Special needs · Processing speed and working memory
Time to think, and a record to come back to
Pencil Spaces gives students with slow processing or working memory difficulties time and memory aids: visible timers, boards that keep their work, recordings and summaries.
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Area
Cognition and learning
Who it helps
Students with slow processing speed or working memory difficulties, tutors, specialist teachers and families
What lessons need
Wait time, one step at a time, visual reminders, repetition, recaps
In Pencil Spaces
8 features available today
Part of
What do students with slow processing or working memory difficulties need from an online lesson?
Slow processing speed means a student needs longer to take in and respond to information. Working memory difficulties make it hard to hold several steps in mind. Online lessons help when the pace slows and the important things stay visible.
- Steps that stay on screenPersistent Spaces · AvailableInstructions, worked examples and last week’s work stay on the board, so the student doesn’t have to hold them in memory.
- Less to hold in mindChild Mode · AvailableChild Mode shows five tools and hides everything else, so attention goes to the task, not the screen.
- Time made visibleTimers & Polls · AvailableA countdown shows how long is left for a task, and you can give extra thinking time without pressure.
- A second listenSession Recording · AvailableLessons are recorded to the cloud, so students can watch them again in Pencil Spaces and pause or rewind as they need.
- The recap, written for themLesson Summaries · AvailableAn automatic recap of each lesson, with action items, comes in versions for the student, the parent and the tutor.
- Find it again laterAsk Me Anything · AvailableAsk Me Anything searches every recorded lesson, so a student can find what they learned without rewatching hours.
- Key points that stand outHighlighter · AvailableMark key words and steps in see-through color without hiding what’s underneath.
- A quiet way to say waitRaise Hand · AvailableA raised hand lets a student ask for a pause without interrupting, and the teacher answers in order.
Why can online lessons be hard for students with slow processing or working memory difficulties?
Live online lessons move at the speed of talk. A student who needs a few extra seconds to process often gets the next question before answering the first.
Working memory is stretched by switching between windows, links and instructions. When the steps vanish from the screen, they vanish from memory.
What does a lesson look like in Pencil Spaces?
The tutor writes the three steps of the task at the top of the board and highlights the first. The student works through it with a countdown visible, and the tutor adds time when needed. After the lesson, the summary lists what was covered and what to practice.
How do therapists use Pencil Spaces with students with slow processing or working memory difficulties?
Speech-language pathologists work on language processing and memory strategies, such as visualizing, chunking and repeating back. The board keeps every step visible, so the student isn’t holding it all in their head.
Session Recording and Ask Me Anything let a student go back to an explanation later. Lesson Summaries give families the strategy to practice at home.
Tips for teaching students with slow processing or working memory difficulties online
- Wait longer than feels natural after asking a question before rephrasing it.
- Give one instruction at a time, and leave it written on the board.
- Recap at the start and end of every lesson.
- Use the same layout and routines each week, so less needs remembering.
- Check understanding by asking the student to explain it back.
Good to know
Recordings and transcripts depend on your program’s recording policy, and transcripts are available for English-language recordings.
Questions people ask
How does Pencil Spaces help students who need more processing time?
Teachers can slow the pace without losing the thread. Instructions and worked examples stay on the board, and a visible timer shows how long is left. Raise Hand lets a student ask for a pause, and recordings let them hear explanations again.
Can students review what was covered?
Yes. Boards stay in the Space between lessons. If lessons are recorded, students can watch them again and pause or rewind, and Ask Me Anything searches recorded lessons to find a topic quickly.
Is there a summary after each lesson?
Yes. Lesson Summaries write an automatic recap of each lesson with action items, in versions for the student, the parent and the tutor. A student can check what was covered before the next lesson without rewatching a recording.
How do you support working memory in an online lesson?
Keep the steps visible. Write each instruction on the board, highlight the current step and lock worked examples in place. Persistent Spaces keep everything for the next lesson, so nothing has to be rebuilt from memory.
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