A newsletter celebrating enabling technology, the people who use it, and the developers that make it possible.
December/January 2006 Volume 5 Issue 2
I've just finished reviewing nominated special needs products for the 2006 Software and Information Industry Association's annual Codie Awards.
It was interesting to see new features in some of the better known product updates, and become familiar with small companies and their products.
You'll find notes about some of the nominees in this year's special needs category in the Mouse Tracks section of this newsletter.
Please feel free to make complete copies of this publication to share with others.
Find out about some of the special needs products nominated for the 2006 Codie Awards.
Read & Write Gold (Version 7.1E)
(www.texthelp.com)
I have always liked TextHelp! software since discovering Read and Write in 1997 for my students with severe learning disabilities. Read & Write Gold has a similar but very much enhanced Microsoft compatible floating toolbar that I thought was so cool in its early days.
The Read & Write Gold toolbar works alongside applications such as MS Word and Excel. I even tried it during a PowerPoint authoring session and found the word prediction feature just as efficient as when I was working on a Word document.
Read & Write Gold has eighteen features to support learners, grade three and above, who have literacy challenges:
o Speech
o Read
o Translation Tool
o Spellchecker
o Homophone Support
o Word Prediction
o Web Highlighting
o Dictionary
o Word Wizard
o Scanning
o Scientific Calculator
o Speech Maker
o Pronunciation Tutor
o Clipboard History
o Fact Folder
o Fact Finder
o DAISY Reader
o Speech Input
With built-in speech input as well as text-to-speech output, this software is a powerful tool for students who have reading and/or writing difficulties. The scanning feature allows users to capture pages as e-text in Word, HTML, Excel or PDF format. Although, I didn't find the scanning to be particularly speedy, it still worked well with my HP Photosmart 2610 scanner.
This product has tremendous flexibility allowing users to configure the feature options to best meet their needs. As a Canadian educator I especially appreciate the ability to configure the voice output for US English pronunciation and the spellchecker for UK English. Some other products don't offer that option.
There's a lot to say about Read & Write Gold, but I'll just mention two other features that I got really excited about. First, the talking calculator is a great tool for students who need auditory feedback to improve math accuracy. Second, the Fact Folder is a really impressive support for students to use when gathering information during project research. It also gives them excellent referencing and publishing support as they develop their projects.
STRENGTHS: I was impressed with how efficiently this software ran on my computer as I had multiple screens going. The word prediction feature is fast and clever. It didn't bog down as some other prediction products do on my computer. It learned very quickly how I word sentences and began offering better word selections based on what I'd written previously. This is a superior package of literacy support tools that will help many struggling students develop confidence and independence. I love the multimedia help features that allow users to click on feature help videos as they're using the Read & Write Gold. This allows learners to explore the software more independently. Read & Write Gold can be used at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels.
CONCERNS: I like the Web highlighting and reading features. My only complaint is that I couldn't get the highlighting or word prediction to work properly with the Mozilla Firefox browser, which I prefer over Microsoft's Internet Explorer. TextHelp! is designed to work with IE and the company doesn't claim Read & Write works seamlessly with Firefox, although that would be on my wish list of feature upgrades for this product.
SOLO
Don Johnston, Inc.
(donjohnston.com)
SOLO from Don Johnston is a comprehensive suite of productivity software for individuals with literacy challenges. The product comes beautifully packaged (if that's important to you as a consumer). It must be said that there are numerous educational software products on the market with gorgeous packaging, which don't necessarily get used that often in classrooms. The important thing to realize with SOLO is that it is a set of tools. Using these tools effectively will require that teachers spend quite a bit of their own time learning the software so that they can get their students prepared to work with SOLO without frustration.
Frustration is the key word here as the types of students who have learning challenges often become irritated by technologies that make them feel even more confused. Therefore, I repeat that it is essential for educators who want to use SOLO with their students to be very familiar with its features in order to provide quick guidance to students who find it to be one more steep learning experience.
SOLO includes the following utilities as well as a History eText CD:
o READ:OutLoud
o DRAFT:Builder
o WRITE:OutLoud
o CO:Writer
The documentation booklets, online support, and quick reference cards are useful for review prior to installation of the product, which is compatible with Windows XP or 2000 and Mac 10.2 or higher.
READ:OutLoud is a text-to-speech utility that runs with other applications. It can be used to listen to Web pages on the built-in browser or text documents. The coloured highlighters on the toolbar are fun and practical for note taking. Hierarchical outline notes are quickly created in a sidebar when the green highlighter is used. Sub-topics can be quickly added with the yellow and red highlighters. Reading and capturing information are accomplished easily with READ:OutLoud.
DRAFT:Builder is an outlining and concept development tool. It is a graphic organizer that can help learners further enhance their prewriting notes. READ:OutLoud notes can be sent to DRAFT:Builder for better organization.
WRITE:OutLoud is a word processing application that works with all the other SOLO applications. The flexibility of this product allows learners to manage and create their writing projects in ways that meet their personal learning styles.
CO:Writer is a word prediction/completion utility that can be customized to appear as a word, sentence, or paragraph box. I preferred using the small word box while I was using CO-Writer, MS Word, and the Internet. Most of the time it seemed to work well, although there were some sluggish experiences with this application. Sometimes it will bog down the word processor performance. However, I found that CO-Writer ran efficiently on its own on top of MS Word, and the Mozilla Web Browser.
STRENGTHS: SOLO is an inclusive, literacy support package that will help educators support a range of learners. Lots of flexibility, management and customization options for educators and learners. SOLO can be used at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels.
CONCERNS: It took me three attempts to fully install this software on my MS Windows XP Home computer. Educator commitment is essential for teaching students to use this product. While SOLO could be used as a long-term literacy support product in elementary to postsecondary studies, it will take a lot of hands-on learning and educator support to guide users. Learners will need the ability to deal with the cognitive demands of the product and curriculum in order to achieve independence.
Ripple Effects for Teens, version 3.0
Ripple Effects, Inc.
(www.rippleeffects.com)
This software includes a collection of 391 topic areas for supporting at-risk students in their social, emotional, educational development. The wide range of content is suitable for students in elementary and secondary schools. There are many ways to proactively or reactively use this product.
STRENGTHS: The user can pick topics of personal interest such as "making friends," "bullying," "shyness," etc. The content is truly customizable to individual student's needs. Students are provided with general information, video clips, as well as links to online resources for extended learning. I especially like the privacy option that allows students to quickly cloak the screen so that others won't know which topics they're viewing. It would be best to have this software available on a laptop or desktop computer that is not widely visible to others. I like the suggestions that users are given about related topics.
CONCERNS: This product is available for Mac and Windows users, but not for Linux.
Simple Sentence Structure Sterling Edition
Laureate Learning Systems
(www.laureatelearning.com)
This is an early sentence/vocabulary comprehension drill program that could be useful for young children, ESL students, and/or older students with developmental disabilities. It can be used by anyone serving these groups.
STRENGTHS: The software installs easily and has an intuitive interface, which eliminates the need to read a lot of manuals and documentation before being able to operate it. It is designed for accessibility with configurable scanning access and voice output. The user is required to make simple selections to identify the correct sentence illustration between two choices on the screen. The uncluttered activity view prevents students from accidentally escaping the exercises while working, as there is no exit button on the activity screen. The keyboard's escape button must be used to exit the activity.
Continuous repetition of choices with variable pictures makes it a good exercise for low-level learners. Instant reporting capabilities present educators and parents with documentation of student progress. These activity reports include important detail and printing flexibility.
CONCERNS: The repetitious nature of these exercises could make it tedious for continuous use over time. Many students learn these sentence skills and vocabulary words through day-to-day interaction. The program is more suitable for development of language comprehension skills, rather than written language skills.
CmapTools: It's Free
By Janet Hopkins
Corporate and classroom brainstorming exercises are often led by a group facilitator who records and links ideas on a whiteboard, chalkboard, or poster paper. Sometimes the notes are presented in point form, but often we develop our ideas as webs. Webs allow us to develop hierarchical and visual representations that show relationships, categories, order, and sequence.
Diagrammatic webs are also known as graphic organizers, mind maps, or concept maps. Concept maps help a person or group to organize information in a meaningful way. Main ideas are connected by a series of links or arrows to supporting ideas. Colors, groupings, pictures, and shapes may be used to link or highlight concept map features.
Concept maps can be used for representing facts, opinions and feelings about any subject. They are a versatile form of expression that can be personal, academic, or a combination of the two. This makes concept mapping compatible with any discipline or area of interest.
Read the rest of this article HERE in the November 4, 2005 issue of ComputorEdge Magazine.
NEW RELEASE: FREEDOM MACHINES DVD EDUCATION PACKAGE:
STATE-OF-THE-
ART, BILINGUAL (English/Spanish), FULLY ACCESSIBLE
(a Richard Cox Production)
(San Francisco, January 3rd, 2006) The producers of the groundbreaking PBS program announced a special release today of the FREEDOM MACHINES DVD Education Package, a powerful new resource for university and secondary school educators, school districts, staff and professional development, and government and community agencies.
FREEDOM MACHINES premiered as a PBS Fall Special on the award- winning POV series. The film has been praised as "an essential primer on disability in the age of technology" for its exploration of the ways people are recasting their lives with the help of new technologies. Through the stories of adults and children ages 8-93, the film reveals the human and social benefits of providing access to life-enhancing tools to people with disabilities.
The FREEDOM MACHINES DVD Education Package provides an easy to navigate, interactive experience. Among a handful of DVDs worldwide with full accessibility features--including Talking Menus and Video Description for viewers with visual impairments--this innovative product is one of the first in a bilingual format available to users of all physical abilities. It includes:
-Director/producer Jamie Stobie's cut of the PBS program, FREEDOM MACHINES, re-designed for instructional use with chapter cues and segment running times.
-Four new segments with practical information on the types of assistive technology available today, legal rights and advocacy for people with disabilities, how to obtain necessary technology, and Universal Design.
-Downloadable, interactive resources and web support for educators and facilitators.
Executive Producer Janet Cole whose credits include the Oscar- nominated "Regret to Inform" and "Promises" said, "Fifteen years after the ADA, FREEDOM MACHINES reflects on our nation's commitment to our largest minority group, people with disabilities. Today, physical or mental impairments need not be impediments if people have access to necessary technologies, services, and accommodations. Human ingenuity and technology have evolved exponentially. Now the real challenge is mobilizing the social will to dismantle outmoded stereotypes and nurture the talents of 20% of our citizens."
"FREEDOM MACHINES is required viewing for teachers, service providers, policy makers, and anyone who works with disabled children, adults, or seniors." --Andy Imparato, President & CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities
"REMARKABLE. FREEDOM MACHINES manages a near-perfect balance of compassion, humor, political insight, and deep admiration for the people it profiles--individuals whose lives have been significantly improved by new technologies that bring hope where none existed before. 3.5 STARS." --Video Librarian
"FREEDOM MACHINES is the gigantic wake-up call needed by future teachers. I can think of no better way to challenge our attitudes and thinking than by viewing this film." --Mary Male, Professor, San Jose State University
TO ORDER the FREEDOM MACHINES Education Package visit www.freedommachines.com. For more information, please call: 415-821- 3791
FREEDOM MACHINES was funded by the National Science Foundation, the Independent Television Service (ITVS) with funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the Community Technology Foundation of California (CTFC), The California Endowment, and the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund. Support for the production of the DVD Education Package was provided by SBC, the Community Technology Foundation of California, the Price-Galinson Trust, and Parents Helping Parents with funds from the California Consumer Protection Foundation. Translations were provided by the SBC Spanish Translation Group.
Upcoming Conferences
Find conferences on rehabilitation and assistive technology at http://www.starlingweb.com/adp/
_______________________________________________________________
Assistive Technology: An Introductory Guide for K-12 Library Media Specialists
(ISBN: 1-58683-138-0), written by Janet Hopkins, is now available through Linworth Publishing, Inc.
http://www.linworth.com
This unique book offers valuable information on accessibility and assistive technologies for educators including K-12, public and postsecondary librarians. The content covers: Inclusion and accessibility topics; School reform, legislation, and funding; Operating system and browser accessibility; Add-on assistive technology hardware and software for special needs; Open Source and proprietary software; Captioning technologies; Portable and assistive devices; Internet resources, conferences, and professional development. Expert contributors from the United States and Australia are featured in sidebar and chapter content throughout the book.
As inclusive education partners, librarians are in a strong position to assist information users with special needs. Until now, it has been difficult to find a library-focused resource on enabling technologies, strategies, and products to enhance library accessibility and services for clients with special needs. Assistive Technology: An Introductory Guide for K-12 Library Media Specialists is a well-organized, fifteen chapter book that introduces assistive technology information to educators unfamiliar with this emerging field and its important applications in libraries and education.
Buy the book online
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca (Canadian site)
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