Assistive Technology

1

• Assistive Technology
• in the Classroom

2

• Session 4
• Assistive Technology that Supports Learning
• Intellectual Access Technologies

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Presentation Agenda

• Introduction
• Principles of Universal Design for Learning
• AT to support literacy and numeracy
• AT to support organization and executive
  functioning
• Lesson Design for Integrating AT

4
Introduction

• All students should have learning outcomes in
  their IEP appropriate to their level of cognitive
  ability
• Students with disabilities often have difficulty
  developing knowledge and skills in core areas
• AT can support knowledge and skill acquisition
  and it fits well with the principles of UDL

5
Think about this

• What learning outcomes do your students have in
  their IEP?
• How does your team feel about the inclusion of
  learning outcomes for all students?

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Universal Design for Learning

• Set of principles developed by CAST
• Center for Applied Special Technology
  (www.cast.org)
• Designed to help teachers develop curricula that
  is accessible to all students regardless of
  ability
• Provides a blueprint for creating flexible
  goals, methods, materials, and assessments that
  accommodate learner differences. CAST

7
Watch this

• Universal Design for Learning is one of the most
  exciting changes in education in recent memory!
• Here is a short video that explains it
• http//www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines

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UDL Principles

• Multiple means of representation
• Different ways of acquiring information an
  knowledge
• Multiple means of expression
• Different ways of demonstrating knowledge and
  understanding
• Multiple means of engagement
• Accessing student interests, offer appropriate
  challenges and motivate them to learn
• Key concept flexibility

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UDL Implications

• Provides intellectual and physical access to the
  curriculum
• Changes the role of Special Educator
• Capitalizes on the flexibility and
  customizability of digital media
• Suggests the evolution of the role of assistive
  technology from individual adaptation for
  curriculum access to enhanced interaction with
  accessible curriculum

10
Try this

• The web is FULL of helpful information on UDL and
  supporting all learners
• Some of the best sites are blogs and wikis
  created by technology-using educators
• Great source of up-to-date information
• Teaching Every Student Blog

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• Break Time!

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Digital Media Technologies

• Digital Media
• Provides accessible curriculum for all students
• Customizable to suit students individual needs
• Examples
• Alternate and interactive books
• eText and scanned books
• Websites
• e.g. www.arc-bc.org

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Instructional Technologies

• Provide individualized experiences for
• Extra practice
• Development of skills
• Problem solving
• Usually include words, numbers, and graphics
• Should be used in conjunction with traditional
  literacy and numeracy instruction

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Assistive and Instructional

• Assistive Technology
• Assists individuals in completing tasks
  students require AT because the task cannot be
  accomplished any other way even in a UDL
  classroom
• Instructional Technology
• Assists students in acquiring information or
  skill. It is used for a period of time to
  acquire or reinforce knowledge or skills used
  in most (including UDL) classrooms
• 
  Adapted from Scott Marfilius, 2006

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Think about this

• As an Educational Assistant, do you think your
  role will change working in classrooms following
  UDL principles?
• How will your support of students with
  disabilities change?

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Barriers to Literacy

• For students with disabilities
• Negative attitudes
• Low expectations
• Limited opportunities
• Limited means of accessing literacy and
  demonstrating understanding
• Limited time to adapt literacy materials
• Decreased access to literacy opportunities
  as student ages

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Benefits of Literacy Program

• For students with disabilities
• Self-esteem (being perceived as literate in a
  print world)
• Self-determination
• Independence
• Information gathering
• Ability to organize aspects of daily life
• Learning and expressing knowledge
• Lifelong entertainment

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Technology to Support Literacy

• Examples (students who need graphics)
• Boardmaker Plus (www.mayer-johnson.com)
• Balanced Literacy (www.intellitools.com)
• Clicker 5 (www.cricksoft.com)
• Classroom Suite (www.intellitools.com)

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Technology to Support Literacy

• Examples (text based)
• SOLO (www.donjohnston.com)
• Kurzweil 3000 (www.kurzweiledu.com)
• textHELP Read n Write (www.texthelp.com)
• WordQ/SpeakQ (www.wordq.com)
• AlphaSmart NEO / DANA (www.alphasmart.com)
• Fusion (http//www.writerlearning.com/)

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Kurzweil 3000

• Probably the most common software found in
  schools to support struggling readers and writers
• Full featured program with many tools and options
  to support reading comprehension, written output
  and test/worksheet completion
• Go to www.kurzweiledu.com to request free trial

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• Break Time!

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Numeracy Programs

• Research and information on students with
  disabilities and numeracy very limited
• Usually lumped together with literacy
• Similar assumptions for barriers and benefits

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Software to Support Numeracy

• Tend to focus on one or more of these categories
  
• Number concepts (numeration, place value, etc)
• Computation
• Geometry
• Algebra
• Time, money, measurement
• Word problems

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Software to Support Numeracy

• Examples
• Number concepts (www.intellitools.com)
• MathPad (www.intellitools.com)
• BigCalc (www.donjohnston.com)

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Software to Support Numeracy

• Examples
• Scientific Notebook (www.mackichan.com)
• Money Skills (www.marblesoft.com)
• Time Scales (www.attainmentcompany.com)
• Classroom Suite 4 (www.intellitools.com)

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Software to Support Organization

• Examples
• Inspiration (www.inspiration.com)
• Kidspiration (www.kidspiration.com)
• DraftBuilder SE (www.donjohnston.com)

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Software to Support Executive Functioning

• Examples
• AbleLink Community Integration Suite
  (www.spectronicsinoz.com)
• StudyMinder Homework System (www.studyminder.com)
  
• iPod / iPad iPrompts
• (www.iprompts.com)

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For More Information

• Instructional and Assistive Technologies
• Childrens Technology Review
• www.childrenssoftware.com
• Educational Resources
• www.edresources.com
• Bridges-Canada
• www.bridges-canada.com

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Freeware / Shareware

• Many freeware/shareware options to support
  student learning
• Blogs are a great source of up-to-date
  information on special education technology
• Just one to get you started
• Free Resources from the Net for EVERY Learner
• (Paul Hamilton)

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• Break Time!

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Lesson Plan Example

• Task
• Read a page in a Social Studies textbook on the
  Feudal system and answer comprehension questions
• Class composition
• 21 students regular access
• 7 students adapted access
• 1 student modified access

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Lesson Plan Example

• Steps
• Create accessible text (scan in Kurzweil 3000)
• Create template for questions (teacher)
• EA learns activities to support in Sunburst
  Destination Castle software program
• Work with teacher to plan lesson delivery
• Support individual access to curricular content
• Regular access read text, answer questions on
  printed sheet
• Adapted access read scanned text with auditory
  support, answer questions using talking word
  processor template
• Modified access complete activity on castles in
  software program
• Conduct assessment of lesson activities

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Discussion Forum

• In your small group, its time to select the
  assistive technology you think would best support
  your students IEP goals
• Review the IEP goals
• Look at the descriptions of each of the
  technologies
• Decide which one(s) you think match the students
  needs

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To think about

• If nothing every changed, there would be no
  butterflies.
• Author unknown

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• Session Summary Activity

• Link to Session 4 Summary Activity
• Session 4 Summary Activity
• Will be emailed to you after this session!

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• Any Questions?

• How are you feeling?