Palmetto Association of Independent Schools
Symposium 2010
Technologies for Learning
Mary M. Silgals, MLIS
April 19, 2010
My Disclaimer
• I do not endorse any of these products
over another similar product. Any product I
might discuss or demonstrate today, either
I purchased, came from shareware, or was
a free download. No product was given to
me by any manufacturer to promote.
• If I speak enthusiastically about a product,
it’s because I have seen it work well with
my students or in my curriculum!
AT Tools for specific learning
problem areas
There are AT tools to help students who
struggle with:
• Listening
• Math
• Organization
• Memory
• Reading
• Writing
What kind of tools are available?
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Abbreviation expanders
Alternative keyboards
Audio books and publications
Electronic math worksheets
Free-form database software
Graphic organizers and outlining
Information/data managers
Optical character recognition
Personal FM Listening Systems
Portable word processors
Proofreading programs
Speech recognition programs
Speech synthesizers/Screen Readers
Talking Calculators
Talking spell-checkers and electronic dictionaries
Variable speed tape recorders
Word prediction programs
New Stuff almost everyday!
Abbreviation Expanders
(Difficulty in writing)
• Used with word processing, these
software programs allow a user to create,
store, and re-use abbreviations for
frequently-used words or phrases. This
can save the user keystrokes and ensure
proper spelling of words and phrases he
has coded as abbreviations.
Example
Alternative Keyboards
(Difficulty in Writing)
• These programmable keyboards have
special overlays that customize the
appearance and function of a standard
keyboard. Students who have LD or have
trouble typing may benefit from
customization that reduces input choices,
groups keys by color/location, and adds
graphics to aid comprehension.
Examples
Virtual Keyboard
• Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard
• http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/in
put/8193/
• http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/
Alternative Keyboard Layouts
Three Dvorak layouts are available:
• Keyboard layout for two-handed users (U.S. English)
• Keyboard layout for people who type with their left hand
• Keyboard layout for people who type with their right
hand
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/altkeyboard.as
px
Left hand typers:
Audio books and publications
(Difficulty in Reading)
• Recorded books allow users to listen to
text and are available in a variety of
formats, such as audiocassettes, CDs,
and MP3 downloads. Special playback
units allow users to and search and
bookmark pages and chapters.
Subscription services offer extensive
electronic library collections.
Examples
PlayAways
Book Courier
RFD&B Players
Book (Text) Display Readers
• A new class of device—a convenient, portable reading
device with the ability to wirelessly download books,
blogs, magazines, and newspapers.
• Amazon Kindle - Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/?tag=gg8462720&gclid=CPLbhrXh3ZACFQ6CPAoddBzuVw
• Foxit http://www.foxitsoftware.com/ebook/
• Sony Reader http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Pro
ductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=1&productId=8198552921665245739
E Readers
Sony Reader
Kindle
eSlick
B&N Nook
iPad
Don Johnston ClassMate Reader
• http://www.donjohnston.com/products/portables/
classmate/index.html
• Listen to textbooks & other material using built-in
text-to-speech, while following highlighted text
on screen
• Demo On line
Screen 2”x3”
Scan Books into MP3s
• BookReader V100
• Text to speech –
turns printed text into
spoken audio file
which can be saved in
MP3 format
• www.plustek.com
Electronic Math Sheets
(Difficulty in math)
• Electronic math worksheets are software
programs that can help a user organize,
align, and work through math problems on
a computer screen. Numbers that appear
onscreen can also be read aloud via a
speech synthesizer. This may be helpful to
people who have trouble aligning math
problems with pencil and paper.
MathPad
Examples
MathTalk - speech recognition
mathematics. Do math without
keyboard or mouse.
Access To Math
Touch Math – this is not software!
• http://www.touchmath
.com/
• Free samples,
download use on
interactive white
boards
Kidspiration
• http://www.inspiration.
com/Kidspiration
• Free 30 day trial
Free-form Database Software
(Difficulty in organization and memory)
• Used in conjunction with word processing
or other software, this tool allows the user
to create and store electronic notes by
“jotting down” relevant information of any
length and on any subject. The user can
later retrieve the information by typing any
fragment of the original note.
Examples
Palm with Info Select
InfoSelect Organizer
Graphic Organizers
(Difficulty in writing)
• Graphic organizers and outlining programs
help users who have trouble organizing
and outlining information as they begin a
writing project. This type of program lets a
user “dump” information in an unstructured
manner and later helps him organize the
information into appropriate categories
and order.
Examples
Inspiration Software
Kidspiration
Information data managers
(Difficulty with organization and memory)
• This type of tool helps a person plan,
organize, store, and retrieve his calendar,
task list, contact data, and other
information in electronic form. Personal
data managers may be portable, handheld devices, computer software, or a
combination of those tools working
together by “sharing” data.
Examples
Franklin Children’s Dictionary
Memo to Me via email
Palm
IPod Touch
Optical character recognition
(Difficulty with reading)
• This technology allows a user to scan
printed material into a computer or
handheld unit. The scanned text is then
read aloud via a speech synthesis/screen
reading system. Optical Character
Recognition (OCR) is available as standalone units, computer software, and as
portable, pocket-sized devices.
Examples
Wynn Software
Read and Write Gold
Kurzweil Voice Reader/Camera Imaging
Reading Pens
Intel Reader
Reader
Work Station
Personal FM listening system
(Difficulty with listening)
• A personal FM listening system transmits
a speaker’s voice directly to the user’s ear.
This may help the listener focus on what
the speaker is saying. The unit consists of
a wireless transmitter (with microphone)
worn by the speaker and a receiver (with
earphone) worn by the listener.
Examples
LES 370
AT-216
Digitally Synthesized Wireless
Auditory Assistance Kit
Easy Listener Transmitter and Receiver
Portable Word Processor
(Difficulty in writing)
• A portable word processor is lightweight
device that is easy to transport (e.g., from
classroom to home). It can be helpful to
kids who may have trouble writing by hand
and prefer to use a keyboard. Word
processing allows the user to edit and
correct his written work more efficiently
than doing so by hand.
Examples
AlphaSmart
QuickPad Products
New Text2Speech Voice Box
• Adds speech to the NEO from Alpha
Smart – retrofit existing units or buy with
new units
• www.donjohnston.com/cowriterneo
Proofreading Programs
• Students who struggle with writing (e.g.,
spelling, grammar, punctuation, word
usage, and sentence structure) may
benefit from software programs (included
in many word processing systems) that
scan word processing documents and
alert the user to possible errors.
Speech Recognition Program Software
(Difficulty in writing)
• A speech recognition program works in
conjunction with a word processor. The
user “dictates” into a microphone, and his
spoken words appear on the computer
screen as text. This can help a user whose
oral language ability is better than his
writing skills.
Examples
Dragon Naturally Speaking
For Windows OS
ViaVoice for Windows
And Mac OS
For Vista
iListen for Mac OS
Examples continued
Word Q and Speech Q
http://www.wordq.com/
Vista/Windows 7
Operating Systems
• As each OS is
introduced, more
and more assistive
technologies come
pre-loaded such as
web readers.
Speech Synthesizers/Screen Readers
(Difficulty in Reading and Writing)
• These systems can display and read aloud
text on a computer screen, including text
that has been typed by the user, scanned
in from printed pages (e.g., books, letters),
or text appearing on the Internet.
Examples
aspireReader
AspireReader
http://www.cast.org/products/ereader/index.
html
Features:
•Read aloud via human-recorded or
computer-generated speech
•Reading speed control to ensure
understanding
•Advanced navigation and search
•Keyboard-controlled shortcut keys
•Electronic bookmarks and note taking
•"Where am I now?" feature
•Playable via CD, DVD, WWW, etc.
Version 8.1 include:
Screenshot Reader
Scanning Enhancements
Study Skills Integration
Summary Feature
Take Settings Home
Fact Folder Preview Panel
Fact Mapper Enhancements
Text to Speech with Highlighting
including websites and PDF files
Talking Dictionary
Spelling/Homophone Checkers
Word Prediction
Research Tools with Graphic
•
Organizer - Fact Finder, Fact Folder,
Fact Mapper
Daisy Reader Application
•
Study Skills
Customizable Toolbars and Multiple
Options For Toolbar Positioning
MP3 Creation
Translator
Scanning
Teacher's Toolkit
Examples
Read and Write Gold
http://www.texthelp.com/page.asp?pg_i
d=10059
Read and Write Gold Mobile
http://www.texthelp.com/page.asp?pg_i
d=10178
Free –Internet Text Readers
• Read Please – Free version and Trial
version, check specific OS requirements
before downloading
• http://www.readplease.com/english/downlo
ads/
• Speakonia –
http://download.cnet.com/windows/voicerecognition-software/
• Balabolka - http://www.cross-plusa.com/balabolka.htm
Talking Calculators
(Difficulty in math)
• A talking calculator has a built-in speech
synthesizer that reads aloud each number,
symbol, or operation key a user presses; it
also vocalizes the answer to the problem.
This auditory feedback may help him
check the accuracy of the keys he presses
and verify the answer before he transfers it
to paper.
Examples
Basic to Scientific
Talking Spell Checkers
• Talking spell checkers and electronic
dictionaries can help a poor speller select
or identify appropriate words and correct
spelling errors during the process of
writing and proofreading. Talking devices
“read aloud” and display the selected
words onscreen, so the user can see and
hear the words.
Products
Franklin Spell Checker
WordWeb Pro Software
Variable Speed Tape Recorders
(Reading and Listening)
• Tape recorders/players allow a user to
listen to pre-recorded text or to capture
spoken information (e.g., a classroom
lecture) and play it back later. Variable
speed control (VSC) tape recorders speed
up or slow down the playback rate without
distorting the “speaker’s” voice.
Examples
Super Desk Mate II – Maxi Aid
Handi-Cassette II -
Word Prediction Programs
(Reading and writing)
• Word prediction software can help a user
during word processing by “predicting” a
word the user intends to type. Predictions
are based on spelling, syntax, and
frequent/recent use. This prompts kids
who struggle with writing to use proper
spelling, grammar, and word choices, with
fewer keystrokes.
Interactive Response Systems
• Classroom answers questions and
response system records answers.
BookShare.org
• Provides library of downloadable books
with a Daisy Reader download (Don
Johnston reader)
• Free for those who provide documentation
of disability
• http://bookshare.org/
Software
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Don Johnston - www.donjohnston.com
Write Out Loud
Draft Builder
Simon S.I.O. (phonological awareness)
WordMaker
Audacity Voice Recording
Software
• Free!
• Use headset microphone if not built into
computer
Classroom Integration
• Smartboard – OG Fellow Janet Jones
Language Arts
• Student places parts of a sentence on
graph.
Science
• Student created weather reports
Interactive Websites –
To use with SmartBoard
For all subject areas
• List of my favorites:
http://marysilgals.tripod.com/smartboardw
ebsites2.xls
• Quia - http://www.quia.com/web
Software
• A student is using a software program that
allows them to solve tangram puzzles.
Webquests
• Web Quests are designed online to help
students gather information about a particular
topic by visiting different sites that show
information in many different formats, which is
especially helpful to a student with learning
disabilities. This previously designed, inquiryoriented activity helps keep the student on task
by directing his or her Internet search, focusing
on using information rather than looking for it. A
well-designed Web Quest supports analysis,
synthesis and evaluation.
Examples
• http://marysilgals.com/southcarolina.html
• http://marysilgals.tripod.com/abouttheindustrialrevolutionandits
inventors/
• http://marysilgals.com/inventors.html
• http://marysilgals.com/evaluatingwebsites.html
• http://marysilgals.tripod.com/hurricane.html
Presentations by you
and your students
• PowerPoint
• PhotoStory – Free download http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin
g/digitalphotography/PhotoStory/default.m
spx
• MovieMaker 3 – Windows download
Miscellaneous
• Web accessibility for dyslexics
http://www.ebility.com/articles/dyslexia.php
• ALA Adaptive Technology for the Internet (Book)
http://www.amazon.com/Adaptive-Technology-InternetElectronic-Accessible/dp/0838907520
• Graphic organizers for readers
http://www.richmond.k12.va.us/readamillion/graphicorga
nizers.htm
• Free Graphic organizer software
http://faculty.trinityvalleyschool.org/corderg/go/free.html
• Optical Character Recognition Systems
http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=4&TopicID=3
1&DocumentID=1283
Reading Programs
• Aerobics - http://www.earobics.com/
• Lexia - http://www.lexialearning.com/
• RiverDeep – Destination Reading
http://web.riverdeep.net/portal/page?_pag
eid=818,1381924&_dad=portal&_schema
=PORTAL
• Study Dog - http://www.studydog.com/
• Mind Play - http://www.mindplay.com/
Resources for presentation
• Schwab Learning – Definitions for assistive
technology devices
http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.aspx
?r=286
• South Carolina Assistive Technology
Program – Definitions and examples
http://marysilgals.tripod.com/mystuff