More Than Flash & Dash:

Edina Fitzpatrick

Coord. Of Instructional Technology

Using Technology to Engage & Support Using Technology to Engage & Support Students with Learning DisabilitiesStudents with Learning Disabilities

Heather KrenzerMS Math & Expeditionary Learning

Jeff ParkerHS ELA & Writing

The Norman Howard SchoolThe Norman Howard School

Independent co-ed day schoolIndependent co-ed day school

Students with LD in grades 5-12Students with LD in grades 5-12

131 students from 39 school districts – 131 students from 39 school districts – over 8 countiesover 8 counties

Approved special education programApproved special education program

Our Program Supports…Our Program Supports…

Students with a variety of language or learning Students with a variety of language or learning disabilities includingdisabilities including– DyslexiaDyslexia– Non-Verbal LDNon-Verbal LD– Asperger’s SyndromeAsperger’s Syndrome– AnxietyAnxiety– ADHDADHD

Students with average or higher cognitive Students with average or higher cognitive potential and free of any primary emotional potential and free of any primary emotional and/or behavioral concernsand/or behavioral concerns

How is technology used at NHS?How is technology used at NHS?

Facilitate communicationFacilitate communication

Enhance productivityEnhance productivity

Engage studentsEngage students

Prepare & present effective instructionPrepare & present effective instruction

Promote learning by capitalizing on student’s Promote learning by capitalizing on student’s strengths & circumventing weaknessesstrengths & circumventing weaknesses

Encourage respect, responsibility, and safety Encourage respect, responsibility, and safety while using technologywhile using technology

And. . .And. . .

Creativity & ExpressionCreativity & Expression

Dark Room – PhotographyDark Room – Photography Greek Pottery

What Resources are available?What Resources are available?

High-speed Internet access throughout the school High-speed Internet access throughout the school network network Classroom computers (2-6 per room)Classroom computers (2-6 per room)3 Computer Labs3 Computer LabsMobile Laptop CartMobile Laptop CartComputer projectorsComputer projectorsSMARTBoards SMARTBoards (interactive whiteboards)(interactive whiteboards)

Online resources: Online resources: – Castle LearningCastle Learning– BrainPopBrainPop– Education CityEducation City– BookshareBookshare– Accessible Book CollectionAccessible Book Collection– Atomic LearningAtomic Learning

Main Computer LabMain Computer Lab

High School Writing LabHigh School Writing Lab

Middle School Writing LabMiddle School Writing Lab

Mobile Laptop CartMobile Laptop Cart

NHS Computer LabsNHS Computer Labs

Technology in the CurriculumTechnology in the Curriculum

KeyboardingKeyboardingPart of Writing Curriculum Part of Writing Curriculum

Middle School Middle School (grades 5-8)(grades 5-8)

Tech Class RotationTech Class Rotation

Develop & reinforce skills Develop & reinforce skills

Explore new concepts Explore new concepts (simulations)(simulations)

Research & problem solveResearch & problem solve

Express & assess knowledgeExpress & assess knowledge

Assistive TechnologyAssistive TechnologyAny item, piece of equipment or system that helps people Any item, piece of equipment or system that helps people

bypass, work around, or compensate for learning bypass, work around, or compensate for learning difficulties…difficulties…

Including:Including:Dragon Naturally SpeakingDragon Naturally SpeakingKurzweil 3000 Kurzweil 3000 (text-reader, word prediction, phonemic spell-checker, (text-reader, word prediction, phonemic spell-checker, talking word processor)talking word processor)

WordQ WordQ (text-reader, word prediction)(text-reader, word prediction)

Ginger Spell Ginger Spell Thinking MapsThinking MapsInspirationInspirationLiveScribe SmartPensLiveScribe SmartPens

Ginger SpellGinger Spell

Designed for writers with learning Designed for writers with learning difficulties (dyslexia or ESL)difficulties (dyslexia or ESL)

Looks at context of sentenceLooks at context of sentence

Corrects spelling, grammar & usageCorrects spelling, grammar & usage

Provides text-to-speechProvides text-to-speech

http://gingersoftware.com/http://gingersoftware.com/

Ginger Ginger ReportsReports

Group

Student

Smart Response SystemSmart Response System

Teachers create questionsTeachers create questions

Each student responds on Each student responds on a wireless ‘clicker’a wireless ‘clicker’

Engagement & AssessmentEngagement & Assessment

Students immediately see Students immediately see their score on the clickertheir score on the clicker

Teachers can view Teachers can view results for individual results for individual students or the students or the entire classentire class

ReadingReading

Lexia Reading – Lexia Reading – phonemic skillsphonemic skills

Read Naturally – Read Naturally – fluency developmentfluency development

Education CityEducation City

Kurzweil – Kurzweil – reading comprehensionreading comprehension

ClipRead – ClipRead – parse textparse text

SmartBoardsSmartBoards

iPod iTouch – iPod iTouch – fluency recordings & appsfluency recordings & apps

Lexia Reading

Expeditionary LearningExpeditionary Learning

In-depth investigations that engage In-depth investigations that engage students in community, projects, and students in community, projects, and serviceservice

iPad PilotiPad Pilot– Hands-onHands-on– EngagingEngaging– DifferentiatedDifferentiated– Apps for all levels & topicsApps for all levels & topics– eBookseBooks– Lower cost per studentLower cost per student

Using the iPadUsing the iPadRe-telling of Iroquois Legends Re-telling of Iroquois Legends – Thinking MapsThinking Maps– iPad app - Writer’s StudioiPad app - Writer’s Studio– iBooksiBooks

Iroquois LegendsIroquois Legends

They then completed a Flow Map sequencing the events of the story

Using iBooks and the iPad’s accessibilityfeatures students read an Iroquois Legend.

Iroquois LegendsIroquois Legends

Finally using the Writer’s Studio app students illustrated their legend and stated the message.

The final product was published to YouTube and saved as a ePub on each iPad’s bookshelf

PodcastingPodcasting

Students develop Students develop communication skills communication skills includingincluding– ReadingReading– WritingWriting– SpeakingSpeaking

Renaissance Inventions PodcastsRenaissance Inventions Podcasts

Students Students researched an researched an invention invention using a Tree using a Tree Map to Map to organize their organize their information. information. Then took Then took their their information information and wrote a and wrote a podcast script. podcast script.

Students practiced their scripts extensively before recording the podcast. Due to reading difficulties for our students it was imperative that the script was memorized (or close to it), to help with the fluency of the final product.

With teacher assistance, students used With teacher assistance, students used Garage Band to record and personalize Garage Band to record and personalize their Podcasts.their Podcasts.

Education CityEducation City

Engaging games help students develop skills in Math, ELA & Science.

Teachers can assign specific activities and track progress.

Jeff ParkerJeff Parker

Engaging & Supporting Engaging & Supporting

Students with Learning Disabilities Students with Learning Disabilities

at the High School Levelat the High School Level