Assistive Technology in the Classroom

1. Assistive Technology in the Classroom

2. Session 4 Assistive Technology that Supports Learning Intellectual Access Technologies

3. 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?

6. 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

8. 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

9. 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

11. Break Time!

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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?

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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)

19. 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/)

20. 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

21. Break Time!

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

23. 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

24. Software to Support Numeracy • Examples • Number concepts (www.intellitools.com) • MathPad (www.intellitools.com) • Big:Calc (www.donjohnston.com)

25. 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)

26. Software to Support Organization • Examples • Inspiration (www.inspiration.com) • Kidspiration (www.kidspiration.com) • Draft:Builder SE (www.donjohnston.com)

27. 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)

28. For More Information… • Instructional and Assistive Technologies • Children’s Technology Review • www.childrenssoftware.com • Educational Resources • www.edresources.com • Bridges-Canada • www.bridges-canada.com

29. 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)

30. Break Time!

31. 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

32. 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

33. Discussion Forum • In your small group, it’s time to select the assistive technology you think would best support your student’s IEP goals • Review the IEP goals • Look at the descriptions of each of the technologies • Decide which one(s) you think match the student’s needs

34. To think about… • If nothing every changed, there would be no butterflies. • Author unknown

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

36. How are you feeling…? Any Questions?