Toolbelt Theory 2.0

Toolbelt Theory 2.0 Universal Design and Global Access through Student Technology Choice Ira David Socol Michigan State University CSUN 2010 San Diego

Enabling the tool use and tool choice skills of our students is at the heart of giving them the power to succeed in their future .

The Old Toolbelt

The Contemporary Toolbelt

"Toolbelt Theory" suggests that we must teach our students how to analyze tasks, the task-completion environment, their own skills and capabilities, an appropriate range of available tools… and let them begin to make their own decisions

• Break the dependence cycle • Develop lifespan technology skills • Limit the impact of limitations • Empower student decision- making • Prepare students for life outside of and beyond school

Students learn to employ a specifically ordered version of Joy Zabala's SETT Framework (Student, Environment, Tools, Tasks). Specifically ordered because, in human experience, the choice of tools is always Task - dependent.

TEST
Task
Environment
Skills
Tools

Student-centered Task-based Technology decision-making Protocol

Task. At the most basic, I need to know if I need to cut wood or join it before I start looking for a tool to use.

Environment is next because it makes a huge difference whether I am cutting the wood in my garage or in a forest.

Then, I need to know my Skills – Am I strong? Am I exhausted? Is my right hand broken? Am I simply a danger to myself and others with power tools?

Once I know all of that, I need to know which Tools exist – if I have never seen a chainsaw, as many dyslexic students (for example) have never seen a good digital reader, I will spend long hours hacking ineffectively with an axe.

Contemporary Skillsets
Intake information
Filter information
Store information
Manage information
Distribute information

Intake and Output “ Reading is defined as getting information from a recorded source into your head, Writing is defined as getting information from your head into a form which others can access.”

Intake and Output Information is freed from any specific delivery system.

Task 1. What needs to be done? (when possible, break the task down into component parts)

Environment 1. Where must this be done ? 2. Under what time constraints? 3. What is the standard method of task completion? 4. How does this student interact within this environment? 5. Who is the task being done for? (specifics of teacher, employer, other expectations)

Skills 1. What specific strengths does the person with the disability bring to this task? 2. What specific weaknesses interfere with that person's ability to complete the task? 3. What is that person's "tool acquisition aptitude" and what tools are they currently comfortable with?

Tools 1. What tool best "bridges the gap" between the current skill set and what is needed? 2. If the tool is not already "in the toolbox" (successfully trained in its use), how does the environmental timeline match with the needed learning curve? 3. If it is not possible to use the "best tool" within this environment what is the "back-up tool"?

Hierarchy of Tools - Reading 1. Click-Speak, low-support, free 2. WordTalk, higher support, free 3. Read-and-Write, strong support, overlay style 4. WYNN, full-featured, separate structure 5. Reading Pen, portable support

The goal is to empower students to continuously assess their changing needs and the ever changing technological environment that surrounds them, and allow them to build their own toolbelts of appropriate solutions to their life challenges.

The way the world works
Different tools for different tasks/moments
Multiple tools for tasks

For reading, I use
Ink on Paper (though not handwriting)
Digital Screen (Computer/Phone)
WYNN
Click-Speak
WordTalk
Audio Books and mp3 Conversions
Read-and-Write-Gold

Reading Support

For writing, I use
Keyboarding
Desktop Keyboard
Laptop Keyboard
BlackBerry Keyboard
Windows7/Vista Speech Recognition
Vlingo
Dial2Do

For “Display,” I use
Desktop with 2 screens
Laptop Screen
BlackBerry Screen
BlackBerry Sound Output
Computer Speakers
Microsoft/Ford Sync

For Spellcheck, I use
Spellcheck in Microsoft Word
Spellcheck on BlackBerry
Spellcheck in Firefox
with Dictionary Switcher
Spellcheck in WYNN
Spellcheck in Gmail
Ghotit

Mash Ups
I use the OCR scanner in WYNN for all text conversion, it’s the most accurate
I use Firefox with Google Docs and my British Dictionary when writing for “the right side” of the Atlantic, easiest place to switch spelling supports
I use the translator in Google Docs for international tweets in other languages
I bring docs from Word to WYNN and from html to Word and WYNN

The Tool Mash Up The art of combining tools to create a personalized support structure

The Tool Mash Up An essential part of functioning in today’s ICT world. What to bring together to support your individual needs.

Beginning
Firefox Add-Ons
Choose a TTS system:
Click-Speak , FoxVox , SpeakingFox
Choose a map tool
Choose a dictionary
Choose a translator

Next
Carrying text to different systems, for different needs
Combining Assistive Technology with Typical Applications
Converting documents for mobile use
Applying Open Source technologies to your needs

Next
Individualizing AT solutions
Inventing Mash Ups
Utilizing multiple systems for task completion
Bringing new tools, or new tool uses, to their peer group

Applying to Social Networking
Creating global access
Creating empowerment
Developing cross-platform skills
Establishing broad communication to break isolation and connect to future tool needs

http://speedchange.blogspot.com/ Ira David Socol Michigan State University [email_address] http:// mits.cenmi.org /

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http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com	36
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Toolbelt Theory 2.0

by Ira David Socol on Mar 25, 2010

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