How do VLEs support students with learning disabilities?

Over 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability.  

Everyone learns in different ways – but people with learning disabilities may need a little more help finding a style of learning that works for them. 

In the past, all students were taught in traditional classroom settings, and it was difficult to adjust to different learning needs. But this isn't the case anymore. Thanks to a greater understanding of disability and the advent of technology, teachers and mentors now use a wide range of methods to support people with different learning styles – giving everyone the opportunity to learn their own way.  

VLEs are now widely used in schools, colleges and universities to support students with learning disabilities, so we thought we'd take a closer look at how they work and the benefits they bring.  

1. Flexibility

With a VLE, course leaders can upload a wide range of multimedia content, such as videos, audio files, quizzes and graphics – as well as traditional readings. This means students with learning difficulties have the flexibility to choose a format that suits their learning style.

2. Bitesize learning

Courses can be broken down into bitesize tasks – such as videos or quizzes – which all contribute to the final qualification. As each task is completed, students can track their progress using live dashboards, so they can see how their learning is making a difference over the duration of the course.  

This makes it much easier for all students – but especially those with learning difficulties – to tackle large projects and manage their time effectively.

3. Accessibility

Most good VLEs can be accessed anytime, anywhere, on any device. This means users don’t have to travel to and from their college, uni or workplace – they can learn in a place they feel comfortable, at a pace that suits them. 

4. Custom software

Many aspects of a VLE can be customised to suit the user's needs. For example, a learner with dyslexia could adapt their screen colour to a dyslexia-friendly format and watch video content instead of reading lengthy text.

VLEs make a real difference for students with learning disabilities. They open up a whole new world of opportunities for students who would have previously struggled with traditional teaching formats, allowing them to adapt their learning to suit them.  

But that's not the only benefit of a VLE. 

At OneFile, we've developed our own VLE so it fully integrates with our eportfolio software. This means you can map content against criteria, and sync the data directly to the learner's portfolio. Using one unified system makes training much easier to deliver, track and manage.  

To find out how OneFile's VLE works and the benefits it brings to all users, download our guide.