Thursday, May 6, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Classroom/Homework Support Through Podcasting
http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/
http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/
I recently designed a podcast for the first time to be used as an introductory history lesson on the Civil Rights Movement, specifically on the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The podcast provides an alternative delivery of the lesson for specific students in my history class who receive special education services in a resource classroom and who benefit from having the option to listen to the lessons, alone or as they read along with their text or other written material. I gave students the option of putting it on there ipods and/or listening to it in class with reading - sometimes I now use such presentations as they read to support all students in the class and they are available to students to take home to study from. I've found they are great for many students who struggle with reading, especially with reading aloud, in that they act as "books on tape" by allowing them to listen to the words (vocabulary and pronunciation), pace, and tone. Check out the links above to discover how easy to use and helpful podcasts can be to support yourself, your child, or your students in school!
http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/
I recently designed a podcast for the first time to be used as an introductory history lesson on the Civil Rights Movement, specifically on the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The podcast provides an alternative delivery of the lesson for specific students in my history class who receive special education services in a resource classroom and who benefit from having the option to listen to the lessons, alone or as they read along with their text or other written material. I gave students the option of putting it on there ipods and/or listening to it in class with reading - sometimes I now use such presentations as they read to support all students in the class and they are available to students to take home to study from. I've found they are great for many students who struggle with reading, especially with reading aloud, in that they act as "books on tape" by allowing them to listen to the words (vocabulary and pronunciation), pace, and tone. Check out the links above to discover how easy to use and helpful podcasts can be to support yourself, your child, or your students in school!
How to Use Talking PowerPoints
Tutorial for using Powerpoints in education (http://www.actden.com/pp/)
Intro
I recently designed a talking powerpoint to use in my classroom to help my students who need intensive, explicit instruction in developing writing skills. After trying it out, I think talking powerpoints are a powerful classroom tool. Several of my students have special visual, auditory, and processing needs that were effectively supported by this presentation. Additionally, the clear visuals and pace of instruction supported the English learners in the class.
How To
Adding voice recording to any powerpoint is simple. The 2 main tools you'll work with in a powerpoint are 'record sound' and the toolbox. In your open powerpoint presentation, under the 'Insert' menu you'll find the option for 'Sound and Music'. A sub-menu allows you to either insert music or record sound. If you select 'record sound', a menu pops up with a timer that allows you to record, pause, stop and play a recording. Once you have the recording you like, you can save it to the current slide. Opening the toolbox, you can select the animation feature and time animation in your presentation to match your recording or vice versa. Under the transitions tab in your powerpoint you can also select 'options' on the right, which allows you to time the transition of your slides with your music/sound.
Intro
I recently designed a talking powerpoint to use in my classroom to help my students who need intensive, explicit instruction in developing writing skills. After trying it out, I think talking powerpoints are a powerful classroom tool. Several of my students have special visual, auditory, and processing needs that were effectively supported by this presentation. Additionally, the clear visuals and pace of instruction supported the English learners in the class.
How To
Adding voice recording to any powerpoint is simple. The 2 main tools you'll work with in a powerpoint are 'record sound' and the toolbox. In your open powerpoint presentation, under the 'Insert' menu you'll find the option for 'Sound and Music'. A sub-menu allows you to either insert music or record sound. If you select 'record sound', a menu pops up with a timer that allows you to record, pause, stop and play a recording. Once you have the recording you like, you can save it to the current slide. Opening the toolbox, you can select the animation feature and time animation in your presentation to match your recording or vice versa. Under the transitions tab in your powerpoint you can also select 'options' on the right, which allows you to time the transition of your slides with your music/sound.
5 Different Assisitive Technology Tools
1) Working with beginning high school students, I've observed that my students often have difficulty keeping homework assignments and project schedules organized, which leads them to stress, unnecessary struggle, wasted time, and sometimes failure on assignments.
The Assignment Calculator from the University of Minnesota offers students a great tool for planning long-range assignments and keeping on schedule. On the site, students enter their start date and due date for a given assignment, then press 'calculate'. An step-by-step work schedule is then provided for students to follow.
http://www.lib.umn.edu/help/calculator/date.php?monthone=5&dayone=6&yearone=2010&monthtwo=6&daytwo=10&yeartwo=2010&SubjectID=8
2) Another simple, low-tech tool is magnifying tape or magnifying rulers, which students can use to help themselves read any materials they are given by different teachers. I like this tool, especially for secondary students who move from class to class. This tool puts the control in the student's hands rather than having to rely on each teacher to provide larger print versions of assignments. Familiarity with this tool also prepares students in self-accommodation, which becomes even more important as they transition to post-secondary life/education
http://www.magnifyingaids.com/index.php?page=products&subcategory_id=38
3) The Framing Routine developed by Edwin S. Ellis is low-tech AT that supports students in any subject area with reading comprehension, summarizing, note-taking, and completing homework. It consists of various "frames", which are graphic organizers specialized to help students outline and process content. They are versatile, effective, and user-friendly.
http://www.ldonline.org/article/5765
4) The NEO 2 laptop/computer, according to the NEO website:
"NEO 2’s built-in technology helps students with special needs keep pace with their peers. Whether challenged with learning disabilities such as dyslexia or dysgraphia, or faced with physical hurdles such as a lack of fine motor skills, NEO 2 will help these students succeed in the general curriculum."
Features include:
* Sticky Keys allows students to type combination keystrokes without pressing the keys simultaneously.
* Slow Keys helps children with unsteady hands or difficulty in key targeting.
* Auto-repeat can be disabled to support students with reflex control challenges.
* High-contrast LCD screen and multiple font sizes help children with vision challenges.
* Linked Files make it easy to provide customized assignments, instruction, and support materials.
http://www.renlearn.com/neo/NEO2/default.aspx
5) Lightwriter is a portable text-to-speech communication device for those needing voice output. According to http://www.assistivetech.com/corporate/products/lightwriter_(r)_sl40.aspx
"Word prediction significantly reduces the number of keystrokes required and benefits most people using the device. This includes those who type slowly, people using head pointers, poor spellers, and people with word completion difficulties."
The Assignment Calculator from the University of Minnesota offers students a great tool for planning long-range assignments and keeping on schedule. On the site, students enter their start date and due date for a given assignment, then press 'calculate'. An step-by-step work schedule is then provided for students to follow.
http://www.lib.umn.edu/help/calculator/date.php?monthone=5&dayone=6&yearone=2010&monthtwo=6&daytwo=10&yeartwo=2010&SubjectID=8
2) Another simple, low-tech tool is magnifying tape or magnifying rulers, which students can use to help themselves read any materials they are given by different teachers. I like this tool, especially for secondary students who move from class to class. This tool puts the control in the student's hands rather than having to rely on each teacher to provide larger print versions of assignments. Familiarity with this tool also prepares students in self-accommodation, which becomes even more important as they transition to post-secondary life/education
http://www.magnifyingaids.com/index.php?page=products&subcategory_id=38
3) The Framing Routine developed by Edwin S. Ellis is low-tech AT that supports students in any subject area with reading comprehension, summarizing, note-taking, and completing homework. It consists of various "frames", which are graphic organizers specialized to help students outline and process content. They are versatile, effective, and user-friendly.
http://www.ldonline.org/article/5765
4) The NEO 2 laptop/computer, according to the NEO website:
"NEO 2’s built-in technology helps students with special needs keep pace with their peers. Whether challenged with learning disabilities such as dyslexia or dysgraphia, or faced with physical hurdles such as a lack of fine motor skills, NEO 2 will help these students succeed in the general curriculum."
Features include:
* Sticky Keys allows students to type combination keystrokes without pressing the keys simultaneously.
* Slow Keys helps children with unsteady hands or difficulty in key targeting.
* Auto-repeat can be disabled to support students with reflex control challenges.
* High-contrast LCD screen and multiple font sizes help children with vision challenges.
* Linked Files make it easy to provide customized assignments, instruction, and support materials.
http://www.renlearn.com/neo/NEO2/default.aspx
5) Lightwriter is a portable text-to-speech communication device for those needing voice output. According to http://www.assistivetech.com/corporate/products/lightwriter_(r)_sl40.aspx
"Word prediction significantly reduces the number of keystrokes required and benefits most people using the device. This includes those who type slowly, people using head pointers, poor spellers, and people with word completion difficulties."
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