Adaptive assistive technology
- 1. H E L P I N G E V E RY S T U D E N T S U C C E E D ADAPTIVE/ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
- 2. ADAPTIVE/ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY Adaptive and assistive technology is used to help students with disabilities. The technology helps not only those with cognitive and physical disabilities but also those with sensory disabilities and the gifted and talented. What follows is a couple of suggestions to use with students in the Language Arts Classroom in each of five areas: Cognitive, Physical, Sensory, At Risk, Talented and Gifted.
- 3. STUDENTS WITH COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES • Co:Writer is a word prediction software that works in conjunction with any application you write in like MS Word, Web Browsers, Google Docs, Blogs and Email. • This can be used to help students write papers and assignments.
- 4. STUDENTS WITH COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES • Reading pens are a text to speech tool that allows students to hear the text they see. • This tool can be used by students that struggle with reading. It will help increase comprehension and understanding of the text. Because the students see the text as they move the pen over it they are able to see as well as here the text.
- 5. STUDENTS WITH PHYSICAL DIFFICULTIES • Dragon for Education is a speech to text software that lets students type without worrying about spelling and structure. Students that struggle with typing or writing would use this software. • Dragon would be use to help students navigate the web as well as write papers. Dragon would help students focus on the content rather than the mechanics of writing.
- 6. STUDENTS WITH PHYSICAL DIFFICULTIES • Enabling devices is a website that has many different types of products teachers, parents and students can use to help physically disabled individuals. • Enabling devices have a number of products that can help students communicate in a classroom setting allowing them to participate in classroom discussions.
- 7. STUDENTS WITH SENSORY DIFFICULTIES • Screen readers allow students with poor vision to see the computer screen easier. • Computers are an important part of our society today, by allowing students with vision impairment problems to see the computer screen it will help them navigate the web when conduction research on different topic for papers.
- 8. STUDENTS WITH SENSORY DIFFICULTIES • Audio Enhancement is company that installs assisted audio technology in the classrooms. This will allow student that have hearing impairments to hear the teacher clearly. • When students are able to hear the teacher and other students clearly they are able to comprehend the material faster and easier. This is helps the students in a discussion setting.
- 9. AT RISK STUDENTS • One of the challenges of teaching At Risk students is to keep them engaged in the content. Brain Pop is a website that contains many interactive videos and games to help keep kids engaged. • Students will use Brain Pop as a way to learn or refresh skills they need to complete various assignments. They can get help with anything from grammar to critical thinking skills.
- 10. AT RISK STUDENTS • At Risk students need help staying organized. Edmodo provides a platform for students to keep all their assignments and information in one place. • Edmodo will help students by keeping a calendar of assignments and when they are due as well as a place to contact teachers.
- 11. GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS • Talented and gifted students often get overlooked. These students need to be challenged beyond the normal classroom activities. Programs such as Destination Imagination provide such challenges. • Students who participate in Destination Imagination will be able to work together in a group and communicate their ideas more effectively. This will help them in the Language arts classroom when engaging in classroom discussion over literature.
- 12. GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS • One way to engage students is by offering more advance classes. One way to do this is through online course work. One such place is The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) • Duke TIP will help Language Arts students by exposing them to more rigorous content in the Language Arts area.