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The Promise of Assistive Technology for English Language Learners

This article explores the potential of assistive technology in supporting English language learners. It discusses universal design principles, the use of technology in creating inclusive classrooms, and the benefits of assistive technology for diverse learners. It also provides examples of assistive technology tools and their implications for ESL education.

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The Promise of Assistive Technology for English Language Learners

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  1. The Promise of Assistive Technology for English Language Learners Carol Berndt ESL Specialist Calgary Board of Education cjberndt@cbe.ab.ca Success for all Students

  2. Alberta Education’s 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 today’s 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

  7. 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

  8. 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.

  9. 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

  10. Technology Enhanced Solutions • Portable Laptops • Dedicated Word Processors (Alpha Smarts, Neo, Dana) • Specialized Portable Hand-held Devices • PDA’s,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

  11. 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

  12. Understanding Assistive Technology • Telus 2 Learn: assistive technology tools http://www.2learn.ca/teachertools/Assistivetech/assisttools.html • Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (U of T): Glossary http://atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=4&Itemid=9

  13. Grammatical Support Tools http://atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=9 Optical Character Recognition/Reading http://atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=9

  14. Speech to Text/Voice Recognition http://atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=9 http://atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=9 Text to Speech http://atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=9

  15. C.B.E. Initiatives: • Assistive Technology and mLearning: Supporting English as a Second LanguageLearners http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/sss/ilscommunity/learningspaces/assistive-mlearning.asp • AlphaSmart Neo Projecthttp://projects.cbe.ab.ca/sss/ilscommunity/learningspaces/assistive-alphasmart.asp • Assistive Technology Toolkits http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/sss/ilscommunity/learningspaces/assistive-toolkit.asp

  16. Software Pilots: Dyned http://www.dyned.com/education/ • Let’s 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/

  17. Software Pilots Rosetta Stone Azar Interactive Read and Write, Gold

  18. 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)

  19. 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

  20. Accessibility Options • Accessibility options within Windowscomputers (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 Macintoshcomputers (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/

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

  22. Telecollaborative Projects • http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/about_projects.html • http://www.2learn.ca/Projects/Together/curricul.html

  23. Curriculum Resources Berit’s 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/

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

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

  26. 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/

  27. 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.toptenreviews.com/ • Learn Vocabulary Software Reviews (top ten) http://vocabulary-software-review.toptenreviews.com /

  28. Recommendations (Deborah Healey) • A Place to Start in Selecting Software http://oregonstate.edu/~healeyd/cj_software_selection.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/elementary.html

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