The Promise of Assistive Technology for English Language Learners

1
The Promise of Assistive Technology for English
Language Learners

• Carol Berndt
• ESL Specialist
• Calgary Board of Education
• cjberndt_at_cbe.ab.ca

Success for all Students
2
Alberta Educations Vision
Success for Every Child Adopting an approach
to designing education, based on the concepts of
universal design, that will anticipate and
provide support for the diversity of learners in
todays classrooms. Alberta Education
3
Context

• Increasing diversity
• Increasing complexity in learner profiles
• 21st Century Learner Global digital age
• Inclusive philosophy
• Universal design principles
• Accountability for academic success

4
CBE Student Profile

• Total Students CBE 92 000
• Total Number Special Needs 16 996 18.5
• Mild/Moderate 11 120 12.1
• Gifted Talented 2 426 2.6
• Severe 3 450 3.8
• Total Number of ESL Students 21,349 23
  
• ESL Students
• with Special Education Code 1,876
  9.2
• Grades 1 12
• Student Services Support Department Profile
• September 2006

5

• Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
• has origins in architectural studies
• challenged architects to become innovative, to
  design buildings which provide access for all
• is a result landmark legislation which has
  increased usability for everyone
• examples ramps, elevators, automatic doors, curb
  cut and closed caption TV

6
Universal Design Principles CAST Organization

• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an
  approach to designing course instruction,
  materials and content to benefit people of all
  learning styles
• It provides equal access to learning by
• removing barriers
• Allows the student to control the method
• of accessing information without
• adaptation or retrofitting
• http//www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes
  /
• Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age
  Universal Design for Learning
• David H. Rose Anne Meyer ASCD, 2002

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UDL is the Educational Extension of the Universal
Design Movement

• Incorporating the principles of UDL will offer
• broader access to the curriculum for all students
  by
• providing flexible means of
• representing information in multiple formats and
  media.
• providing multiple pathways for students action
  and expression.
• providing multiple ways to engage students
  interest and motivation.
• Students will have options for how they
• respond to lesson content
• demonstrate their learning
• learn

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Assistive Technology for Learning (ATL)

• the devices, media and services used in learning
  environments to overcome barriers for students
  with physical, sensory, cognitive, speech,
  learning or behavioral special needs to actively
  engage in learning and to achieve their
  individual learning goals
• ATL Continuum
• ATL devices and media range from low tech tools
  such as pencil grips and large print books . . .
• . . . to high tech systems such as speech
  recognition computer systems to screen reading
  technologies.

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All technology can be considered Assistive
Technology

• The lines between educational technology,
  instructional technology and assistive technology
  continue to blur
• Digital technologies, assistive technologies and
  the creative utilization of existing technologies
  all offer potential solutions that can provide
  access to information and the curriculum for
  students who may not otherwise be able to obtain
  it

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Technology Enhanced Solutions

• Portable Laptops
• Dedicated Word Processors (Alpha Smarts, Neo,
  Dana)
• Specialized Portable Hand-held Devices
• PDAs,Mp3 Players, (iPod), Cell Phones, Key to
  Access
• Interactive White Boards (Smart Boards Smart
  Software)
• Concept Mapping Software (Inspiration,
  Kidspiration, Smart Ideas, interactive response
  systems)
• e-Books/audio books/digital repository of
  curricular resources
• Digital Game Based Learning
• Digital Video
• Closed captioning on TV

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Implications for ESL

• Multimedia animation receptive and productive
• Language mediation
• Modified and differentiated curriculum materials
• Translation tools
• Computer assisted language learning software and
  devices (CALL)
• Speech to Text and Text to Speech software
• Webcasts and podcasts

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Understanding Assistive Technology

• Telus 2 Learn assistive technology tools
• http//www.2learn.ca/teachertools/Assistivetech/a
  ssisttools.html
• Adaptive Technology Resource Centre
• (U of T) Glossary
• http//atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?optioncom_cont
  enttaskblogsectionid4Itemid9

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• Grammatical Support Tools
• http//atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?optioncom_cont
  enttaskviewid37Itemid9
• Optical Character Recognition/Reading
• http//atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?optioncom_cont
  enttaskviewid41Itemid9

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• Speech to Text/Voice Recognition
• http//atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?optioncom_cont
  enttaskviewid50Itemid9
• http//atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?optioncom_cont
  enttaskviewid48Itemid9
• Text to Speech
• http//atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?optioncom_cont
  enttaskviewid48Itemid9

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C.B.E. Initiatives

• Assistive Technology and mLearning Supporting
  English as a Second Language Learners
• http//projects.cbe.ab.ca/sss/ilscommunity/learni
  ngspaces/assistive-mlearning.asp
• AlphaSmart Neo Project http//projects.cbe.ab.ca/s
  ss/ilscommunity/learningspaces/assistive-alphasmar
  t.asp
• Assistive Technology Toolkits
• http//projects.cbe.ab.ca/sss/ilscommunity/learni
  ngspaces/assistive-toolkit.asp

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Software Pilots Dyned

• http//www.dyned.com/education/
• Lets Go
• http//www.dyned.com/products/lg/
• First English
• http//www.dyned.com/products/fe/
• English for Success
• http//www.dyned.com/products/efs/
• English by the Numbers
• http//www.dyned.com/products/ebn/

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Software Pilots

• Rosetta Stone
• Azar Interactive
• Read and Write, Gold

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Generic Must haves

• Word processor with spell checker, grammar
  checker, accessibility tools
• Internet browser
• Typing / computer familiarity program
• Institutional instructional management courseware
  (e.g. Blackboard, Desire 2 Learn)

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Utilizing Features Within Microsoft Word

• Spelling and Grammar
• Language tools (thesaurus)
• AutoCorrect
• Word Count
• Background/Text color
• AutoText
• Templates (letters, table of contents)
• Readability Statistics
• Customize Toolbars
• Formatting Options
• Right Click (spell check/synonyms)
• Auto Summarize
• Markup

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Accessibility Options

• Accessibility options within Windows computers
• (Programs, Accessories, Accessibility)
• - Accessibility Wizard allows individualize set
  up to address vision, hearing and mobility needs
• - Microsoft Magnifier Text Size, Display
  Settings, Screen Resolution
• - Microsoft Narrator - Text-to-Speech Program
• On Screen Keyboard mobility impaired user
• http//www.microsoft.com/enable/
• Accessibility options within Macintosh computers
• (System Preferences, Universal Access)
• - Seeing Zoom, Background
• - Hearing Text-to-Speech
• - Keyboard Numeric Keyboard instead of mouse
• - Mouse Speed, Sticky Keys, Slow Keys

Universal Access
http//www.apple.com/accessibility/
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Pod Casts

• Audacity
• http//audacity.sourceforge.net
• Audioize
• http//www.magnetictime.com/mtl_overview.shtml
• Ghost Reader
• http//www.assistiveware.com

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Telecollaborative Projects

• http//www.2learn.ca/Projects/Together/curricul.ht
  ml

• http//members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/about_proj
  ects.html

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Curriculum Resources

• Berits Best Sites for Children
• www.beritsbest.com
• Enchanted Learning
• www.enchantedlearning.com
• Teacher Tools Curriculum Sites
• http//www.teachertools.org/index.html
• Discovery School
• http//school.discoveryeducation.com/

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Web Quests

• WebQuest.Org
• http//www.webquest.org/index.php
• Best Web Quests
• http//bestwebquests.com/

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Language Learning Software

• Developmental Scope and Sequence
• Language strands L,S,R,W
• Networked and online versions
• Learning management systems
• Authoring capabilities

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Software Suppliers

• NAS
• http//www.nas.ca/elem.htm
• http//www.nas.ca/sec.htm
• ESL.Net
• http//www.esl.net/software_schools.html
• Linguatronics ESL Software
• http//www.eslsoftware.com/

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Reviews

• Learn English Software Reviews (top ten)
• http//esl-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
• Learn to Read Software Reviews (top ten)
• http//learn-to-read-software-review.toptenreview
  s.com/
• Learn Vocabulary Software Reviews (top ten)
• http//vocabulary-software-review.toptenreviews.c
  om

/
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Recommendations (Deborah Healey)

• A Place to Start in Selecting Software
• http//oregonstate.edu/healeyd/cj_software_selec
  tion.html
• Software for Children
• http//oregonstate.edu/7Ehealeyd/table1.html
• Software for Teens and Adults
• http//oregonstate.edu/7Ehealeyd/table2.html
• CALL-IS Software List (Elementary)
• http//oregonstate.edu/dept/eli/softlist/elementa
  ry.html