Teaching Diverse Learners Lorinda Tait, MACCC SLP, Assistive Technology Consultant Lansing School Di

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Teaching Diverse Learners Lorinda Tait, MA-CCC
SLP, Assistive Technology Consultant Lansing
School District

• Regional Technology Academy 2003

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Objectives

• Increase knowledge of universal design for
  learning instruction
• Increase knowledge of AT tools, text readers,
  scanning programs and e-text.
• Learn to use WriteOutLoud, CoWriter, Alpha
  Smart, Speaking Homework Whiz.
• Become aware of Premier Assistive Technologys
  software-Ultimate talking dictionary, Talking
  Word Processor, Scan Read.

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Universal access

• Using technology tools and strategies to provide
  access to critical curriculum and information
  resources in a variety of formats to meet the
  learning needs of students with a broad range of
  abilities.

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Universal Design for Learning

• Students fall along a continuum of learner
  differences.
• Teacher adjustments for learner differences
  should occur for all students.

• Curriculum is varied and diverse including
  digital and online resources rather than a single
  textbook.
• Curriculum should be made flexible to accommodate
  learner differences.

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Converting Curriculum Materials to Digital Form

• A pliable medium can appear as letters on the
  screen or as spoken words. The text (font, size,
  color) can be modified and edited.
• Printed images - scanned or pictures can be taken
  from a digital camera. The image can be edited,
  sized, etc. Other media-text or sound, can be
  attached to represent it in multiple ways.

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Needs

• To be empowered
• To improve self esteem
• Flexible text
• To read at their own pace
• Strategies to help retain information
• More than one channel of input auditory, visual,
  kinesthetic
• Multisensory reading and writing experiences

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Assistive Devices

• Speaking Homework Whiz
• Alpha Smart
• Dana

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The Computer as a Valuable Tool

• When have appropriate software it provides a
  student with
• An individual, non-judgmental learning
  environment
• Immediate feedback
• Opportunity to work at own pace, whether it is
  faster or slower
• Repetitions if needed
• An opportunity to focus attention on task

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Talking /Writing Software

• Kidspiration (grades K-5) by Inspiration
• Pix Writer by Slater Software
• WriteOutLoud by Don Johnston
• CoWriter- added to WriteOutLoud for word
  prediction by Don Johnston
• Talking Word Processor with word prediction by
  Premier Assistive_at_ ReadingMadeEasy.com

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Text Readers

• Word Q http//www.wordq.com,
  E-reader/Ultimate Reader http//www.cast.org,
  TextHelpRead Write www.texthelp.com or Pulse
  Data Humanware

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Text Reader Programs

• Text Assist www.textassist.com
• Screen Reader www.texthelp.com
• Text Aloud 20 (35 copies under 500)
  www.nextup.com,

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Math Drill Reinforcement Software

• Millies Math House (Pre-K-2) by Edmark
• Mighty Math Carnival (K-2) by Riverdeep
• Money Town (K-3) by Davidson
• Intellimathics or Math Pad by Intellitools
• Tessellations (3-7) http//www.coolmath.com/tesspa
  g1.htm www.Funbrain.com

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Digitized Books On Line

• http//ulc.cast.org
• Talking Books on line http//www.starfall.com
  (sound out the words with visual reinforcement)
• MP3 Files for younger students (Sleeping Beauty,
  Snow White, Rapunzel) www.candlelightstores.com
• http//www.netlibrary.com/

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More Books

• Library of Michigan http//www.mel.org
• Amazon.com website 4.00 some less some more.
• Microsoft Reader (free) http//www.Microsoft,com/r
  eader/download.asp
• www.ldresources.com/etext
• www.netlibrary,com
• www.gutenberg.net
• Get a subscription http//bookshare.org/web/Welco
  me.html
• KidBook create electronic talking books (free)
  http//www.switchintime.com

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Modeled Reading

• Hear stories read aloud by a professional
  narrator with electronic books. Students gain
  background knowledge before reading the story
  independently.
• Start-to-Finish Books

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Commercial Electronic Books

• UKanDu Little Books (Don Johnston Incorporated)
• Living Books (Random House/ Broderbund)
• Wiggle Works (Scholastic)

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Strategies

• Tape recorder- Notetaking, recording lectures,
  assisting students to express themselves for
  writing activities
• NCR or non carbon paper for making a copy of
  notes http//www.shoplet.com/office/db/g1590.html

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Strategies

• Electronic spelling dictionary (talking or
  non-talking)
• Talking textbooks and novels
• Electronic organizers for schedules, reminder,
  lists, etc.
• Provide a second set of textbooks for the student
  to use at home

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Strategies

• Overhead projector to post outline
• Television, VCR and video tapes when used
  creatively can be good mediums for learning
• Know the mode through which the student learns
  best visual, auditory, tactile/ kinesthetic
• Know reading level of student and make sure
  printed material is at that level
• Provide visual and graphic aids when teaching
• Encourage the student to use a highlighter to
  mark important information
• Provide study guides and copies of notes

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Evaluation Ideas

• Use on line quiz providers (Quiz Lab) by
  www.Funbrain.com or Quiz Center by
  www.Discovery.com

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Last but not Least