for people with motivation and time management issues. Also, it nearly eliminates the possibility of any connection with the professor or any extra help.
I agree, but if there is no diagnosed disability already on record, he might face a problem.
I don't have a handwriting disability; however, I do have pretty awful handwriting when I cannot take my time. When I must quickly hand-write notes during a lecture, they get pretty illegible and immediately after class I need to re-write them, or better yet, type them up, before I forget what they say and can't read my own writing.
This wasn't an issue for me at the community college I attended, where everyone brought a laptop and taking notes that way was the norm. I type about 90WMP so I could, if I wanted to, come close to transcribing the professor's words verbatim. It was a great thing. I type much more efficiently than writing by hand.
Then I transferred to the University where I am now and the entire attitude about laptop use was different. I was shocked to learn that many, actually MOST of the professors at this school do NOT allow laptops at all, and have it written in their syllabus, due to students who screw around during class watching YouTube videos or Facebooking (or, in one case a professor shared a story about, viewing PORN. He caught a student watching PORN in class. He found out when students sitting near that guy complained!) so again, some bad apples have screwed it up for the rest of us.
So at my current school, there are many professors who DO require proof of a disability in order to allow a computer for note taking. My scribbly notes are the result and my hand is always cramped.
I don't see the point in not taking advantage of disability services if it is an option. I am from Tex-ass too. I get the "buck up and do it yourself, no weakness, bootstraps, suck it up" attitude but there has to be a limit. We don't tell someone who needs a wheelchair to buck up and deal with crutches instead. If there is a genuine problem there, I believe there is no shame in utilizing services that are available to level the playing field for the student.
My department briefly toyed with the idea of banning laptops and other devices, but then we decided that it would be better to put policies in place to deal with them in the classroom instead. It's the way of the future and we'd only be setting ourselves and our students behind the times by refusing to deal with it. I do have some kids screwing around with them, but it's not really that bad.
This is surely worth while doing: Getting the school to give the accomodation at least for the typing.
A laptop is small how do you do 90 wpm on a laptop? What teaching tool or class or software did you use?
I wonder if an ipad with keyboard is a possibility? A little smaller. Is 90 wpm possible to learn on an ipad?
Also, he's taking the History, Government and English Lit courses online to avoid lecture notes. These are the classes he has to repeat.
Well, I am older than dirt so I learned to type back in the 80's in an actual typing class in high school. Then I perfected it in "secretarial" school (well, they called it "business technology") where we used both typewriters and "word processors" which were very much like a modern keyboard, and it wasn't a big leap for me when I started using a computer instead, really.
There are plenty of free online typing tutorials though. My sons have both used them to learn to touch-type and get their speed up.
As for laptops, I've always had laptops with full size keyboards or at least the ones that are almost full size. I could never type that fast on a little netbook though, and I have no clue about an ipad but I don't see why it wouldn't work with an external keyboard. I am clueless about newer technology, a side effect of being broke all the time I guess. I'll learn about ipads in another ten years when they are obsolete, lol.
Quote:
Originally Posted by marie5v
My department briefly toyed with the idea of banning laptops and other devices, but then we decided that it would be better to put policies in place to deal with them in the classroom instead. It's the way of the future and we'd only be setting ourselves and our students behind the times by refusing to deal with it. I do have some kids screwing around with them, but it's not really that bad.
This seems to be more a common policy in larger, lecture hall type classes at my school. Some professors will only let you use them if you sit in the front row. This is good and bad, because the front row at my school is where they put the left handed desks, so when they have this rule, you quickly run out of left handed desks and nothing ticks me off more (as a lefty) than a bunch of right handed people in the left handed desks leaving none for the lefties! I don't blame the righties for it, just the policy. It matters more when they have those little lecture hall "half desk" especially. But I am getting way too off topic with that issue. At any rate I was surprised to learn that this was a common policy at my school because it's a big state school and it seems like a kind of backwards policy but a lot of things surprised me after transferring from a community college. Hopefully, since I am in my last year, I'll have smaller classes and laptop use will be allowed.
It was a while back and I'm sure the technology is better now. I'm sure an any small laptop or noteboook computer would be just fine. Not an ipad - I don't think that has a keyborad. But there are inexpensive options - I can type 90wpm on my Asus and it doesn't even have a full sized keyboard.
Anyway, I'm confused - did he take the classes online when he failed them or was that in person? If he failed the online classes, he should retake in person regardless of the note issue. He can bring a laptop or notebook computer or whatever to class. Some teachers will even put notes on the internet or give them to students. It is very important to meet with the teachers - him - and talk about all this. Many will help if they can. I cannot stress enough how difficult online is for people with motivation and time management issues. Also, it nearly eliminates the possibility of any connection with the professor or any extra help.
The first History, Govt, and English Lit courses were in person classes.
Now he is in an online Govt and another class that is in person this Summer.
He does not type no where near even 30 wpm - so this is not currently an option for him. He will have to work on typing speed asap.
Take half online and half in person classes seems to be okay with him since he knows the urgency to do well in the Govt. class.
I didn't read through the entire thread but I would do a few things:
1. Don't give up on him even though it is tempting to throw your hands up in the air.
2. Look into therapy for the handwriting disability - occupational therapy addresses this area.
3. Look into treatment for anxiety and that means you may have to see several different doctors till you find one that works for him. I'm not talking about strictly drug treatment; there may be other things at play psychologically that can be worked through with the right therapist.
4. He can't live on his own at school so if he wants a second chance I'd have him living at him with you supervising what is going on (as much as one can at his age).
5. Probably too late but talk to the school about withdrawals; maybe he can drop without penalty. CC might be more lenient about this after the fact.
6. Find out what he wants to do with his life (tall order for a young person) but what are his likes/dislikes. Does he want a college education or would he prefer a trade?
7. If he is in college, speak to the school about aids, note taker, etc. There are schools that have special ed departments that handle this sort of thing. If your school doesn't provide this, find one that will support him academically. When he gets his confidence back, hopefully he will thrive.
Can he join the military? I'm not too sure that everyone is meant to go straight into college. Barring that, why not let him spend a year or two working, at the very least?
What are your thoughts on what a student can say and write concerning not making SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) for Financial Aid purposes?
He has to write an Appeal letter to try and get desperately needed Financial Aid.
Suggestions?
Sorry, I have no idea about that. He should be speaking regularly with an advisor and meeting with other counselors, teachers, pretty much anyone who will meet with him.
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Then I perfected it in "secretarial" school (well, they called it "business technology") where we used both typewriters and "word processors" which were very much like a modern keyboard, and it wasn't a big leap for me when I started using a computer instead, really. 
I'll learn about ipads in another ten years when they are obsolete, lol. 
Financial Aid and SAP Letter
