The Power of Kurzweil: Using Assistive Technology as a Teaching Aid

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The Power of Kurzweil Using Assistive
Technology as a Teaching Aid

• Presented by Matthew Dudley
• Sixth Level Learning Support Teacher
• Upper St. Clair School District
• April 17th, 2007

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Presentation Overview

• What is Assistive Technology?
• Examples of Assistive Technology
• -School related and personally related
• Overview of Kurzweil
• Benefits of Kurzweil

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What is Assistive Technology?

• As defined in federal and state law, an assistive
  technology device means any item, piece of
  equipment, or product system, whether acquired
  commercially off the shelf, modified, or
  customized, that is used to increase, maintain,
  or improve the functional capabilities of
  children with disabilities.
• Source Pennsylvania Department of Education
  (http//www.pde.state.pa.us, 1997)

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Examples of Assistive Technology

• Communication
• -Voice Output Device
• -Eye gaze frame
• Reading
• -Talking electronic devices
• -Single word scanners
• -Electronic books
• -Optical Character Recognition
• Learning/Studying
• -Programs to highlight text
• -Recorded materials
• -Electronic organizers
• -Hand held scanners
• -Software for Graphic Organizing (Inspiration)

• Mathematics
• -Enlarged math worksheets
• -Money calculator
• -Talking watches
• -Calculator with large keys and/or display
• Writing/Written Expression
• -Variety of pencils and pens
• -Adaptive grips for pencils
• -Adapted paper
• -Portable word processor
• -Software with word processing
• -Spell check software
• -Talking word processing
• electronic dictionary/thesaurus for pronunciation

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Other Areas that Incorporate Assistive Technology

• Computer Access
• Vision
• Hearing
• Recreation
• Mobility
• Daily Living Skills
• Environmental Control
• Positioning and Sitting

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What is Kurzweil 3000?

• Kurzweil is a comprehensive reading, writing and
  learning software for any struggling reader,
  including individuals with learning difficulties,
  such as dyslexia, attention deficit disorder or
  those who are English Language Learners.

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Kurzweil and Upper St. Clair

• Researched and implemented in Spring of 2005
  through fund-raising
• Currently being used at Boyce, Fort Couch, and at
  the High School
• (Mac at Boyce, Fort Couch/PC at High School)
• Utilized by Learning Support, Resource, and Life
  Skills Teachers

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The Process From Planning to Using
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The Benefits of Kurzweil

• Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following
  areas

-Incorporating the Curriculum -Increased
Reading Fluency -Study Skills -Decoding
Support -Writing and Self-Editing
Tools -Independent Test Taking
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The Benefits of Kurzweil

• Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following
  areas
• -Incorporating the Curriculum

• Examples
• -Used with all subject areas
• -Scanning of textbooks and subject area resources
• -Used during testing situations
• -Long term projects (i.e. Book reports,
  essays, etc.)

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The Benefits of Kurzweil

• Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following
  areas
• -Reading Fluency

• Examples
• -Colored moving text
• -Footnotes and bubbles
• -Highlighting features
• -Vocabulary Lists

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The Benefits of Kurzweil

• Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following
  areas
• -Study Skills

• Examples
• -Footnotes and bubbles
• -Extracting Text

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The Benefits of Kurzweil

• Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following
  areas
• -Decoding Support

• Examples
• -Reading speed
• -Reading type
• (letters, words and/or sentences)
• -Reading Voice
• -Word Magnification
• -Speaking Dictionary and Thesaurus

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The Benefits of Kurzweil

• Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following
  areas
• -Writing and Editing Support

• Examples
• -Word Predication Bank
• -Vocabulary Checklists
• -Grammar check
• -Voice animation of typing
• -Speaking Dictionary and Thesaurus

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The Benefits of Kurzweil

• Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following
  areas
• -Independent Test Taking

• Examples
• -Lock features
• -Highlight and drag
• -Reading Software
• -Typing and highlighting
• -Dictionary/Thesaurus

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Additional Information
Questions?

• More information available at www.kurzweil.edu
• Presentation available at
• Mr. Dudleys USC website (Boyce Middle School)