Tech Tools to Support Literacy in the Content Area ATEN Region 2 July 2005 July 2005

How could you increase the difficulty of your set? What does the statement mean? The difficulty of your set could be increased if you do a jam followed by a peach.

The Way it Is The Way it Is Number of students at risk in content area curriculum continues to increase Pressures to meet higher standards and cover content for big stakes testing are pervasive Human resources and time to assist students who cannot read print at grade level are decreasing Textbooks rule as a major curriculum tool Students must engage in independent reading to learn content!

What We Know About Teaching Effective instructional strategies can increase student learning –Activate background knowledge –Teach key content area vocabulary –Summarize key concepts (Vocabulary, knowledge and reading comprehension are highly related!) Effective technology strategies can increase student learning Instructional strategies + technology tools = student success

What We Know About Reading Effective strategies used before, during and after reading improve comprehension Students must learn to think about what they are reading as they read Students must learn –To ask questions about content –Summarize what they have read –Identify main ideas, key concepts Students must read fluently to learn from silent, independent reading.

What We Know About Reading in the Content Area Students must have –A knowledge of specialized vocabulary –A wide range of background knowledge –Strategies for reading expository, rather than narrative text –A high level of monitoring for understanding –Study and memory techniques –Ability to overcome a lack of interest in reading and writing to learn

What We Know About Technology Digital text is flexible; printed text is rigid. Text to speech supports at risk students in reading Talking word processors support at risk students in writing Word prediction helps at risk students write more Not all technology tools work for all students at risk Students, teachers, support personnel must be trained in use of tools

Premier Accessibility Suite Software for Reading and Writing

Accessibility Suite Comprehensive 250,000 word dictionary that talks Reads definition of word and uses word in context in a sentence Provides list of synonyms and antonyms Includes spell checker and thesaurus Works with most applications Power search feature helps find words from series of letters in word

Universal Reader Floating toolbar Works with most applications Use it to read , Word documents, PDF files Set location of bar – always top, minimized, running behind other applications

Universal Reader Optional view window with custom settings

Universal Reader Talking Pointer Option

E-Text Reader

Reads electronic books or any text that you can select Reads any document in Standard Text, MS Word, RTF, HTML formats Highlights text in four colors Allows you to insert bookmarks (ß) Includes full, integrated, word processor to make your own notes

E-Text Reader Extracts highlighted text to new file

Talking Word Processor

Full function word processor that talks Includes a spell checker, thesaurus, and word prediction Special features –Word view – displays word in a custom window –Word pause - slows down the reading of words –Word magnify - tracks the word being spoken –Word repeat - speaks word as typed –Key echo - speaks letter as typed

TWP – Word Prediction As you begin to ty As you type, a list of words is displayed. Type the number that corresponds to your choice. The word will appear in the sentence.

TWP – Word Prediction

TWP – Multiple Doc View

Ultimate Talking Dictionary Comprehensive 250,000 word dictionary that talks Reads definition of word and uses word in context in a sentence Provides list of synonyms and antonyms Includes spell checker and thesaurus Works with most applications Power search feature helps find words from series of letters in word

Ultimate Talking Dictionary

Scan and Read Pro Full powered scanning application Easy to operate Includes full reading tool with options Includes full word processor with word prediction, spelling checker, and thesaurus Can convert text files to audio (WAV, MP3) Has built-in MP3 Player

Scan and Read Pro Picture of scanned page in image view Scanned pages in text view

Talking Calculator Use with or without a screen reader Has large keys and contrasting colors Every button and edit area talks Displays entries and results as you work Allows user to cut and paste work steps into a document

Talking Calculator

PDF Magic Converts “inaccessible” PDF Files to accessible formats as MS Word, Text, HTML, RTF Reads document using all reading options Includes spell checker, thesaurus, word processing features, CD Writer Converts PDF Files to audio files Supports audio segmenting

PDF Magic

Text to Audio Text to Audio Converts text files to audio files Works with Microsoft Word files, Standard Text, Rich Text Format and HTML Creates 9 different types of audio output files, including MP3, WAVE and VOX Includes CD writer and MP3 player

Text to Audio

Text Cloner Pro Scans files that work with all major screen readers Works with any TWAIN compatible scanners Aligns images, formats documents, and handles multiple columns automatically Includes word processor, spell checker, thesaurus Imports and recognizes text from existing images

Text Cloner Pro

Off Limits Full-featured web browser reads web pages online Manages individual or group internet access with permission-based, multi-level controls Allows for individual access profiles, including restricting sites and times to access internet Creates audio files from web pages Safe “site categories” available

Off Limits

Off Limits – User Settings

Premier Accessibility Suite Software for Reading and Writing