Harnessing Energy: Three Pillars of ADHD-Friendly Learning- Part 1: Technology

Imagine a classroom where fidgeting isn’t a distraction but a tool, where technology fuels focus instead of fracturing it, and where sensory needs aren’t stifled—but celebrated. For students with ADHD, learning isn’t about suppressing energy; it’s about channeling it. By blending technology, movement, and sensory-based strategies, educators can transform restlessness into resilience. 

Three ways to integrate technology and movement for ADHD-Friendly Learning

With using any type of technology for learning, an important boundary is to limit it to scheduled times, to ensure on-task behavior.

1. Interaction-based apps: A few examples include IXL, Brainscape, CoolMath, and Khan Academy.

2. Gamified learning: Rewards tasks, including homework completion and getting correct answers. Check out the top 12 gamification software programs for 2025, as rated by Kotobee: https://blog.kotobee.com/best-gamification-software/ 

3. Microlearning: Personalized learning, with flexible scheduling, in short modules (up to 15 minutes), using multiple learning formats. Microlearning also facilitates working memory, which is often impaired with people diagnosed with ADHD.  One example of microlearning is the Taylor Study Method: https://newdev245.taylorstudymethod.com/. This program was developed by Graham Taylor, Ph.D. in 1995, to help doctoral students pass their psychologist licensure exam.

Duolingo https://www.duolingo.com/ is another app that uses microlearning to help people of all ages learn new languages.

Movement as a Learning Tool

1. Guided Movement: Have students act out historical events or spell words with body shapes. Boundary: Keep movements lesson-relevant and non-disruptive.

2. Choice Boards: Offer options like “create a dance for vocabulary” or “build a model.” Boundary: Align choices with learning goals and time limits.

3. Movement Assessments: Test knowledge through scavenger hunts or role-play. Boundary: Require task completion before moving stations.

4. Physical Rewards: Earn extra recess or yoga breaks through participation. Boundary: Tie rewards to consistent effort and behavior.

5. Routine Structures: Schedule brain breaks every 20 minutes. Boundary: Stick to timings to maintain rhythm.

6. Classroom Layout: Arrange desks for easy transitions. Boundary: No furniture rearranging without permission.

Sensory-Based Learning

1. Sensory Zones: Designate spaces with stress balls or weighted blankets. Boundary: Use tools only during breaks, returning promptly.

2. Active Listening Techniques: Teach “silent gestures” (e.g., thumbs-up) to engage quietly. Boundary: Respond only when called upon.

3. Clear Instructions: Pair verbal cues with physical demos. Boundary: Students repeat instructions before starting.

4. Mindfulness Activities: Practice balance poses or slow stretching. Boundary: Keep sessions calm and focused.

5. Visual Schedules: Display timelines for movement breaks. Boundary: Check schedules before asking questions.

Supportive Strategies

1. Peer Teaching: Let students lead demonstrations. Boundary: Require prepped, on-topic content.

2. Positive Reinforcement: Praise adherence to rules. Boundary: Reward only appropriate engagement.

3. IEPs: Tailor kinesthetic goals. Boundary: Monitor progress to retain accommodations.

ADHD isn’t a barrier to learning—it’s a blueprint for innovation. By weaving technology, movement, and sensory tools into classrooms, educators can turn impulsivity into curiosity and distraction into discovery. Yet, success lies in balance: structured boundaries ensure these strategies empower rather than overwhelm. When we meet students where their energy lives, we don’t just teach them—we unlock them. Let’s build classrooms that move, engage, and feel right, one mindful step at a time.