Adaptive/Assistive Technology
Students with Cognitive Difficulties
This screenshot shows one of the many viewing profiles for students in Read:OutLoud 6.
Read:OutLoud 6
This text-to-speech tool is a great study tool for students with dyslexia and other cognitive difficulties. The program can read a variety of text files to students with a natural-sounding, computerized voice. Additionally, the program has many been in profiles for those students who may need the text formatted in a unique way. The outline feature of this tool would be beneficial to students when studying for a test. To create an outline, they simply click on a word, then click on the green highlighter at the top of the screen.
GoTalk Now
For students who have difficulty talking and communicating, GoTalk Now is an easy to use solution. Downloadable from the Apple App store, the app provides users with thousands of symbols divided into categories. To communicate, the user symbol taps on a symbol. This tool would be useful in my classroom for day-to-day interactions with special need students, as well as for providing students a way to present their feelings and emotions to classmates.
This text-to-speech tool is a great study tool for students with dyslexia and other cognitive difficulties. The program can read a variety of text files to students with a natural-sounding, computerized voice. Additionally, the program has many been in profiles for those students who may need the text formatted in a unique way. The outline feature of this tool would be beneficial to students when studying for a test. To create an outline, they simply click on a word, then click on the green highlighter at the top of the screen.
GoTalk Now
For students who have difficulty talking and communicating, GoTalk Now is an easy to use solution. Downloadable from the Apple App store, the app provides users with thousands of symbols divided into categories. To communicate, the user symbol taps on a symbol. This tool would be useful in my classroom for day-to-day interactions with special need students, as well as for providing students a way to present their feelings and emotions to classmates.
Students with Physical Difficulties
The TrackerPro device. (image from Mandtec.com)
TrackerPro
The TrackerPro is a usb device that takes the place of the traditional hand-held mouse. To navigate through the screen, students simply use their heads to navigate around. For example to scroll through a webpage, students would move their head up and down. This tool would be an excellent tool for using in web exploration activities in my classroom, as students can access sites without the need for large amount of physical moments. Due to the difficult nature of typing, I would like create a course site with all the links that are needed for the assignment.
IntelliKeys with Discover Pro
The IntelliKeys keyboard allows user with limited movement to input text with a keyboard. The keyboard is programmable and allows users several ways of inputting text, including typing with a fist. This keyboard would be invaluable in helping students write essays or complete blogging assignments when they have limited physical dexterity!
The TrackerPro is a usb device that takes the place of the traditional hand-held mouse. To navigate through the screen, students simply use their heads to navigate around. For example to scroll through a webpage, students would move their head up and down. This tool would be an excellent tool for using in web exploration activities in my classroom, as students can access sites without the need for large amount of physical moments. Due to the difficult nature of typing, I would like create a course site with all the links that are needed for the assignment.
IntelliKeys with Discover Pro
The IntelliKeys keyboard allows user with limited movement to input text with a keyboard. The keyboard is programmable and allows users several ways of inputting text, including typing with a fist. This keyboard would be invaluable in helping students write essays or complete blogging assignments when they have limited physical dexterity!
Students with Sensory Difficulties
Touch Memo Pen (Image from Visioncue.com)
Touch Memo Pen
The touch memo pen is a unique pen that can help blind users identify items such as groceries, credit cards, and other tools. To use the tool, users place stickers on items and then touch the pen to label. This allows them to create a voice recording of what the item is! This pen would be great to place around the classroom and label tools that students frequently use, or may not instantly be recognized by touch. For example, if students had their own boxes, the student will visual impairment could have a sticker on their box.
Dolphin SuperNova
For users with limited vision, text can be magnified up to 600 times with Dolphin Supernova on a Windows computer. The program also has the ability to customize the viewing experience (such as changing the colors of the graphics on screen) and text-to speech software. In a classroom that utilizes Windows computers, this would be especially helpful for students with low vision to complete assignments and conduct research.
The touch memo pen is a unique pen that can help blind users identify items such as groceries, credit cards, and other tools. To use the tool, users place stickers on items and then touch the pen to label. This allows them to create a voice recording of what the item is! This pen would be great to place around the classroom and label tools that students frequently use, or may not instantly be recognized by touch. For example, if students had their own boxes, the student will visual impairment could have a sticker on their box.
Dolphin SuperNova
For users with limited vision, text can be magnified up to 600 times with Dolphin Supernova on a Windows computer. The program also has the ability to customize the viewing experience (such as changing the colors of the graphics on screen) and text-to speech software. In a classroom that utilizes Windows computers, this would be especially helpful for students with low vision to complete assignments and conduct research.
At-Risk Students
Screenshot from Brainpop.com
BrainPop!
BrainPop! is a website designed to motivate and engage students in a variety of topics. The website makes it easy to search by a particular topic or to look for content that integrates with Common Core Standards. BrainPop! would be an excellent resource for students who need activities with fun and interactive elements to stay interested.
Tom Synder
This website by Scholastic offers a wide variety of tools for engaging students. I was particularly interested in the Diorama Designer software that the company offers because of its ability for students tell stories and then print them out and share! This would be a great tool for history classes to have students interact with history and share their diorama with the class!
BrainPop! is a website designed to motivate and engage students in a variety of topics. The website makes it easy to search by a particular topic or to look for content that integrates with Common Core Standards. BrainPop! would be an excellent resource for students who need activities with fun and interactive elements to stay interested.
Tom Synder
This website by Scholastic offers a wide variety of tools for engaging students. I was particularly interested in the Diorama Designer software that the company offers because of its ability for students tell stories and then print them out and share! This would be a great tool for history classes to have students interact with history and share their diorama with the class!
Gifted & Talented Students
Screenshot from hoagiesgifted.org
Hoagie's Gifted Education Page
This website provides a large list of software and apps that can be used to challenge and engage the gifted and talented learner. This list of programs would be a great resource for rewarding or teaching students who seek the ability to demonstrate logica, problem solving and creative skills!
Prezi
This "zooming" presentation tool offers student the ability to combine creativity with research. Students in my classroom could use this tool to illustrate a concept with media and interaction.
This website provides a large list of software and apps that can be used to challenge and engage the gifted and talented learner. This list of programs would be a great resource for rewarding or teaching students who seek the ability to demonstrate logica, problem solving and creative skills!
Prezi
This "zooming" presentation tool offers student the ability to combine creativity with research. Students in my classroom could use this tool to illustrate a concept with media and interaction.