Tech Tip
Hold down the CTRL key on the keyboard while simultaneously turning the scroll key on your mouse and one can easily enlarge screen text.....in any application!
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August 31, 2006
August 30, 2006
Magnetic wipe-off boards offer error-free ways for all students to participate
If you provide a small, magnetic wipe-off board to each student in the class, students can interact with concepts and practice skills in the large group with little concern for making big mistakes! In addition to acting as individual response boards for informal student assessment, the small dry-erase boards can be used for sorting and classifying.
For instance, the class discusses what the word "freedom" means, and students are asked to provide examples of freedom. On their small markerboards, they draw a picture or write a few words to illustrate the concept of "freedom." Students can erase as much as they want, use dry-erase stamp sets, and use peel-off stickers. The teachers can redirect and guide students as they work. Students then stick their magnetic boards to the main board and explain to the class what they wrote or illustrated. When it comes time to sort the boards into personal freedom and public/group freedom, any student can move the concepts around in the way they think is best, with no need to write--just re-stick on the board under a different heading! Also, no "error" or changed decision is difficult because the markerboard can simply be moved under a different hearding. The resulting graphic organizer can be copied down by students or could easily be digitally photographed, photocopied, and added to student notebooks.
Boone makes 5"x8" markerboards that are also magnetic and come in sets of 4, so 6 sets would outfit most classrooms. Want to make your own? Try laminating large index cards and sticking heavy-duty business card-sized magnets (available at office supply stores cheaply) to the back.
August 28, 2006
Your classroom is a cookbook! Technology recipes to assist students!
Tech4Learning has a wonderful resource, Recipe4Success, for supporting teachers and students using technology in the classroom. This resource includes software tutorials and guides for particular features, tools for creating graphic organizers or rubrics, as well as a multitude of many other resources available for free once your subscribe. This resource will save you lots of time and will allow your students to become more self-directed learners and better cooks! You need to check it out! Go to http://www.myt4l.com/
August 25, 2006
Worried that students have too many devices to keep track of?
iPod/Cell Phone/PDA Centralized Charging Station
From www.welovemacs.com:
I’ve got so many rechargeable gadgets, I can’t keep all the rechargers straight. So now I organize them in Recharging HQ PowerStation. Open the lid, and an internal power strip lets you plug in up to 3 recharging transformers, without consuming 3 wall sockets. You need only plug HQ PowerStation into the wall to get power. Circuit protection guards against voltage/surge overload. Deep well inside has plenty of room for tall transformers, and for excess lengths of cord. Just feed the recharging cords out the slots, and plug into your devices. Adjustable dividers on top lid firmly hold personal electronics in place...So you’ll feel organized, not out of control!
Might be something to suggest at an IEP meeting for students who use these tech items, but are chronic misplacers. Placement of an organizer like this (some versions are mahogany, others have nifty drawers and shelves) next to the front door, with a hook attached for house and/or car keys would support students in walking in the front door at home, setting the tech items to charge, hanging the keys, and knowing that they'll be there when they're needed during HW time or early the next morning!
August 23, 2006
Accessible Graphing Calculators
Recently we searched for a graphing calculator (such as the TI-83/84/89) that has large keys...the bad news (and ideas for dealing with the issue) comes from CATEA, the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (http://www.catea.org/quickrefguides/guides/Calculators.php):
This is a highly sought product that, unfortunately, is not yet available. The only current option is to use a computer-based program that emulates the calculator, along with an appropriate keyboard. Computer software options include:- TI InterActive! is a software version of the TI-83 graphing calculator. It is available from Texas Instruments for about $50.
- The Larsen Interactive Pre-calculus CD ROM series includes tutorials for algebra, college algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus. All CD-ROM's have a built-in graphing calculator with TI82 or TI83 functions as part of the package. It is available from Houghton Mifflin Company.
Is there a way that I could feel a graph?
Products exist that convert mathematical data and forms to tactile form. The following are a few examples.
Geometry Tactile Graphics Kit is a set of raised line drawings depicting concepts, figures, and relationships covered in geometry texts. The drawings are embossed in thermoform plastic, and are available from American Printing House for the Blind.
Generate a graph on a scientific graphing calculator program such as Graph-It, then emboss an image of the graph using a braille embosser.
August 22, 2006
What is the status of your AT team?
How successful is your AT team? Do you sometimes feel like you're headed in the right direction but don't know what to do next? Do you need to determine an area in your AT delivery that needs a some improvement?
The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) has developed a short mini-assessment that would be a valuable tool for AT teams to use as a self assessment. It can be used as a guide to further improve your AT delivery. Check it out at this website.
August 21, 2006
Add captions to your photos!
With PhoTag 3 you can easily enhance your photos with Active Captions; create calendars, greeting cards and albums; and organize your photos to share with friends and family without compromising the JPEG format. Think about how you might use this tool in your classroom. What a great way to document classroom and community experiences! I know you will think of a million other ways to use it! Check it out at http://www.photags.com/consumerproducts_photags3.htm#03
August 18, 2006
Light-tech AT for keeping your focus in reading
School's about to start and now is the time to stock up on things that will cost more later!
For students (and any of us) who lose their place when distracted from reading and completing worksheets and forms, have pads of inexpensive sticky notes around the room. Model for students the use of a sticky note to "hold your place" while reading out of a book or off of a printed overhead. "Think aloud" about how you are using the sticky note not just when you walk away from the book or material, but because at any time there may be a distraction (knock at the door, buzzing fly, polite question interrupting, need to scan a list of questions for which one to answer next from the text) that would break your concentration. Think aloud for your students also about the amount of time you are saving by having the placeholder (not having to scan the whole page again when your eyes return to it) and how it serves double duty as a secure bookmark in a textbook (won't fall out).
August 16, 2006
Universal design in higher education
A national movement has been underway to advance the understanding and adoption of universal design in postsecondary settings. The Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), http://www.ahead.org sponsors several initiatives on this topic. In particular they have a E-Text Solutions Group that meets regularly and offers a number of useful web resources on this topic such as general sources on E-Text at http://www.ahead.org/etext/Sources/SourcesofEtext.doc
August 15, 2006
Assistive Technology Planning Tool
How many times have you worked with an IEP team to determine appropriate AT for a student, purchased it and then discovered that it was never used; it's still in the box because no one got the training; etc.?
The National Assistive Technology Research Institute (NATRI) has developed the Assistive Technology Planner to help IEP teams to monitor the status of the assistive technology used with individual students, as well as who is responsible for training, maintenance and evaluation. Just think, if the planner followed the student throughout his school career, educators and families would be able to make more informed decisions about the assistive technology needs of the student. The planner will be available through the Technology and Media Division (TAM) of CEC at http://www.tamcec.org
To see the planner go to: http://natri.uky.edu/atPlannermenu.html
August 14, 2006
Easy to Make Literacy/Choice cube
The choice/literacy cube is a piece of "low tech" assistive technology that has many uses. Some of the uses for the choice/literacy cube can include:
*Pick a friend to play with
*Choose a center
*Select a song or story for circle time
*Pick a color
*Pick a reward
*Identify animals and sounds
*Act out/or identify prepositions
*Review vocabulary words
Manufactured choice cubes are available through a variety of sources that sell assistive technology. However, we were able to make a smaller version through the use of a photo cube template from http://www.trivista.com/products/downloads.htm.
Using the copy machine, we copied the template onto card stock. We then adhered the card stock template to tempo loop fabric. Cut out the pattern. Attached sticky back hook velcro and folded. PRESTO!! You're done.
August 11, 2006
Conversation with an AT and adaptive media consultant
We like the Savvy Technologist enough to wander through his old postings--and struck gold!
In a 2005 posting, the Savvy Technologist interviewed Earle Harrison, an assistive technology consultant and owner of Triumph Technology, a source for adaptive technology and adaptive media solutions. They talked about universal design, assistive technology, and accessible Web design. Earle mentioned many different hardware and software products during the conversation, including:
* macvisionaries.com
* FreedomBox products including the Key To Freedom
* BrailleSense notetaker
* Kurzweil Educational Systems
* Mobile Speak
* StreetTalk GPS software
* JAWS for Windows screen reader
* Windows-Eyes screen reader
* Building Accessible Websites (With CD-ROM) by Joe Clark
* Constructing Accessible Web Sites by Jim Thatcher
Interested? Click on the link to hear the podcast of their conversation (http://technosavvy.org/?p=298)
August 10, 2006
Speech Access on TTACOnline and VCU TTAC
Interested in browsing the web with speech support. BrowseAloud from TextHELP, http://www.texthelp.com provides a user follow along speech access anywhere the mouse pointer resides on screen. This can be especially helpful to any user with a reading difficulty....or for some of us who just have tired eyes :>) VDOE's TTACOnline, http://www.ttaconline.org and TTAC @ VCU, http://www.vcu.edu/ttac provide this access free to any user browsing these sites. What the user must do however is download the BrowseAloud plugin to their computer. The link to this resource is available on both TTACOnline and VCU TTAC. Enjoy speech enabled surfing!
August 9, 2006
Even more adaptations
Try these monitor adaptations...also from the Making the Connections Conference at Virginia Tech.
*Attach a pad of post-it-notes to the side of the monitor to let students know their assignment or instructions.
*Mount a sheet magnifier on the monitor
*Use a TV swivel for adjusting the position of the monitor.
Document holders:
Attach chip clips to the monitor with Velcro to hold the documents
Use a clothespin and attach document to a plastic picture frame or three ring binder
Use a Word frame or color line for tracking
August 8, 2006
Look...more cheap adaptations
Looking for mouse adaptations? Try these also from the Making the Connections '06 Conference at Virginia Tech.
*Turn the mose pad over to slow down mouse speed
*Create a mouse house from a video case or 3 ring binder: http://lburhkart.com/mhouse.htm
*Glue a button (or anything with texture) to the mouse button
*Attach velcro to the side of the monitor to make a mouse holder
*Trackball--upside down mouse
*Disable to right mouse key by using the functions in the control panel.
Monitor adaptations tomorrow!!
August 7, 2006
New Screen Reading Software from the UK
Thunder, a new talking screen reader is available free for personal home use by people who are blind or have limited vision from http://www.screenreader.net. Organizations that wish to enable this service for users must pay a modest subscription fee.
Look...Little money involved keyboard adaptations
Do you need to adapt a computer keyboard for a specialized need? Try one of these suggestions we picked up at the AT and Aug Com -Making the Conections '06 conference at Virginia Tech.
*Create enlarged letter stick-ons using Avery coding labels in bright colors
*Add texture to the keys by sticking sandpaper, felt, stick-on earrings or jewels
*Try dicem, self liner, slip stop (for rugs) or even Wikki Sticks to hold keyboards in place.
*Use a shoe box lid to create a keyguard: simply cut out holes to correspond to keys. For more time and expense involved use Plexiglass and use foam along edges of the keyboard to raise the keyguard off the keyboard. Make a photo copy of the keyboard in order to make a template prior to cutting your material.
More tomorrow about mouse adaptations.
August 4, 2006
More ideas for AT use in instruction
Interesting posting on the website for Sabine Parish, LA: A quick checklist for determining student-specific modifications (http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/standards/CSmchecklis.htm). Some good ideas for us AT-minded folks!
Only one note: many of the "modifications" they list are things I would see not as modifications, but as accommodations or simply differentiated or alternate instruction...
August 3, 2006
We've been playing with Wikki Stix...
...because we can't stop brainstorming uses for the wax-covered yarn and are so glad to see even more ideas posted online at wikkistix.com:
...and the manufacturer's site now posts occupational therapy uses for the cool light-tech learning tools (http://www.wikkistix.com/otuses.htm) as well as general educational uses (http://www.wikkistix.com/educational.htm).
August 2, 2006
Free Software that Supports Reading
Several companies provide downloads of a free read aloud software program. ReadPlease, http://www.readingbar.com will read any text on your screen and simply requires the user to cut and paste the text into the reading window. Variety of voice, voice speed, and font size are also included. Natural Reader, http://www.naturalreaders.com/download.htm offers a free onscreen reader that will read selected text from a document or from the web. The Professional version of both these products is available for a small fee and provides additional features. For example, Natural Reader's professional version provides conversion from text to MP3 and a toolbar to read all Office products. Premier Assistive provides a third free read aloud program known as The E-Text Reader, http://www.premier-programming.com/elib/etext_reader.htm.
August 1, 2006
AT article perfect for those entering collaborative classrooms
Virginia's own Jane Quenneville wrote an article in 2001 that still reads well 5 years later: Tech Tools for Students with Learning Disabilities: Infusion into Inclusive Classrooms is available at http://www.ldonline.org/article/6380. In the article she hits on talking word processors, word prediction, portable note-taking devices, prewriting organizers, and multimedia prewriting prompts.