SMART Studying gives students with ADHD all the tools they need for mastering their studies. The program is accesible through http://sincely.com/en/courses/smartstudying With the help of apps for increased attention and organization the program helped students at Karolinska Institute and Stockholm University master their studies. The results from the program was presented at the Conference Building Bridges between yesterday and tomorrow at the Karolinska Institute. http://www.universell.no/english/building-bridges-seminars/tools-for-accessibility/

1. http://www.simplynois
e.com/

2. Smart Studying
Support for students with disabilities
via smartphone and interactive tools
for planning and organizing
Anna Göthner & Åsa Ferm, Coordinators, Stockholm University
Birger Moëll, Psychologist & Alex Bergvall, Computer Scientist, Sincely
14-05-26

3. Between yesterday and tomorrow
• Yesterday
– IT entered psychological treatments
– The need for assistance with planning, organization
and motivation increased
• Today – a pilot project, Smart Studying
• Tomorrow – is this a way forward?

4. Smart Studying
An online course for students with ADHD or
trouble organizing their studies
IT entered psychological
treatments

5. What is it?
• Smart Studying is an interactive online program.
• The program teaches students with ADHD how
to:
– Learn effective techniques for studying
– Learn effective techniques for organization
– Improve attention and remove distractions
– Lessen procrastination

6. What is the science behind it?
The program is based on the research finding from
the worlds first randomized controlled trial of
Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ADHD
The RCT was conducted between 2011 and 2013 at
Internetpsykiatri at Huddinge Sjukhus in Sweden

7. The need for assistance with planning,
organization and motivation
increased
• At Stockholm University's Services for Students with
Disabilities
– In 2008, support to 400 students with all kinds of
disabilities
– In 2013, the overall number of students that are
recommended support had tripled, with 400 students
having ASD, ADHD or psychiatric disabilities
• Largest number of students who receive support in Sweden

8. Mentors
• A popular and often
effective support
• Difficult to find a
mentor for each
student
• An individual mentor
did not fit all students

9. Two pilot projects were launched
• Study groups where students receive support by
each other and an experienced supervisor
• Smart Studying where students go through an
interactive online program with support from a
psychologist and smartphone applications

10. Smart Studying
The goal was to provide
students with tools so
that they at the end of
the programme can
plan, organize and
motivate themselves to
study.

11. Smart Studying
• The course lasts for 8 weeks and the student have to
spend about 30 minutes per day on the programme
• The support is given via the student's smartphone;
electronic calendar, reminders, to-do lists, breaking
down tasks into smaller parts, apps to improve
concentration etc
• Students have the support of a psychologist via email,
phone and text messages who became their personal
mentor and supported their on-line work.

12. The students
• Offered to students with ASD, ADHD or psychiatric
disabilities and who described that they had difficulties
with organization, planning and motivation
• Currently – 7 students with ADHD in the program
from Stockholms University 13 students from
Karolinska Institutet

13. How does it work?
The program is set up of 7 modules focusing on key areas that are
troublesome for individuals with ADHD. These are:
•Attention
•Organization
•Hyperactivity
•Impulse control
•Procrastination

14. Components
Module Key
Components
Exercises Applications
Module 1
Introduction and goal
setting SMART Goal Setting
N-back memory
training
Module 2 Online Calendar Pomodoro Technique Evernote, Calendar
Module 3 Smartphone Calendar
Dividing tasks,
Physical Exercise
White-noise,
Runkeeper
Module 4 To-do-lists
Distraction lists,
Mindfulness
To-do-lists,
Mindfulness
Module 5
Handling distractions
and procrastination
Handling distractions,
Speed reading,
Speed reading,
Distraction blockers
Module 6
Problem solving,
repetition
Problem solving,
choosing exercises to
continue training on
Sleep help, Google
Maps, Dropbox
Module 7 Wrapping up Continuing your work -
Overview of the program

15. Apps for improved organization
GtasksEvernote Dropbox

16. Apps for improved attention
Mindfulness N-back Simplynoise

17. Shared Google Calendar

18. Finding your own study routine
• Participants choose their own goals
• Goals focused on finding a better routine for life
that works for them
• The interactive program, the support of a
psychologist and applications helped them reach
these goals.

19. Demonstration
• http://sincely.com/sv

20. Tomorrow
What did the students
think about Smart
Studying?
Is this a way forward?

21. What did the participants think of
the program?
"Everything has been fantastic with the program, getting started with life, cleaning and doing the dishes,
meeting people, general activation, I’m happier and more active in every way.” – Elsa 23
"In my case, I have failed during many years since I have not received this help, if you know you have a
disability it would be great to get this in the beginning when you start studying. I highly recommend it to all,
many have been using Google calendar for a long time, but for me, this is a great experience, being able to use
support tools in school. ” - Caroline 32
"For me it's motivation, that you are here and that I can talk to you, to know that there is someone who cares
about us who have problems.” - Lovisa 22

22. What did the participants think of
the program?
"Cleaning up and breaks, has really helped me a lot, the calendar act as a support for my structure,
it was what I needed. I'm very happy that I joined in this. ” – Anna 23
”I’ve got my confidence back, I feel the way I felt years ago." – Josefine 28
”Text messages works great, I get a little kick every day, now it’s time to focus, time to think about
myself, I like that. ” - Maria 26

23. What did the participants think of
the program?
”I get reminders now when should I study, and when it’s free time, which I think is great. Erik -24
”I have suffered over the years and had study break after study break. If I'd had this then, it would have
helped a lot. ” - Caroline 32
”I have more structure and I feel calmer.” - Anna 28
”I think it's a really great program.” - Sofia 22
”I’m using the program all the time, and I'm very happy with it." David -25

24. What did the participants think of
the program?
”I think that I have plenty of time but when it gets stressful, I go back to my old ways, but I don’t feeling
good about it, my learning isn’t as effective, I pass my exams, but just barely.” - Peter 26
I forget that the program exists, there is so much to do, it’s hard to know what to start with. - Anna 24
"Unfortunately, I have been very bad at following my planning. Not because I missed the reminders but
because I don’t care about them. Planning tomorrow and evaluating the planning of my studies hasn’t
worked at all. I get anxious that I should be doing other "important" things when I try to take time to do
something fun or relaxing. ” - Carl 28
The names of the participants have been changed to protect privacy

25. The program helped me:
• Feel less stressed due to better organization of my everyday life.
• Find study tips
• Add leisure time to my calendar!
• Use reminders. And get started with study breaks.
• To plan my day, but also to find time between activities
• Focus on achieving a long term goal rather than a short-term which helped me read for the exam
which was a few days later instead of doing other things.
• Continue to study every day, with reminders to keep the focus up. Been able to be with the horses
without a guilty conscience. Been able to feel a little more calm when I'm not studying.

26. ADHD-symptoms
measured with Adult ADHD-self report scale
*Preliminary data

27. Course evaluation

28. What we learned
• Motivation is key when working with this group
• Find students who are willing to work hard to
achieve this change
• Teaching an assortment of tools gives every
student the chance to find things he/she likes
• Online interventions can be helpful for students
with disabilities!

29. Want to learn more about the
program?
Read more at www.sincely.com/info/buildingbridges
Contact:
Alex@sincely.com
Birger@sincely.com

30. www.su.se/disability
www.su.se/funktionsnedsattning