assistive technology tools to support students with special needs in writing

Rebecca, Melissa & Pamela

Overview Presentation for

K – 8 Classroom Teachers

Assistive TechnologyTools to Support Students With Special

Needs in Writing

Click on the Screen to proceed to the next screen.Click on the Screen to proceed to the next screen.

“Assistive technology is any technology that allows one to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of an individual with special learning needs (Edyburn, 2000). Its applications and adaptations can help open doors to previously inaccessible learning opportunities for many children with special needs (Judge, 2001).” 1

Learning Disabilities are life-long conditions that do not go away but can be compensated for using areas of strength and with successful use of accommodations such as technology.2

1 Education For All, 2005 page 127

2 Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario Click on the Screen to proceed to the next screen.Click on the Screen to proceed to the next screen.

Rationale

OSAPAC (Ontario Software Acquisition OSAPAC (Ontario Software Acquisition Program Advisory Committee)Program Advisory Committee)

OSAPAC is a committee of English and French representatives from across Ontario who advise the Ministry of Education on the acquisition of licenses for publicly funded schools in Ontario.

All schools in Ontario receive approved software titles from the provincial licensing, OESS (Ontario Educational Software Service) provided by TVO.

The software selected are available in disk form from school teacher or technology resource services. Many software will already be available on school networks.


Education for All, p 129

How Assistive Technology Can How Assistive Technology Can Benefit Learning Disabled StudentsBenefit Learning Disabled Students

Students gain motivation and confidence

It builds skills applicable to future studies and careers

Students enjoy using it

It builds on individual strengths


Students accomplish higher rates of learning and improved achievement

Students complete academic tasks independently, including tasks they might not otherwise be able to handle unaided, leading to a greater sense of self-worth

Assistive Technology Software ProgramsAssistive Technology Software Programs

A simple talking word processor providing speech feedback A simple talking word processor providing speech feedback for students as they type. (Gr. 1 – 8)for students as they type. (Gr. 1 – 8)

A word prediction software and vocabulary tool that is used A word prediction software and vocabulary tool that is used along with standard processing software. It provides along with standard processing software. It provides assistance with vocabulary, sentence construction, and assistance with vocabulary, sentence construction, and spelling. ( K – 8)spelling. ( K – 8)

Click on any of the Software Titles to get more information or Click on any of the Software Titles to get more information or THIS BOX to proceed to the end of the slide show.THIS BOX to proceed to the end of the slide show.

Write: Out Loud

Co: Writer 4000

Clicker 5

Kid Pix 4

A powerful talking word processor and multimedia tool to support A powerful talking word processor and multimedia tool to support student reading and writing. (Gr. 1 – 8)student reading and writing. (Gr. 1 – 8)

A publishing program with the ability to produce a slideshow or for A publishing program with the ability to produce a slideshow or for teachers to insert forms for student use. (K – 8)teachers to insert forms for student use. (K – 8)

SMART Ideas

Concept Mapping

Software that can be used to create graphic organizers such as Software that can be used to create graphic organizers such as Venn Diagrams, Fish Bones, Family Tree & Mind Maps. It is Venn Diagrams, Fish Bones, Family Tree & Mind Maps. It is powerful when used as templates for organizing writing. (K – 12)powerful when used as templates for organizing writing. (K – 12)

Dragon Naturally SpeakingSpeech recognition software that Speech recognition software that transposes user speech into typed text by transposes user speech into typed text by use of a floating tooltip. (Gr. 4 – 12)use of a floating tooltip. (Gr. 4 – 12)

Dragon Naturally SpeakingDragon Naturally Speaking

The ‘spell it’ box allows the student to The ‘spell it’ box allows the student to train words for the software to recognizetrain words for the software to recognize


Benefits to LD students:

•Reduces the need to type (Ideal for fine motor, dysgraphia, dyslexia issues)

•Allows students with high verbal skills to put their ideas into written form effectively (autistic, gifted/LD)

•Once trained, it functions faster and more accurately than typing even for fast talkers and those with speech issues

•Making corrections to documents is relatively easy

•Can be used with other digital media to have text read aloud

F11 Corrections box F11 Corrections box allows the student to allows the student to hear what was dictated, hear what was dictated, and then choose an and then choose an option for hands-free option for hands-free correctionscorrections

Dragon Naturally SpeakingDragon Naturally Speaking


This is a video clip showing This is a video clip showing Dragon Naturally Speaking Dragon Naturally Speaking in Action (4 minutes)in Action (4 minutes)

Considerations:

•It is essential that each student train the Dragon program to recognize his/her individual voice. Initial voice file activation requires generally 1 – 1.5 hours and voice file training takes between 10 – 15 minutes at the beginning of the first 8 – 10 sessions and 1 – 2 minutes thereafter

•Each student must be able to save his/her voice file individually and have a high quality headset. This may require individual memory sticks.

•Software must be used in a relatively quiet location (often a regular classroom has too much background noise)

•There are a number of commands that need to be remembered and used for Dragon to work effectively (see the next screen)

Dragon Naturally Speaking Voice Commands

ACTION SAYTo start a new paragraph NEW PARAGRAPH

To start a new line NEW LINE

To delete a word SELECT + word and then say SCRATCH THAT

To add a word INSERT BEFORE + word and dictate the new word

To correct a recognition / spelling error

1. SELECT and then the word without a pause. CHOOSE and then the number beside the word.

2. SELECT and then the word without a pause. SPELL THAT and then say CHOOSE and the number beside the word.

For a full list of voice and formatting commands click here

Click on this Bar to return to the Assistive Technology Software ProgramsClick on this Bar to return to the Assistive Technology Software Programs

Write: OutloudWrite Outloud is a text-to-speech software application that uses realistic synthesized voices. Students receive speech feedback as they write.

Write Outloud has the basic functions of any word processor along with many helpful features to help individual students in the writing process.

Use the Read function as a communication tool, or use the Speech Feedback to check spelling as you type. Students with learning disabilities may find the Talking Dictionary helpful to have word definitions read to them.

Many students benefit significantly from listening to the words being spoken as they read, and Write Outloud enhances the experience further by highlighting each word as it is spoken.


Write: Out LoudWrite: Out Loud

Easily cycle through font and background colours for students with visual impairments

Speed and voices Speed and voices can be changed.can be changed.

Teachers can import files Teachers can import files for students to type directly for students to type directly into (assessments)into (assessments)


Teachers can import files Teachers can import files for students to listen to for students to listen to aloud (any digital text)aloud (any digital text)


•Overall appearance can be modified as needed (visual impairment)

•Simple to learn with no distractions

•For use with high functioning LD students, those with spelling issues, fine motor or dysgraphia

•Use during assessments (teacher inputs text)

•Can import materials from internet and other digital sources to have text read aloud to the student

Font size and colour can be changed

Considerations:

•Students need to be able to type and generate ideas

•Not as effective for use by non-verbal LD or those who have difficulty generating ideas

Write: Outloud Tutorials

Using the Talking Dictionary (32 seconds)Learn how to use the Talking Dictionary tool

Spell Check (56 seconds)Learn the different functions of the Spell Check tool.

Reading e-Text (1 min, 14 seconds)Learn how to read any piece of text from the Internet, a scanner, or a typed document.

Adjusting the Appearance (1 min, 58 seconds)Prepare the writing environment by adjusting the font size, style and colour, and establishing the cue for misspelled words.


Clicker 5

Teachers can create and/or change Teachers can create and/or change word lists from which students use to word lists from which students use to create written materials.create written materials.



•Useful for lower functioning (DD, MID, Autistic) or primary-age non-verbal LD students who have trouble generating vocabulary / ideas

•Use the pictures and words for context clues when writing

•Teachers can create / change word lists to make them level, grade, or subject specific

•Older non-verbal LD students could use Clicker 5 for subject specific writing (history, geography, science, social studies)

•Students with fine motor issues

•Can import other pictures from other digital sources

Clicker 5 This link will take you to a

website to watch a demonstration video showing how to create a simple word bank grid and link it to a writing file.

Click on the Clicker 5 graphic to connect to the Video (6:30 min)You can also access a 10

minute Clicker 4 tutorial (as a power point show) downloaded from OSAPAC Learning Materials on our main Power Point view #3194

Clicker4

PowerPoint Show

(see in view #3194)


Kid Pix Deluxe 4 for Schools

User’s Guide: Kid Pix Deluxe 4 for Schools p. 3 Click on the Screen to proceed to the next screen.Click on the Screen to proceed to the next screen.


•Multi-media includes pictures, animations, voice, colours, sounds, music and read-back features and the ability to connect all together in one visual form

•The teacher can create templates for students to use

•Teacher can control graphic libraries (limit some choices so as not to overwhelm)

•The teacher can add verbal instructions for LD student to listen to at each individual pace (& relisten for clarification)

•Available help movies provide assistance at each child’s pace

•Slideshows can be exported as QuickTime movies to allow for presentations (ie story books).

Kid Pix 4 Kid Pix 4

Paint featurePaint feature

Stamp featureStamp feature

Sticker featureSticker feature


This is an example of an This is an example of an available template for available template for teachers to use.teachers to use.

AnimationsAnimations

Sounds / MusicSounds / Music

BackgroundsBackgrounds

Keep clicking on the Keep clicking on the screen to see all the screen to see all the featuresfeatures

Kid Pix If you have downloaded

the KP.exe from our main slideshow view (#3194), you can then view an example of a 6 year old’s story (Amy’s Story) as a slideshow with animation and sound by clicking on the link called Amy’s story.kpp (view #3194)

You can then play around in Kid Pix and create your own show.


Amy's story.kppAmy’s Story.kpp

Co: Writer 4000

Sentences are first Sentences are first typed into the support typed into the support box at the bottom of box at the bottom of the document and then the document and then inserted into the main inserted into the main document above after document above after it is read back aloud.it is read back aloud.

Can customize the number of Can customize the number of words suggested (1 – 10) & words suggested (1 – 10) & frequency of suggestions. frequency of suggestions.



•Software works on top of other processing software then the student deals with additional appearance features – the ideas come first

•Topic dictionaries provide word drop down windows for vocabulary assistance and idea generation

•Students hear back their typed words and ideas (good for verbal LD)

•Assists any writer who struggles with the mechanics of written output and students who have spelling, vocabulary or written expression issues

Co: Writer 4000


Click to see a Reference Guide for Co: Writer 4000 & Write: Outloud

You can access a 7 page (pdf) Co: Writer Getting Started Guide from our the Power Point Show Course View (Note # 3194)

The main feature of Co: Writer 4000 is that it alllows the user to write complete sentences with very few key strokes. It produces a list of predicted words that grows and changes as you add typed letters to each word. It is has a 1000 word core dictionary and over 40 000 words in the Advanced Writers’ Dictionary. There are also many topic specific dictionaries such as Dinosaurs or Harry Potter.

Click on any of these tutorials to become more familiar with this software

(3 mins, 27 seconds)

Using Writer Files

Using Topic Dictionaries

(2 mins, 50 seconds)(2 mins, 6 seconds)

Introduction to CoWriter

Write: Outloud & Co: Writer References

Co: Writer – Write Outloud Reference Manual (15 pgs PDF)Provides instructions for use and special features including those for special needs students


SMART Ideas Concept Mapping


Arrows teach the connection between ideas and toward the conclusion

Each shape box pops open to allow the student to directly type in ideas


•Concept mapping helps non-verbal LD learners to pictorially represent the organization of their written ideas BEFORE needing to create sentences (I.e.idea generation)

•Teachers create templates like the one shown using beneficial colour and shape features to help students see groupings/ ideas and arrow lines that show students the organization/direction of the ideas. Students then directly type their ideas into each shape.

•Assists all writers who struggle to organize their ideas or with the connection between ideas

This mapping template is for students to use to organize job notes for an opinion paper

SMART Ideas Concept Mapping

This is a powerpoint that shows what two teachers did in their

classroom using SMART Ideas Concept Mapping. Their junior students wrote stories that were a twist on traditional folk tales. They used Smart Ideas and AppleWorks Presentations to create their stories. They could have used KidPix (for a slide show) or EasyBook (for a printed book) just as easily.

The Real Story – PowerPoint Show is available from the main Power Point Show (View #3194)

Applications for the Classroom


OSAPAC Assistive Technology


The resource locator screen provides teachers with grade specific, cross curricular resources that link to the Ontario Curriculum Expectations. www.osapac.org/dbOESS/ResourceBrowse.asp

These resources can be downloaded easily.

Other OSAPAC Software for Use with Learning Disabled Students in Areas of

WritingGrolier Online: Six database reference collection Cross Curricular Library Gr. 1 – 12 On-line access from home and school for students & teacher

EasyBook Deluxe: Book publishing tool Cross Curricular Writing & Visual Arts Gr. 1 – 6 Write, design, illustrate stories and reports and print in book formats


“The successful use of technology in the classroom will depend on the characteristics of individual students; the outcomes that students need to accomplish; the task that meets the needs of a particular student; and the functional use of the hardware and software.” 3

Click on the Screen to proceed to the next screen.Click on the Screen to proceed to the next screen.3Education for All p. 129

Special Education and classroom teachers need to work together to identify the software program(s) that would best assist each individual student. They need to carefully look at student needs and the results they are trying to achieve.

If you have not taken the opportunity to view one or more of the OSAPAC software, please click below and do so.

Click Here to go back to OSAPAC Software

Click Here to go to the end slide of the presentation

Rebecca, Melissa & Pamela

Thank you for your interestThank you for your interest

We trust this presentation was helpful in providing you with some time We trust this presentation was helpful in providing you with some time to experience a few of the OSAPAC software programs available to to experience a few of the OSAPAC software programs available to

Support Students With Special Needs in Writing.

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assistive technology tools to support students with special needs in writing

Documents

word prediction software

approved software titles

standard processing

careers students

special learning needs

student use

higher rates of learning

technology resource