Using Chrome Extensions and Apps to Support Literacy was presented at the International Society of Technology in Education Conference in Denver (June, 2016). Within the framework of Universal Design for Learning, this presentation offers practical advice for using Assistive Technology (AT) supports to promote literacy within the areas of writing and reading intervention areas.
2. Hello!
I am Dr. Tara Mason
I am here to talk about differentiating
when using technology with Chrome
Extensions and Apps
You can find me at:
tara@newtechfored.com
7. “
Our 21st Century definition of
differentiation is creating multiple paths
for students at different levels to have
appropriate and accessible ways to
absorb, apply, develop and present
concepts and learning.
15. Stages of Differentiation: How to implement
classroom wide differentiation using technology
Differentiation Grid
1. Scaffolding- supports built in for all students
2. Differentiation- data-driven supports and
accommodations unique to student
3. Accommodations- connected to differentiation and
accessibility
4. Modification- students with alternative to the target
skill
24. Reading
1. Differentiated
Informational Text=
Newsela
2. Text to Speech = Read
and Write Google or Click
to Speech
3. Simplified text using
Reading and Write
4. Reading Fluency by
Texthelp
5. Try Don Johnston’s Snap
and Read
Writing
1. Read and Write Google for
highlighting, categorizing,
Speech to Text
2. Research tab in Google
Docs
3. Voice Typing and Templates
4. Google Forms + Autocrat for
drafting and writing process
5. Try Don Johnston’s Co-
Writer
Highlight the Fav’s!
26. Where would I use these and why??
Case study Example
Student Y, Middle School
1. Needs Speech to Text using Voice
Typing
2. Text to Speech using Read/Write
3. Headphones/mic
27. Where would I use these and why??
Case study Example
Student X, High School
1. Reading 5+ grade level below peers- Text
to speech/Speech to Text + Google
Forms
2. Significant support with organization &
writing (spelling and sentence stems)-
Google Drive/Apps
3. Executive functioning support: iOS +
Chrome
28. Where would I use these and why??
Case study Example
Student Z, Upper Elementary
1. Translation and vocabulary support
2. Text to Speech for comprehension and
fluency
3. Google Docs for organization and
research tab
30. Case Study #1:
Student is a
struggling
reader, grade
level 3rd-12th,
reading 3+ grade
levels below
his/her peers.
1.Feature match
2.Try it out
3.What steps
are needed?
Case Study #2:
Student is a
struggling writer
and unable to
complete more than
1-2 sentences
written by hand due
to graphomotor or
problems with
conventions or
spelling.
1. Feature match
2. Try it out
3. What steps are
needed?
Case Study #3:
Student is
desperately
disorganized in
his/her executive
processing and it
impacts reading
and writing tasks.
1.Feature match
2.Try it out
3.What steps are
needed?
Choose Extension that would be a
Feature Match
32. Writing Intervention: Chrome
Extensions & Apps
5 Neurodevelomental Areas of Writing
(Levine, 2002)
1.Graphomotor: What to try?
2.Attention: What to try?
3.Language: What to try?
4.Memory: What to try?
5.Higher Order Thinking: What to try?
33. 5 Essential Elements of
Reading
1. Phonemic Awareness (Not covering
possible AT solutions)
2. Phonics (Not covering possible AT solutions)
1. Fluency: What to try?
2. Vocabulary: What to try?
3. Comprehension: What to try?
34. Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
www.newtechfored.com
tara@newtechfored.com
ILC Teacher at Monarch HS in BVSD!
Resources:
Center for the Individual, Todd Rose Co-Founder, http://bit.ly/28Tm8ac
Universal Design for Learning @ CAST: http://bit.ly/1PyIqzg
Youtube channel: http://bit.ly/1J4UFiO
St. Vrain Assistive Technology Blog: http://bit.ly/1NSvb5C
Editor's Notes
Our Objectives…
1. Utilize accessibility features, strategies and teaching tools for differentiation with Google apps with students with unique learning needs in the areas of literacy
2. Through the lens of UDL, learn how to implement differentiated learning activities using Google apps.
3. Practice reviewing case study examples of students who would benefit from differentiated features when using Google apps
What is it? Word tossed around a ton and we will delve into what it really means.. where and why to use it and how it helps students. Requires us to make a decision about student learning and needs related to their learning. When we employ accessibility features it should be a decision supported by student need and monitored by student growth.
The big idea is UDL, what is UDL?
Multiple Forms of: Expression, Representation and Engagement
What does this quote mean to you?
Another way to think about it… The learning activities may not always be situated to meet learner needs and learners may be unfairly penalized when it comes time to demonstrate their knowledge.
It is imperative for students to continue to fill in the areas where they have skill gaps in their reading and writing but not in a vacuum. How can we ensure students obtain content and succeed, when they are struggling? We can use technology to differentiate. This technology can be considered assistive technology or we can think of it as individualized learning. I always tell people that if a student has:
-had an assistive technology evaluation of some kind
-trialed using some AT supports and shown growth through progress monitoring
- proven that they benefit from having access to AT then it should be checked on the IEP
For example, I have a late elementary student with significant writing challenges placing them around kindergarten, 1st grade in production, the student is going onto middle school next year and cannot produce written text. I would trial both keyboarding and dication with the student. I would ensure the team is using a graphic organizer or outline and any other writing supports need. The student’s baseline use of each tool would be evaluated using the same 5 or 10 minute writing probe. Then around every 10 days of instruction, I would check for progress using the same probe constraints and setting. If I was only focusing on one solution, since it was found to be the strongest, then I only probe for it.
We will stop at around 4 minutes.. After he talks about how our system was developed/designed to put ppl to work in factories and it more or less accomplished what it was designed to to.
Instructional Planning involves sequential planning for student success. This means we use a teaching and learning cycle when bringing in AT tools. Often times, we bring the tool in to differentiate for student need, remember differentiation is where we are adapting the curriculum to meet the students where they are, i.e. adapting grade level text- not modifying it or changing the target skill.
How to teach?
-backwards chaining, forward chaining, total skill
Other things to consider:
a. the learner’s temperament, b. the learner’s learning style, c. the history of what has and has not worked for this learner, d. the learner’s IEP/IFSP/Summary of Performance, and e. the environments within which the learner functions best.
Student from co-teach at a Middle School
Student who is an ELL elementary student, needing organization and idea help
Graphomotor: fine motor issues with writing, sloppy and illegible handwriting, inconsistent writing, off the line, spacing issues, etc. What to try? Voice Typing & Keyboarding with Google Docs
Attention: easily distracted, difficulty getting started, poor planning when writing. What to try? Google Forms for writing process + Autocrat to create a Google Document.
Language: poor vocabulary, spelling issues, difficulty with sentence structure… What to try? Grammarly + Google Research Tab OR Co-Writer with data-driven support for word usage, spelling errors, etc.
Memory: issues around conventions and genre writing, spelling and capitalization… What to try? Google Doc templates or creating presentations using Google Slides
Higher Order Thinking: Google Forms, help students work through genre writing without so much cognitive load.
Fluency- integrated translator in Google Read and Write & Picture dictionary support with text to speech support, repeat readings, Fluency Tutor. OR Snap and Read, repeat readings and tools for organization.
Vocabulary- research and tools tabs in Google Docs & Simple highlighter. Google Read/Write will create a vocabulary list
Comprehension- use Newsela to differentiate text. Create text sets for students and match their text level to articles. Have students all reading the same, up-to-date articles
Taking it a step further.. Use highlighting and annotations
Try these Annotation reading strategies on Newsela:
Highlight unknown words in RED and Annotate a definition based on clues from the text;
Highlight evidence in GREEN that supports the Central Idea and Annotate why this important;
Highlight in BLUE a quote that is surprising and Annotate why this evidence is surprising to you
Highlight in YELLOW evidence that is exciting and Annotate what you would like to learn more about.