This document discusses how assistive technology can help students achieve. It provides examples of both analogue and digital solutions, including software like Text Help Read and Write Gold, Inspiration for mind mapping, and TTRS for reading and spelling. Hardware solutions mentioned are voting systems, voice recorders, digital cameras, and games consoles. The overall message is that assistive technology can encourage independent learning and help students help themselves.

1. Helping Students to Achieve
with Assistive Technology
Stuart Parkin and Hannah Crumbleholme
June 2009

2. Moodle
www.moodcat.co.uk
• Skills for Learning
• Enhancing Learning with Digital and Mobile Te

3. How can we help
the student to
help themselves?
Analogue Digital
Solutions Solutions

4. Analogue
Solutions
In Class/ 1:1
Student Carbon Coloured
Support
Highlighters
Dictionary Pad Overlays
ALS

5. Digital Solutions
Software Hardware

6. Software
Text Help TTRS Windows Dragon
Open Source/
Read and Write Inspiration Touch Type Naturally Freeware
Gold Read and Spell Accessibility Speaking

7. Text Help Read and Write Gold
• Literacy support tool designed to assist learners
who require extra assistance when reading or
composing text.
• Encourages independent learning.
• Screen reader to proof read text
• Spelling and homophone checker correct any
mistakes before submitting the text to the tutor.

8. Inspiration – Mind Map View

9. Inspiration – Diagram View

10. Inspiration – Outline View

11. Inspiration
Transfer into Word document
Download user guide from our
Moodle page.

12. TTRS – Touch Type Read and Spell

13. Windows
• Magnifier
• Narrator
• Change background colour
• Change fonts
• On-Screen Keyboard
• Download Benevolent Bill from TechDis.ac.uk

14. Snippy
• Free download alternative to Print Screen
• Choose an area to Copy + Paste either with a
box or by freehand.
• Works direct from flash drive – no need to
install
• Download from http://www.bhelpuri.net/Snippy/

15. Hangman
• Choose own words in notepad file
• Case sensitive
Play
Swf
flash

16. Who Wants to be a Billionaire
Play
Swf
Flash

17. Hardware
Voting Systems Voice Recorders Digital Cameras Games Based
Interactive
And MP3/4 Players and
Learning
White Boards
Mobile Phones I-Pod Touch Camcorders

18. Voting Systems
• Senteo/ Smart Response for Smart
Boards
• ActiVote for Promethean
• Mobile Phone SMS Poll Sites

19. www.smspoll.net

20. iPodTouch
Dictaphone
Creative Zen

21. Games Based Learning

22. Using the Wii in Maths Sessions
• Use Wii game to generate statistics
• Learners analyse stats and create
spreadsheet/ graphs
(Guide to session on Moodle)

23. Nintendo DS
Pictochat can be used to
lead students into learning
Quick 10 minute exercises
help students to become
focused
Student’s can work
collaboratively

24. Moodle
www.moodcat.co.uk
• Skills for Learning
• Enhancing Learning with Digital and Mobile Te

25. FIND US ON
ATtmc - Assistive Tech@TMC
The Manchester College - Assistive Technology in Education