Assistive Technology Tools for

Our School

By Amber Bristol

Table of Contents• What is Assistive technology• Electronic Spellers and Dictionaries

• What is the Electronic Speller and Dictionary• Why do we need the Electronic Speller and Dictionary• How the Electronic Speller and Dictionary will be used and who will use it• Evaluation of the Electronic Speller and Dictionary

• Interactive Electronic Storybooks• What is the Electronic Storybook• Why do we need the Electronic Storybook• How the Electronic storybook will be used and who will use it• Evaluation of the Electronic Storybook

• References

What is an Assistive Technology Tool• Defined by Kristin Stanberry and Dr. Marshal Raskind (2006),

“Assistive technology for kids with LD is defined as any device, piece of equipment, or system that helps bypass, work around, or compensate for an individual’s specific learning deficits”

• Assistive Technology Tools allow children with learning disabilities to use their strengths to work around their disabilities (Stanberry & Raskind, 2006)

Important Ideas to Consider about Assistve Technology Tools

1. Assistive technology by itself does not always provide positive learning supports for students

2. While commonly used to support students with disabilities, assistive technologies create extraordinary learning opportunities for ALL students

3. When used creatively by teachers, many electronic and computer-based tools can serve as assistive technologies

Electronic Spellers and Dictionaries

What is an Electronic Speller and Dictionary

• Helps students with:• Correct Spelling• Pronouncing words by listening to the words spoken aloud• Define words by hear the definition of the word• Practice writing words in cursive or print by watching the

Electronic Speller and Dictionary write the words in cursive or print•Writes on letter at a time when the machine pronounces it to better help students sound out the words, as well as write the words

• Great for all ages

Why does our School District Need the Electronic Speller

and Dictionary?• Fun, motivating, and engaging ways for students to build their vocabulary and spelling

• Students with Learning Disabilities have the ability with this device to hear the word and definition, and to see the word written and the spelling of the word

• Students can use this device to check their own writing assignments without the help of a teacher

How will this Device be Used and by Who

•Will be used by the students to accomplish:• spelling, find definition of words, and pronounce words correctly

• Special Education teachers will use this device to help students with learning disabilities pronounce words, write words correctly, and help these students build their vocabulary

Evaluation of the Electronic Speller and Dictionary

• Spelling tests

• Listening to students read (pronouncing words)

• Definition tests or class discussions• Saying a word and asking the class “What does ____ mean?”

Electronic Storybooks

What is the Electronic Storybook?

•Electronic Storybooks are interactive story books•Students listen to the story and interact with the characters and within the different scenes

Why does our School District Need the Electronic

Storybooks?• Fun and engaging way for students to learn to read

• Students build skills in:• Word recognition• Decoding stories

•What happened in the beginning, middle and end• Comprehend the meaning behind the story

How will the Electronic Storybook be Used and by

Who?

• The Electronic Storybooks will be used by the students and the teachers to:• Build on word recognition• Definition of words• Increase reading levels

Evaluation of the Electronic Storybook

• Can be evaluated using:• Reading tests

References

Maloy, R.W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. P. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson, Education.

Stanberry, K. & Raskind, M.H. (2006). Assistive Technology” A parent’s guide. Retrieved from http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/Assistive_Technology_Parents_Guide.pdf.