Adaptive/Assistive Technology
The resources and tools that are listed below can be used to enhance the learning opportunities for subpopulations of students with special needs. Each category is listed below followed by at least two recommendations, the strategy for implementation, and the potential benefit to students.
Students with Cognitive Disabilities
Discovery Techbook
Strategy and how it will be used:
Students can use this tool from Discovery Education to experience classroom content in a new way. This software will also read words and sentences for students to help them better understand the course content and clear up any ambiguity a student may have about words they encounter. This could be done either in a computer lab or at a computer station in the classroom.
Benefit to student success:
Students will have more exposure to the course content and the material can be learned at a student directed pace. Students can also better engage with the content because much of what the program offers is interactive.
Strategy and how it will be used:
Students can use this tool from Discovery Education to experience classroom content in a new way. This software will also read words and sentences for students to help them better understand the course content and clear up any ambiguity a student may have about words they encounter. This could be done either in a computer lab or at a computer station in the classroom.
Benefit to student success:
Students will have more exposure to the course content and the material can be learned at a student directed pace. Students can also better engage with the content because much of what the program offers is interactive.
Snap and Read
Strategy and how it will be used:
This tool can help students who have a difficult time reading. The program is a toolbar that is installed on a computer and is laid over existing content so that it is always available and in use. The program will read any text that is on the screen to a student. Teachers can use this tool with students to enable them to work at their own pace. This can be done most efficiently at a computer station in the classroom.
Benefit to student success:
This tool can empower students to learn content on their own and it can help make them more comfortable tackling a learning task that involves a lot of reading. In addition to helping students become better readers, the software will also help students comprehend information that might have escaped them because the reading obstacle that was there prior to the tool being introduced has been removed.
Strategy and how it will be used:
This tool can help students who have a difficult time reading. The program is a toolbar that is installed on a computer and is laid over existing content so that it is always available and in use. The program will read any text that is on the screen to a student. Teachers can use this tool with students to enable them to work at their own pace. This can be done most efficiently at a computer station in the classroom.
Benefit to student success:
This tool can empower students to learn content on their own and it can help make them more comfortable tackling a learning task that involves a lot of reading. In addition to helping students become better readers, the software will also help students comprehend information that might have escaped them because the reading obstacle that was there prior to the tool being introduced has been removed.
Attainment Talker
Strategy and how it will be used:
This tool could be used as a tactile graphic organizer to help students for whom the content has been modified learn information. The teacher could record 10 seconds of audio that is accessible when a student presses the button with a particular picture on it. Social Studies concepts and/or vocabulary can be assigned to pictures to help students grasp social studies concepts.
Benefit to student success:
A student with moderate to severe cognitive disability would benefit by being exposed to information in a way that is both more accessible to the student and modified to appropriate levels
Strategy and how it will be used:
This tool could be used as a tactile graphic organizer to help students for whom the content has been modified learn information. The teacher could record 10 seconds of audio that is accessible when a student presses the button with a particular picture on it. Social Studies concepts and/or vocabulary can be assigned to pictures to help students grasp social studies concepts.
Benefit to student success:
A student with moderate to severe cognitive disability would benefit by being exposed to information in a way that is both more accessible to the student and modified to appropriate levels
Students with Physical Disabilities
Dragon Naturally Speaking
Strategy and how it will be used:
This software program allows students to dictate their desired text to their computer. The computer will learn their voice and will turn their voice into text on the screen. This is a great tool to use for students with physical impairments as a writing aid. This software package will enable students (who might otherwise be unable to do so) dictate papers and presentations.
Benefit to student success:
Students have the opportunity to express themselves in written form. Students can reflect on various lessons, create blog posts, or reply to a teacher’s writing prompt. This helps make the classroom a less restrictive environment.
Strategy and how it will be used:
This software program allows students to dictate their desired text to their computer. The computer will learn their voice and will turn their voice into text on the screen. This is a great tool to use for students with physical impairments as a writing aid. This software package will enable students (who might otherwise be unable to do so) dictate papers and presentations.
Benefit to student success:
Students have the opportunity to express themselves in written form. Students can reflect on various lessons, create blog posts, or reply to a teacher’s writing prompt. This helps make the classroom a less restrictive environment.
Makey Makey Board
Strategy and how it will be used:
The makey makey board is a board that was designed to teach kids about electrical engineering concepts. However, the board can be adapted for use in a classroom as an accessibility device. The Makey Makey board plugs into the USB port of any computer and allows for the reprogramming of keyboard keys to almost any surface. The keys could be reprogrammed to something that is more accessible to a student such as a part of a wheelchair or a notebook that they may have on their lap.
Benefit to student success:
A student can control their computer and play the social studies games that are assigned in the classroom. With the makey makey board, a teacher or student can reprogram the keyboard to enable a student to participate in a less restrictive environment and experience a rich learning environment.
Strategy and how it will be used:
The makey makey board is a board that was designed to teach kids about electrical engineering concepts. However, the board can be adapted for use in a classroom as an accessibility device. The Makey Makey board plugs into the USB port of any computer and allows for the reprogramming of keyboard keys to almost any surface. The keys could be reprogrammed to something that is more accessible to a student such as a part of a wheelchair or a notebook that they may have on their lap.
Benefit to student success:
A student can control their computer and play the social studies games that are assigned in the classroom. With the makey makey board, a teacher or student can reprogram the keyboard to enable a student to participate in a less restrictive environment and experience a rich learning environment.
Students with Sensory Disabilities
Thunder Screenreader
Strategy and how it will be used:
The thunder screenreader is a free software package that will read the screen to those who are visually impaired. The Screenreader software will read all parts of the screen include alt tags in html to give students with visual impairments in depth knowledge of what is on the screen.
Benefit to student success:
The screen reader software will enable a student with visual impairment to experience the course content and participate in class discussions, and lessons.
Strategy and how it will be used:
The thunder screenreader is a free software package that will read the screen to those who are visually impaired. The Screenreader software will read all parts of the screen include alt tags in html to give students with visual impairments in depth knowledge of what is on the screen.
Benefit to student success:
The screen reader software will enable a student with visual impairment to experience the course content and participate in class discussions, and lessons.
FM Personal Solutions
Strategy and how it will be used:
The Motiva Personal FM listening system will help reduce background noise and enable a student with hearing impairment hear the teacher’s instruction and classroom discussions. The device makes it easier for a student to hear what is being said by amplifying the sound that is important and removing the sounds that are disturbing or interfering with instruction.
Benefit to student success:
This will enable students to engage in the classroom with the teacher and other students. A student will be able to participate in the classroom as other students can participate due to the fact that a student is able to understand the content. Furthermore, the student will benefit by being able to hear discussions involving various Social Studies topics.
Strategy and how it will be used:
The Motiva Personal FM listening system will help reduce background noise and enable a student with hearing impairment hear the teacher’s instruction and classroom discussions. The device makes it easier for a student to hear what is being said by amplifying the sound that is important and removing the sounds that are disturbing or interfering with instruction.
Benefit to student success:
This will enable students to engage in the classroom with the teacher and other students. A student will be able to participate in the classroom as other students can participate due to the fact that a student is able to understand the content. Furthermore, the student will benefit by being able to hear discussions involving various Social Studies topics.
At Risk Students
Ignite Torch: Social Studies
Strategy and how it will be used:
The online package delivers a multitude of offerings for social studies curriculum. The content is differentiated and students can work at their own pace. This would be great for students who made need a refresher on course content or for students who still need to capture certain concepts or skills. Students could use the software at a station in the classroom.
Benefit to student success:
At risk students who use this package would benefit from the opportunity to have increased exposure to the content. Furthermore, the content is fresh and engaging which can help students maintain interest in the material.
Strategy and how it will be used:
The online package delivers a multitude of offerings for social studies curriculum. The content is differentiated and students can work at their own pace. This would be great for students who made need a refresher on course content or for students who still need to capture certain concepts or skills. Students could use the software at a station in the classroom.
Benefit to student success:
At risk students who use this package would benefit from the opportunity to have increased exposure to the content. Furthermore, the content is fresh and engaging which can help students maintain interest in the material.
Quia
Strategy and how it will be used:
Quia is an online software package that allows teachers to create their own quizzes and games for use in the classroom. Teachers can create their own materials or locate materials that have been created and shared by other educators. A teacher could create review games and modules to help students who may be struggling with certain social studies concepts.
Benefit to student success:
Students find the games interesting and fun. They will spend more time on the content because they want to play the games. This can reinforce content knowledge for struggling students.
Strategy and how it will be used:
Quia is an online software package that allows teachers to create their own quizzes and games for use in the classroom. Teachers can create their own materials or locate materials that have been created and shared by other educators. A teacher could create review games and modules to help students who may be struggling with certain social studies concepts.
Benefit to student success:
Students find the games interesting and fun. They will spend more time on the content because they want to play the games. This can reinforce content knowledge for struggling students.
Gifted and Talented Students
Gamestar Mechanic
Strategy and how it will be used:
Gamestar Mechanic is a platform that allows students to make video games and begin understanding the basics of video game design. Students could use this game making platform to make games that are based on course content standards. The games could be used in class to help others learn the Social Studies content.
Benefit to student success:
Students would gain additional exposure to content in an engaging way. Students would also be creating content for others to use and that could be included in an electronic portfolio.
Strategy and how it will be used:
Gamestar Mechanic is a platform that allows students to make video games and begin understanding the basics of video game design. Students could use this game making platform to make games that are based on course content standards. The games could be used in class to help others learn the Social Studies content.
Benefit to student success:
Students would gain additional exposure to content in an engaging way. Students would also be creating content for others to use and that could be included in an electronic portfolio.
Weebly.com
Strategy and how it will be used:
Students could use weebly to create an electronic portfolio of what they are learning in their social studies class. The site they create could be a living document that is added to regularly as the school year progresses. Lessons could be divided by standards on the student’s portfolio.
Benefit to student success:
Students would benefit from having a website they could use for review. They would also benefit from learning how to put information together in a 21st century hat will be viewed by larger audiences. Student websites could also be used as review material by other students.
Strategy and how it will be used:
Students could use weebly to create an electronic portfolio of what they are learning in their social studies class. The site they create could be a living document that is added to regularly as the school year progresses. Lessons could be divided by standards on the student’s portfolio.
Benefit to student success:
Students would benefit from having a website they could use for review. They would also benefit from learning how to put information together in a 21st century hat will be viewed by larger audiences. Student websites could also be used as review material by other students.