1. Assistive Technology in a 1-to-1 Environment Sally Garza Director of Technology Lawrence Upper School sgarza@lawrenceschool.org www.lawrenceschool.org 440-832-7840
31. Assistive Technology Program Started in early 2003 with in computer lab with a handful of students Tested every AT program on the market at the time Had students help evaluate software Was it easy to use? How long was training period? Would they use it? Students and staff selected Read & Write Gold as Lawrence Schoolās assistive technology software
32. Assistive Technology Program Now Read & Write Gold and Inspiration on all computers from 1-12 grade Dragon Naturally Speaking available to students as needed After school training done with one of the schoolās learning specialists until they have mastered techniques Available to students 5-12 grades based on learning difference and academic need AlphaSmart NEOās available to any Lower School student with written expression issues or dysgraphia
33. Training for Staff & Students 1 full day training session for pilot teachers and staff in 2005 from a vendor Since then, have done all training in-house Teach tools as needed to students and staff including weekly Tech Tips and 10-15 minute group training Teach tools in short increments with opportunities to practice & play Videos for each tool are great resource as well!
34. Parent Training Assistive technology training throughout the year to parents Goal to teach them what software their children are using Encourages home assistive technology use on laptops/tablet computers
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36. Comparable to drivers using GPS in car for navigation; most people can read and map but people use for a variety of reasons, including:
41. What AT Tools are Students Using at Lawrence School? 95% of students use text-to-speech for reading purposes in class with teacher and for homework independently 5% use speech-to-text 2-3% use word prediction Inspiration software used in every grade and subject level to plan projects and papers, either independently or in whole-class discussions
42. How Teachers Use AT Tools Within the Classroom High School: English teachers use Spell Check, Word Wizard, Dictionary Tool and Homophone Checker tools as proofreading/editing tools English, Science and Social Studies use Study Skills highlighters for researching information online Science/Math teachers use Talking Calculator conversion tools Spanish teacher/students use Translator tool to help reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation skills
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44. Used to read books as a class aloud (using RWG text to speech) as an audio and visual activity while teacher able to use differentiated instruction to assist individual students
48. Organizing Work, Homework, and Projects Assignment notebooks To keep track of homework and assignments due Digital versions: Outlook Excel, Word Saywire (online tool) Google Calendar (online tool) Outlook Cell/Blackberry/iTouch or Ipods
62. Can be done in Word, Power Point, Windows Journal, OneNoteā¦
63.
64. Skeletal Notes Great for kids who struggle with copying information from board quickly For differentiated instruction for older students For everyone in middle school or younger
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66. Picture Boards Help students align vocabulary or concepts to pictures and definitions Pictures can be drawn or inserted via clipart or from Google Images Can be done in any program Word Power Point also allows sound to be added as well) Publisher Inspiration Windows Journal
85. Word Prediction tools help during writing process; most will give a list of the most common used as you are writing and most software will learn how you write the more you use it
106. Eliminating Distractions Readability tool web tool to help eliminate distractions on web pages Simple tool that can be loaded to web browsers to eliminate unnecessary text and images on screen when reading online RWG Screen Masking tool Many choice to help you focus on the line or window of your document Smart Board Screen Shade tool
109. Where differences are not disabilities;where great minds donāt think alike.www.lawrenceschool.org
Editor's Notes
Lawrence School is an independent, state-chartered, college preparatory, coeducational day school for bright students with learning disabilities and attention deficits in grades 1-12.Ā We provide a full academic program including language arts, math, social studies, science, technology, physical education, music and art. Structured instruction in organization, study skills and social ability helps students succeed both in and out of the classroom. Lawrence serves over 300 students annually in our day and summer programs. With two campus locations in Broadview Heights and Sagamore Hills, Ohio, Lawrence School has access to diverse cultural and community assets in both the Cleveland and Akron metropolitan areas.
LD Population at Lawrence SchoolStudents typically come from unsuccessful educational settingsBright students (average to above average IQ)learning differencesDyslexiaDysgraphiaDyscalculia Executive DysfunctionExpressive Language DisorderPhonological Processing DisorderReceptive Language DisorderVisual Motor Integration Difficulties attention deficitsADDADHDExecutive Function issuesorganizational problemsother processing differencesAspergerās Syndrome
Lawrence teaching MethodsMulti-sensory platform (hear, see, do)Organizational strategies embedded in all subject areasBrain-based learning strategiesDifferentiated instructionOpportunities for social and academic experiences and successBuilding wide classroom management (assertive discipline model)
SmartBoards and projectors in every classroom1 set of 32 SmartBoard Senteos and receiver for check out by teachersAll Upper School students have a tablet or laptop that they take to all classesHigh school students also take home their tablet computers; middle school students do notAll staff has tablet computer to use in classroom with DVD capabilityWireless network throughout buildingPrinters, digital cameras, camcorders, microphones available as needed by teachersHeadsets to all staff and studentsMore for sale in school bookstore
Started in early 2003 with in computer lab with a handful of studentsTested every AT program on the market at the timeHad students help evaluate softwareWas it easy to use?How long was training period? Would they use it?Students and staff selected Read & Write Gold as Lawrence Schoolās assistive technology software
Assistive Technology Program NowRead & Write Gold and Inspiration on all computers from 1-12 gradeDragon Naturally Speaking available to students as neededAfter school training done with one of the schoolās learning specialists until they have mastered techniquesAvailable to students 5-12 grades based on learning difference and academic needAlphaSmart NEOās available to any Lower School student with written expression issues or dysgraphia
Training for Staff & Students1 full day training session for pilot teachers and staff in 2005 from a vendorSince then, have done all training in-houseTeach tools as needed to students and staff including weekly Tech Tips and 10-15 minute group trainingTeach tools in short increments with opportunities to practice & playVideos for each tool are great resource as well!
Parent TrainingAssistive technology training throughout the year to parents (2-3 times a year)Goal to teach them what software their children are usingEncourages home assistive technology use on laptops/tablet computers
Assistive Technology as Tool, not just for āSpecialā StudentsTreat assistive technology software as every day software that helps us with our livesComparable to drivers using GPS in car for navigation; most people can read and map but people use for a variety of reasons, including:ConvenienceEfficiencyNavigation assistance due to issues with directions or spatial understanding
Changing Attitude of Using Assistive Technology ToolsSystem-wide adoption and implementation crucial to de-stigmatizing assistive technology toolsIf everyone is using it and trained on it, then no stigma for using it yourself
What AT Tools are Students Using at Lawrence School?95% of students use text-to-speech for reading purposes in class with teacher and for homework independently10% use speech-to-text2-3% use word predictionInspiration software used in every grade and subject level to plan projects and papers, either independently or in whole-class discussions
How Teachers Use AT Tools within the classroomHigh School:English teachers use Spell Check, Word Wizard, Dictionary Tool and Homophone Checker tools as proofreading/editing toolsEnglish, Science and Social Studies use Study Skills highlighters for researching information onlineScience/Math teachers use Talking Calculator conversion toolsSpanish teacher/students use Translator tool to help reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation skills
How Teachers Use AT Tools Within the ClassroomMiddle School:Used to read books as a class aloud (using RWG text to speech) as an audio and visual activity while teacher able to use differentiated instruction to assist individual studentsLower School Demystification Project: Online researching for 6th graders about learning differencesTopics typically written above reading level
Organizing Work, Homework, and ProjectsAssignment notebooksTo keep track of homework and assignments dueDigital versions:OutlookExcel, WordSaywire (online tool)Google Calendar (online tool)OutlookCell/Blackberry/iTouch or Ipods
Templates & FormsTeachers can help students with Templates:Starting points for assignmentsSkeletal maps for entire class or for differentiated instructionOnline worksheets for tablet inking in Word or Windows Journal Can use Forms/Developer tools to lock down documentsMay interfere with the way Spellchecker can be used!Can be done in Word, Excel, Power Point, Inspiration
Planning and Concept Mapping ToolsMS Office: Smart Art toolsInspiration
2 column notesUniform note taking constructionKey terms on left; details on rightCan be offered to students in skeletal format if neededCan be done in Word, Power Point, Windows Journal, OneNoteā¦Search templates online for Cornell Notes
Skeletal notesGreat for kids who struggle with copying information from board quicklyFor differentiated instruction for older students For everyone in middle school or younger
Picture boardsHelp students align vocabulary or concepts to pictures and definitions Pictures can be drawn or inserted via clipart or from Google ImagesCan be done in any program WordPower Point also allows sound to be added as well)PublisherInspirationWindows Journal
Quizzing and Testing with Assistive TechnologyClassroom management and supervision key to this to discourage cheatingQuia.comSubscription serviceQuizstar.4teachers.orgFree service (able to use text-to-speech tools or can upload audio to quiz itself)Using Forms templates in MS Word 2003 or 2007Under Developer Ribbon in MS 2007!Alternative Assessments for LD studentsProjects vs testsOral or Recorded Audio responses instead of handwrittenPower Point in Insert Sounds, NarrationAudacity (free software)
Spelling assistanceMany students need help spelling wordsGoogle Chrome: built in spell check on web fieldsieSpell: Internet Explorer plug-in if you donāt want to use Google Chrome!Read & Write Gold Dictionary: phonetic spell check as well ability to view definitions and hear words before making selectionHowever, many students perseverate over misspellings and inhibit the writing processTurn off Check Spelling As I Write options in word processor
Spelling assistanceMany students need help spelling wordsGoogle Chrome: built in spell check on web fieldsieSpell: Internet Explorer plug-in if you donāt want to use Google Chrome!Read & Write Gold Dictionary: phonetic spell check as well ability to view definitions and hear words before making selectionHowever, many students perseverate over misspellings and inhibit the writing processTurn off Check Spelling As I Write options in word processor
Listening/e-reading toolsOffering students listening alternatives to reading is crucial to many students with print/visibility learning differencesStudents still get information despite reading abilityAudio booksAudible.com, iTunes audio book store, Amazon Audio books, PlayAway devicesAudacityCreate your own audio booksText-to-Speech Reading toolsRead and Write GoldKurzweilBalabolkaWrite:OutloudKindle, Nook other text-to-speech enabled e-readersSpeechmaker toolConvert digital text to mp3 file Available in Read & Write Gold, Balabolka, KurzweilPortable Readers/OCR devicesIntel ReaderThe Reading Pen2 by Wizcom
Text to Speech as Processing SupportFor students with LDās not typically associated with visual print disabilities (ADHD, slow processorsā¦)Using a text-to-speech tool as a prosthetic processing tool to help them not just hear the words being spoken but also process and understand the content of the text in a way that doesnāt exhaust them.
Reading fluency toolsFluencyTutorAllows you to help build and measure oral reading fluency
Eliminating DistractionsReadability toolweb tool to help eliminate distractions on web pages Simple tool that can be loaded to web browsers to eliminate unnecessary text and images on screen when reading onlineRWG Screen Masking toolMany choice to help you focus on the line or window of your documentSmartBoard Screen Shade tool