Making Online & CD-ROM Biology Teaching Resources Accessible to All Learners‪.‬

There are a great number and variety of biology related Web sites that can be successfully integrated into an introductory biology curriculum. These sites can be particularly effective teaching tools for students with learning disabilities. Sites that include interactivity or multi-modality can aid greatly in comprehension and information retention. Research by Slem and Kane (2001) found that students with learning disabilities used Web-based course resources more than students without diagnosed learning disabilities. However, this same powerful technology that offers rich educational opportunities for some learners may also erect significant barriers for students who learn differently. For students with learning disabilities, the Internet can be a particularly challenging place to navigate, as many of these students are poor readers who have difficulty decoding words and comprehending Web page information. Errors in spelling can translate into difficulty performing searches on the Internet, as can problems surrounding organizing, prioritizing, and planning--all issues that students with learning disabilities can experience. The benefits gained by using Internet technologies in biology courses significantly outweigh the pitfalls; however, a number of considerations should be examined prior to their inclusion. Before including an Internet Web site in a biology course, the site should be evaluated based upon the following criteria in four general areas: