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 Presented by Matthew Dudley Sixth Level Learning Support Teacher Upper St. Clair School District April 17th, 2007
Presentation Overview / What is Assistive Technology? / Examples of Assistive Technology -School related and personally related / Overview of Kurzweil / Benefits of Kurzweil / What is Assistive Technology? / Examples of Assistive Technology -School related and personally related / Overview of Kurzweil / Benefits of Kurzweil
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 ( ) / 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 ( )
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) / 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
Other Areas that Incorporate Assistive Technology / Computer Access / Vision / Hearing / Recreation / Mobility / Daily Living Skills / Environmental Control / Positioning and Sitting / Computer Access / Vision / Hearing / Recreation / Mobility / Daily Living Skills / Environmental Control / Positioning and Sitting
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.
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 / 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
The Process: From Planning to Using
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
The Benefits of Kurzweil / Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following areas: -Incorporating the Curriculum / 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.)
The Benefits of Kurzweil / Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following areas: -Reading Fluency / Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following areas: -Reading Fluency / Examples: -Colored moving text -Footnotes and bubbles -Highlighting features -Vocabulary Lists
The Benefits of Kurzweil / Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following areas: -Study Skills / Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following areas: -Study Skills / Examples: -Footnotes and bubbles -Extracting Text
The Benefits of Kurzweil / Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following areas: -Decoding Support / 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
The Benefits of Kurzweil / Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following areas: -Writing and Editing Support / 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
The Benefits of Kurzweil / Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following areas: -Independent Test Taking / Kurzweil has been beneficial in the following areas: -Independent Test Taking / Examples: -Lock features -Highlight and drag -Reading Software -Typing and highlighting -Dictionary/Thesaurus
Additional Information / More information available at / Presentation available at: Mr. Dudley’s USC website (Boyce Middle School) / More information available at / Presentation available at: Mr. Dudley’s USC website (Boyce Middle School)