AT for OT:The Computer

Jennifer L. Kraft, MSSE/Tech for SPED

Education Technology Facilitator, Kennedy Krieger HSSMART Exemplary Educator & Master Trainer

Discovery Educator Network, Member

Discussion Points

• Operating Systems

• Hardware

• Software

• Internet

• Toys/Gaming

Operating Systems

• PC– Windows– Linux

• Apple– Mac

• MS-DOS

PC - Windows

• Microsoft Product• Created in 1985 as an add-on to MS-

DOS• Graphical user interface - based off of

the Macintosh design• 90% of users choose Windows as their

OS• Current version is Vista NOT XP

PC - Linux

• Unix like OS• One of the most prominent examples of open

source development and free software– Anyone can use it, modify it, and distribute it

• Goal of the GNU project is to produce a Unix-compatible operating system consisting entirely of free software, and most general-purpose Linux distributions rely on GNU libraries and tools written to that effect

• GNU Project – GNOME for Special Education

Apple – Mac

• Apple started graphical design interface for operating systems in 1984 – they were first

• Current Version is Mac OS X• “Mac OS X is a multi-user, pre-emptively,

multitasking, Unix-like operating system built on technology that had been developed at NeXT through the second half of the 1980s and up until Apple Computer purchased the company in early 1997”

MS-DOS

• Yes, it still exists• Operating system commercialized by Microsoft• Originally released in 1981• Development was ceased in 2000• “Key product in Microsoft's growth from a programming

languages company to a diverse software development firm, providing the company with essential revenue and marketing resources”

• “Today it is still used in various embedded x86 systems due to its simplistic architecture, minimal memory requirements, and minimal processor speed requirements”

Specialized Hardware

• Switches– Big Red– Jelly Bean

• Mice– Roller Ball– Target Mice

• Touch Screens• Touch Monitors

More Specialized Hardware

• Keyboards– Big Keys Keyboards– Intellikeys

• SMART Technology Products– SMART Board– Sympodium– Airliner Wireless Slates

More SpecializedHardware

• Devices– DynaVox– Vanguard

• Word Processors– Writers– AlphaSmarts

Switches

• Big Red Switch– Produced by AbleNet, Inc.– 5” surface– 5 colors– $43

• Jelly Bean– Produced by AbleNet, Inc.– 2 ½” surface– 5 colors– $43

Mice

• Kid Trac Mouse– Can be purchased from Mayer Johnson– USB or Serial– 2 buttons with a drag lock– $79

• Trackball Mice– Can be purchased at Staples, Walmart, etc.– USB or PS2– Ball in different places– Buttons in different places– $20 - $120

Touch Screens & Touch Monitors

• Touch Screen– Can be purchased from RJ Cooper and Mayer Johnson– Clips onto the screen– Can be put on regular monitors as well as notebook monitors– Acts as the mouse– $200 - $300

• Touch Monitors– Can be purchased through Mayer Johnson– Touch Screen is built in– LCD Monitor– 15” and 17”– $619 - $889

Keyboards – Big Keys

• Big Keys Keyboard– ABC or QWERTY set-up– Black with white, white with black, or colors– 1” square keys – 4 X larger than normal– $159 - $179– USB Adapter $19– Can be used with Mac or Windows

Keyboard – Intellikeys

• Can be purchased from Intellitools and RJ Cooper– Programmable keyboard– Can be customized to any program– Comes with standard overlays:

• Mouse movement• Numbers• Letters

– $395

SMART Technology

• SMART Board– Giant Touch Screen– 3 Types:

• Rear Projection• Front Projection• For flat-panel displays

– Write notes and save for later– Control the computer from the screen– Range of sizes and costs

SMART Technology

• Sympodium– Designed for presentations– Use a pen to control what is occurring on the

screen– I feel better for students with special needs– What is projected on screen, is also on the

sympodium– 3 different devices

SMART Technology

• Airliner Wireless Slate– Blank whiteboard– Wireless– Has overlays for some of the pages– This is what they target for special needs– What is projected is not what is on the slate– One size– Fairly cheap

Devices

• DynaVox– Number of Different Devices– Step Scan or Direct Access– May contain Universal Controls– Can hook-up to computer to use when word processing,

searching the Internet, etc.

• Vanguard– Number of Different Devices as well– Step Scan or Direct Access– May contain Universal Controls– Can hook-up to computer to use when word processing,

searching the Internet, etc.

Word Processors

• AlphaSmart– 3 Different types

• AlphaSmart• Dana• Neo

– Rugged– Transfers information to computer– Can be carried with student– Long battery life

• Writers– Similar to AlphaSmart– Can give a level to writing– Includes games– Can create spelling lists

Software:Writing

• Boardmaker Plus• Classroom Suite• Clicker 5• Writing With Symbols 2000• Microsoft Word• Co:Writer• Write:OutLoud• WordQ• SpeakQ for WordQ

Boardmaker Plus

• Interactive Boardmaker• Much friendlier to program than Intellitools• Don’t need disc to run, just to start• Lots of templates to get you started• Just change templates – don’t recreate if you

don’t have to!• Examples:

– Book– Recipe

• Purchase from Mayer Johnson

Intellitools Classroom Suite

• IntelliPics, IntelliMath, and IntelliStudio combined into one

• Don’t recreate – use IntelliShare or Templates• Can use IntelliKeys with this• Intellitools is creator - $299.95• Examples

– Puzzle– Book

Clicker 5

• Similar to Boardmaker Plus and Classroom Suite

• Can be used for higher functioning students• Personally prefer…• Purchase through Crick - $199• Examples

– Hungry Caterpillar– Organizer

Writing With Symbols 2000

• WWS 2000 is a program with three primary purposes: • Allows teachers and parents to make picture materials • Allows individuals who don't recognize text to write with

pictures • Allows text users to have a talking word processing

program with a pictorial spell checker• Purchase through Mayer Johnson - $199• Examples

– Fact Sheet

Microsoft Word

• Yes, Microsoft Word has some special features!!!– Create Templates

• Your students will never have to “Save As” again!– Create Forms

• Drop Downs• Text Boxes• Check Boxes

– Auto Text (Typing Shortcuts)• kki = Kennedy Krieger Institute• tx = Thank you

– See Handout for More!!!!

Co:Writer

• Word prediction program

• Uses Linguistic Word Prediction™ intelligence

• Has topic dictionaries

• You can create your own topic dictionaries as well

• Purchase from Don Johnston - $325

Write:OutLoud

• Talking word processor• Allows students to hear what they’ve

written• Helps them make corrections• Typically write more• Purchase through Don Johnston - $99• Pair it with Co:Writer to make the

students more successful

WordQ

• Similar to Co:Writer• We’ve had more success• Suggests words for you to use • Provides spoken feedback to help you

find mistakes • Carefully thought-out design with only

essential functions • Purchase through Quillsoft - $185

SpeakQ for WordQ

• Plug-in for Word Q• Adds the benefit of writing by speaking• Can train SpeakQ to recognize your speech using texts

provided that match your reading level or you can write your own training texts

• Innovative training interface makes training simple. Just listen to the computer speak and repeat after it!

• Two Dictation Modes:– Speak and select - spoken words are displayed as a list of

choices enhanced by word predictions; select from the list of words or phrases, or type letters to further refine the suggestions

– Speak continuously - spoken words are typed directly into your document as you say them

Software:Reading

• Kurzweil 3000

• Read Please Toolbar

• eReader

• Aspire Reader

• Jaws

• PDF Aloud

• Read & Write Gold

Kurzweil 3000

• “Comprehensive reading, writing and learning software solution for any struggling reader, including individuals with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder or those who are English Language Learners”

• Scan Documents into program– Highlight information– Find out definitions– Use a thesaurus– Take notes– Teachers can input notes for students– So much more

• Very expensive• Can be used during some high-stakes testing as an

accommodation

ReadPlease

• Developer of award-winning text-to-speech software for Windows® based operating systems.

• Reads any text you see on your screen - all purpose text-to-speech software.

• ReadPlease is free• ReadPlease Plus is $59.95

– Low vision large controls option – Fast forward and backward – Highlights text while reading – Dock Mode - will dock at the top of the screen – Add your own words and pronunciations – Play can start anywhere in a document – Adjustable pause between paragraphs – Hot-key controls for all functions – AT&T Natural Voices compatible – More languages (Lernout & Hauspie Voices),

eReader

• eBook store with 17,000 titles

• Can create your own eBooks

• eReader is software

• eReader Pro and eReader Studio have costs associated (sale at time of creation)

• Can use on Smartphones

• Has educational purchasing programs

Aspire Reader

• Developed by CAST – Center for Applied Special Technology

• Three modules:– Digital Talking Book Player

• Provides access to DAISY 3.0, NIMAS, and DAISY 2.02 books via human-recorded or computer-generated speech.

– Accessible Web Browser• Reads any W3C- or Section 508-compliant webpage

– Accessible Editor• Allows users to create and read Rich Text documents

• Many other features

JAWS

• Most popular screen reader worldwide • Provide access to today’s software applications and the Internet• The JAWS interactive talking installation makes it easy to get

started without sighted assistance. • Supports all standard Windows® applications without the need to do

special configurations. • Enhanced support has been added for today’s most popular

applications, including Microsoft® Office, Corel WordPerfect® Office, and IBM Lotus® Notes®.

• Supports Internet Explorer with special features: links lists, frames lists, forms mode, reading HTML tables and graphic labels and more.

• Includes a unique scripting language for further customization with nonstandard Windows applications and proprietary software.

• New tools for easier customization without the need to write scripts.

PDF Aloud

• Plug-in to Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader which allows accessible PDF files to be read with synthesized speech

• Individual words can be read with the text being highlighted, paragraphs or the entire document can be read in one session

Read & Write Gold

• Features –– Speech feedback – Spanish Translator   – RealSpeak human quality voices  – Speaking phonetic spell checker – Audible Homophone support – Context speech enabled word prediction – Audible Dictionary with sample sentences – Word Wizard – Scanning from paper or a saved image   – Pronunciation Tutor   – Speech Input – Speech Maker for portable text e.g. MP3   – Fact Finder quick specific web searches   – Fact Folder stores your collected data   – One word display with speech feedback – Speech enabled calculator  – Logging of student progress  – Internet compatible

• Very expensive – has books to go with it

Software:Organization

• Inspiration/Kidspiration

• SMART Ideas

• Gliffy.com

• Time Liner

Inspiration -Kidspiration

• Allows students to create diagrams or outlines• Can add hyperlinks to websites or files• Students can add notes to information located in

diagrams• Includes many templates• 8.0 includes text-to-speech option• Picture supports as well• Purchase from resellers or order from Inspiration - $70 -

$100• Examples

– China– Around the World in 80 Days

SMART Ideas

• Similar to Inspiration

• Students can create graphic organizers and Outlines

• Does not have text-to-speech

• Made to work with SMART Boards

• Purchase from Smart Technologies - $100

Gliffy.com

• Website that provides the opportunity to create diagrams and outlines

• Benefit is that the work can be shared via the internet

• Has some tools to work on design options

• Free!!!!!

• Go to website - Gliffy

Time Liner

• Visually organize information on a time line or number line

• Organize any type of sequential information - from hourly to yearly to geologic, or create a custom number line

• Multiple vertical and horizontal display formats • Publish through Tom Snyder Productions - $75• Example:

– The Chinese Dynasties

Software:Multimedia

• unitedstreaming

• PowerPoint/Keynote

• PhotoStory 3/iPhoto

• Movie Maker/iMovie

• Audacity/Garage Band

• iTunes

unitedstreaming

• Digital video-based learning resource for schools

• Library contains:– 5,000 Full length videos– 50,000 Video Clips– Images– Sounds– Articles

• Download and play resources• Closed Captioning available

PowerPoint –Keynote – SMART

Notebook• Presentation programs• PowerPoint – PC; Keynote – Mac; SMART

Notebook – multiple operating systems – used with SMART Board

• Considered persuasion technology• Text, graphics, movies, and other objects are

positioned on individual pages or "slides" • Many people misuse – as I am today – make it

interactive!!!!

PhotoStory 3 - iPhoto

• iPhoto allows you to import, organize, edit, print and share digital photos

• Both allow you to create slideshows that incorporate images, music, and narration

• iPhoto is a part of Mac’s iLife• PhotoStory 3 is a free download• Examples:

– Introduction

Movie Maker - iMovie

• Video editor that can be used with digital video• Film capture by a digital camera via FireWire is

automated, with both programs allowing users to chop up their videos, add special effects, and reorganize them

• Can utilize videos from unitedstreaming or other videos that are on your hard drive

• Movie Maker is part of Windows XP• iMovie is part of iLife

– Example: DEN Commercial

Audacity - Garageband

• Music-creation and podcasting application

• Garageband contains 1000 pre-recorded loops

• Garageband is part of iLife for Macs

• Audacity is a free, Open Source, cross platform digital audio editor

iTunes

• Digital music (and more recently video) jukebox that handles MP3 and AAC music files, MPEG-4 and H.264 video files as well as other media formats

• Synchronizes music• iTunes can be downloaded for free, but

music and videos must be purchased• There are also several other digital music

jukebox

Internet

• Open Source

• Multiple Resources

• World Wide Wow!

• Don’t be afraid to use it, you never know what you’ll find!

Open Source

• Web 2.0

• Wikis

• Blogs

• Podcasts

Web 2.0

• Phrase coined by O’Reilly Media in 2004• Second-generation of Internet-based services -

such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools, and folksonomies

• Allow people collaborate and share information online in previously unavailable ways

• Can also be considered the Read/Write Web as you can easily update or make changes to many of the technologies considered Web 2.0

• EVERYONE can participate in some form or another!!!!

Wikis

• Collaborative Webspace where anyone can add content and anyone can edit content that has already been published.

• Can be password protected• Wikis are being used to create textbooks and

resource sites• Great way to get students involved in research

projects!• Wiki for my staff• Wikispaces is giving away free Wikis to

Educators – sign up now!!!!

Blogs

• “Easily created, easily updateable Websites that allow an author (or authors) to publish instantly to the Internet from any Internet connection.”

• Can be interactive – Students and teachers can converse (like a

discussion board)– Add to information already published

• Beginning of 2006, technorati.com listed almost 25 million blogs

• Adding over 70,000 new blogs and 1 million posts per day!!!! (That’s a lot of writing going on!)

Blogs

• My blog

• Student’s Poetry Blog

• Free Blog Sites:– Blogger– Class Blogmeister

• Free• Set-up through David Warlick’s Landmark Project• Most protected

Podcasts

• Allows students to “write” in different media.• Students can become part of the Read/Write or

Web 2.0 craze.• Audio/video files are easily published and

distributed via the Internet.• Lectures can be recorded and podcasted or

vlogged for students who need to hear/see things more than once.

• Room 208 – was a ¾ class that created their own Podcasts and a vlog on how to Podcast!

Resources

• Wikipedia – yes I use it• Bloglines – Blog Aggregator• Delicious – My Social Bookmark Site• Book:

– Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson

• Closing the Gap – Resource for adaptive technology

• Education Podcast Network – Developed by David Warlick

Toys

• Leap Pad Products– LMax– LittleTouch Leap Pad– Leapster TV– Leap Pad Plus Writing– Leap Frog Fridge Magnets

• Read With Me DVD

• InteracTV DVD

Gaming

• Teamspeak– Allows people to speak with each other over the

Internet– Used in Role-Playing games such as World of

Warcraft for players to speak with one another while they are playing the game

– Alleviates typing during game play– Meet my “Crew” the “Noseless Marauders”

• Can also use Ventrilo– One staff member says clearer and more options