"Technology & Learning Connections - MTSS: Increasing student
achievement through the systemic alignment of technology, policies,
and curriculum in a multi-tiered system of supports."
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 Web Tools by Bloom's Taxonomy, by Flow Chart, and by Category |
The incredible amount and diversity of online tools, digital resources, and mobile apps provide amazingly creative ways to help meet the learning needs of all students in a classroom. The universal availability of these tools lays a foundation for addressing Universal Design for Learning principles in the classroom and at home. But with so many tools and resources available, where do we start?
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The Flipped Classroom |
A "Flipped Classroom" is an instructional model where typical classroom activities (such as lecturing) are moved outside the classroom. Thus, teachers have more time in class to use interactive instructional activities, such as problem-solving and critical thinking, and project-base learning. General information and lecturing are provided using internet videos, web-based resources, and videos of the teacher doing a presentation or explanation. Students view the videos at home as a homework assignment, or at school. The use of a flipped classroom model can increase the opportunities a student has to engage with the course content. Below are some resources to help you explore how to "flip" a classroom.
PBS Report on Flipped Classrooms - Learn how a school increased student engagement and test scores using a flipped classroom model. The video includes reports from administrators, teachers, students, and parents.
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Infographics - Visual Learning Tools |
Infographics are visual representations of data and information, and are widely used in business and media. Using infographics in the classroom can provide students with multiple options for understanding and engaging with the course content through the use of text, charts, graphics, diagrams, and more. Infographics also provide students a great option for creating a report and presenting information to other students. If you are not familiar with infographics, explore some of the links below.
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Dictation Technology & Writing Instruction |
Years ago, dictation software was difficult to work with for a variety of reasons. Users would have to spend a lot of time training the software to recognize his or her speech patterns, and the software was expensive and complicated to use.
While still not perfect, speech recognition and dictation software has come a long way. We now have programs like Siri, Google Now, Speaktoit, Sherpa, Robin, and others that recognize many common commands and questions. Software dictations programs like Dragon Naturally Speaking and Dragon Dictation are no longer niche programs but are now mainstream. As dictation software and speech-to-text software continues to evolve and today's digital native learners continue to prefer to use dictation and speech-to-text software to complete writing assignments, the question of how dictation software will impact writing instruction is an inevitable topic that we will need to address in the near future.
Robert Rosenberger explores some of the possibilities of how dictation technologies may impact writing instruction in the classroom, with a focus on writing skills such as typing. His article includes links to related topics, such as:
- How dictation technologies can enhance reading instruction support.
- How dictation technologies can assist students with dyslexia.
- How dictation technologies can assist teachers in providing student feedback.
Click here to read the entire article.
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2020's Learning Landscape: A Retrospective on Dyslexia |
David Rose and Ge Vue imagine the future by "pre-creating" the Presidential Address at the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Annual Conference in 2020. This article was first published in the International Dyslexia Association, Perspectives on Language and Literacy, Winter 2010, and provides a "historical" perspective of changes and supports for students with dyslexia that occurred between 2010 and 2020.Not only does this article provide some great insight into Universal Design for Learning, the online version has a variety of UDL learning supports embedded throughout. You can click on "Show UDL Info" to see tags identify all of the different UDL supports available. Examples include: text-to-speech, highlighting tools, translation tools, a glossary, the availability of the article in different formats, a concept map, and a list of key concepts. The design of the article itself, imagining a report in 2020 looking back over the "past" 10 years, illustrates a way to provide options for engagement.
Be sure to check this article out. http://aim.cast.org/w/page/2020learning/l3
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Google Play for Education |
Google Play for Education is an online destination where schools can find great teacher approved apps, books, and videos to use on Android devices. Resources are searchable by grade, subject, or standard. App deployment can be done quickly to individual students or classrooms. Credit cards are not required and purchase orders are accepted. Google Play for Education provides a great system for managing and configuring Android tablets in a classroom.
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ATbar - Free accessibility resource |
The ATbar is a free, open source, cross-browser tool that can be used to address accessibility needs, as well as to support the implementation of Universal Design for Learning. Features include the ability to change the look and feel of webpages, change the font sizes, have text read aloud, adjust the readability, and use color overlays.
There are three different versions of the ATbar for use with web browsers. There is also a desktop version for Windows.
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Snap&Read and Snap&Read Extension |
Snap&Read is a text reader program from Don Johnston that will read selectable text aloud as well as text in a picture. Snap&Read uses optical character recognition on text images to read the text out loud. For example, a student can select a graphic picture from a variety of sources like a
Word doc, PDF, web-based test and draw a rectangle around the text images to indicate which text image should be read aloud.
Snap&Read Extension is a Chrome extension that places the Snap&Read tools in the Chrome browser. Students using Chrome on either Mac, Windows, or Chromebooks will be able to select text and hear it read aloud, or draw a selection rectangle around a picture of text and hear it read aloud.
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For the Power User:
Great Accessibility and UDL Tools Already On Your Computer
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Just about every computer comes with built in tools that can be used to meet accessibility needs of students, to provide flexibility in how a student engages with text and software, and to customize the user interface. Understanding what features are available and how to use them can help students and teachers effectively use computers and mobile devices to support learning. Available features and tools include:
- Switch Controls
- Onscreen Keyboards
- Text-to-Speech
- Mouse Controls
- Large Cursors
- Keyboard Customization
- Dictation
Below are links to information for the different operating systems on some of these features and tools.
Windows 8 Accessibility
Macintosh Accessibility OS X
Macintosh Mavericks New Features
Apple iOS Accessibility (iPads & iPhones)
Google Products & Android Accessibility
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Switch Access |
Switch systems provide another level of accessibility for students and come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, shapes, and application pressure needed. Integrated with the accessibility features of computers and tablets, students can navigate their device features including everything from keyboard shortcuts to system controls. Many newer switches and control systems allow for wireless interaction and multiple switch control.
The Blue2 Bluetooth switch provides single or dual switch access to iDevices running iOS 7, Apple desktop or laptop computers running OS X Mavericks, and all switch accessible apps or software on iOS, OS X, Windows, and Android.
The APPlicator switch interface provides switch accessibility to Apps, Music, and photography on iPad, iPhone, and iPod by Bluetooth. Wired switches can be connected to one or more of the four programmable switch inputs and the function of each switch can be programmed to any one of 24 mouse/keyboard commands.
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Online Professional Development Opportunities
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Florida Model Communication Plan |
Section 1033.55, Florida Statutes, requires the Florida Department of Education to develop a model Communication Plan to be used during the development of an IEP for a student who is Deaf or hard of hearing. Once developed, the plan will be adopted into rule and be available to the public online.
Technical assistance will be provided state-wide through regional trainings. Each district is encouraged to send representatives, and anyone who may be a member of an IEP team may attend. The trainings are currently scheduled between January 15, 2014 and March 7, 2014. The dates and times are subject to change so be sure to check the website often for any updates.
The training schedule and additional information is available at http://rmtcosbd.org/flmcp.
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ATIA
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We hope you are making plans to attend the January 2014 ATIA Orlando Conference. The Session Directory is live and includes 13 Pre-Conference seminars and 300+ general sessions. Many of these sessions feature Florida assistive technology specialists. You can view a list of the Florida sessions here.
ATIA is excited to be partnering with the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) and Florida's MTSS Projects at 2014 Orlando. They have arranged a special MTSS Code (MTSSAF05 or 14MTSSAF05, either will work) that provides a registration discount. The MTSS Code offers:
- 5% off pre-Conferences (1st and 2nd day)
- 5% off main conference
- Can be used in combination with early registrations discounts by January 10th
Parents of children with disabilities can receive a 50% discount by including a letter on the child's disability when registering.
We look forward to seeing you at ATIA Orlando, 2014!
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Working with the Experts for Speech-Language Pathologists (WWE-SLP)
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We are pleased to announce the upcoming WWE-SLP event, Informal Dynamic Social Thinking® Assessment: Core Treatment Strategies for Home and School, with Renee Attaway, M.S., CCC-SLP. The presentation will be held on January 11, 2014, in Lake City. Following the regional facilitation model, registration for this event will begin November 18, 2013, for school districts within the North Central and Northeast Consortia.
All other districts may register participants from December 1, 2013, to January 6, 2014. All registration ends January 6, 2014. Registration must be made by the SLP contact/program coordinator from each district using the online registration system at http://www.flwwe.net. For questions regarding registration, please contact Dr. Alice Kaye Emery, 352-273-4246, aemery@coe.ufl.edu .
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There is An App for That!
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SoundingBoard by Ablenet is a switch accessible communication app that is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPod touch 5th, 4th, and 3rd Generation, iPad 4th and 3rd Generation, iPad 2, iPad, and iPad mini. Users can create multiple boards for any situation and each board can hold up to 20 message locations. Symbols can be created using the built-in Ablenet symbol library or user created photos. Recorded messages can be added to every symbol.
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Smarty Pants is a single switch accessible app for developing early reading skills. Through a structured series of games and activities users are able to develop letter knowledge, phonemic awareness, phonics, and practice sight words. Included are assessment tools and performance rankings relative to standard grade-level expectations.
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Switch Accessible Puzzles (Judy Lynn Software, Inc.) Is a collection of switch accessible puzzles modeled after wooden cutout puzzles. The user is presented with a board that can have 2,3,4, or 5 cutouts in it. Puzzle themes include wooden shapes, food, toys, animals, colors, upper case English alphabet, lower case English alphabet, numbers, school, colors & position, matching upper to lower case letters, photo objects, and matching pictures to words.
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RadSounds is a switch-friendly app by RJ Cooper, that focuses on cause and effect through music. Users can record, sing, import from their library, or use songs already included with the app. Individual song playback characteristics can be chosen as well as creating custom playlists.
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GoTalk Now by Attainment is a single or two-switch scanning communication app. Users can create an unlimited number of pages with 1, 4, 9, 16, or 25 locations per page. Images can be imported from the iPad camera, photo library, or the Imagine Symbol set. SymbolStix and Widgit Symbols are available as add-ons. Users can record their own voice to images or use the free text-to-speech voice.
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Our Partners |
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The TLC Team includes 5 Regional Technology Coordinators, 5 Regional Technology Specialists, and 5 Regional Local Assistive Technology Specialists (RLATS). Services include the alignment of accessible instructional materials, assistive technology, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in a multi-tiered system of supports.
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The Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS): providing services in the areas of Childfind, HRD, Parent Services, and Technology; including local TA&D, professional development, and capacity building in the areas of accessible instructional materials, assistive & Instructional technologies, UDL, and virtual learning.
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Local Assistive Technology Specialists (LATS): providing local support for assistive technology assessments, evaluations, and related assistive technology services.
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Together we are working to help all schools implement a universal, differentiated core curriculum based on the Common Core State Standards.
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This newsletter was funded by the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services through federal assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), Part B funds. The information included does not reflect any specific endorsement by any parties involved. Please email Gary Pearcy for further information. |
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