Thematic+Unit+-+Assistive+Technologies

This page is designed to give examples of how to employ assistive technologies for this thematic unit to help student's with learning difficulties.
=Students with Cognitive Difficulties=

The biggest challenge for student with cognitive difficulties in this thematic unit would be reading and processing the rules and machines guidelines. Many of these rules and guidelines are written in a very to-the-point way and may be confusing.


 * Strategy 1:** To help student better understand what they are reading, we will be using an online dictionary. When a student encounters a word or phrase they are not familiar with, the will be directed to “Look it up online” using the online dictionary. This dictionary will not only define a word for the student, but it will also pronounce it for them.


 * Strategy 2:** For students that have trouble reading, we will be utilizing WizCom’s Reading Pens. These pen shaped scanning devices can be used on any of the handouts that we use in class. If a student is having trouble understanding a section, they can use the Reading Pen to scan the word, sentence or paragraph and the device will read it for them.

Appropriate Cognitive Difficulties iPod App:
1. Dictionary – This powerful app does three things that will help students. It allows them to look-up words and finds their meanings. It has a thesaurus that helps students find similar words. Finally, it will speak any of the words so student will know how they sound. 2. Type n Talk – This app allows students to type a word, phrase or sentences and the app speak what has been typed. This is very useful for students that are having a hard time reading or understanding the reading. Headphones will be needed for this use in order to not disturb the rest of the class.

=Students With Physical Difficulties= An aspect of this thematic unit is that it requires a lot of time on a computer to complete the activities. As such, consideration must be taken for students with physical difficulties so that each student will have the ability to not only complete the activities, but to gain knowledge and experience from them that will benefit them in their future.


 * Strategy 1:** To help student with the computer activities in this unit, DragonTalk will be used for student with difficulties in using a computer keyboard. By using DragonTalk, students will be able to dictate to the computer and the software will type the words that they are saying.


 * Strategy 2:** If a student is not able to dictate to the computer, they will be using an Intellitools’ IntelliKeys keyboard. This very flexible keyboard can be set up to work with a computer as an input device and will allow the students with physical difficulties that can not use DragonTalk to complete the computer activities in this unit.

Appropriate Physical Difficulties iPod App:
1. Dragon Dictation – This app must be used with an add-on microphone. Working in very similar way as DragonTalk, this app will allow student to speak into the microphone and convert what they say to written text. This text can then be copy and pasted into other applications or used on an internet activity. 2. iBook – This app allows the user to download free books and purchase books if wanted. It also allows the user to save PDF files and view them like a book. Using the PDF feature of this app, student can download a PDF copy of all notes and handouts and read them as needed. The student can move between notes and pages by just flicking their finger.

=Students with Sensory Difficulties= Since this unit is a very hands-on unit that includes technology activities and hands on work, students with sensory difficulties might have a difficult time. However, with the incorporation of technology tools, we can greatly improve the odds of success for students with vision and hearing difficulties.


 * Strategy 1:** In order to help student with vision difficulties, the use of a Screen Reader, such as JAWS or Window-Eyes . The inclusion of these types of tools will allow students to participate fully in the online activities that are featured in this unit.


 * Strategy 2:** For those students that have poor vision, we will be using a SmartView Synergy desktop magnifier. This tool will allow the student to read any handouts that are part of this unit by magnifying them so that they are large enough for the student to see.

Appropriate Sensory Difficulties iPod App:
1. Type n Talk – This app allows students to type a word, phrase or sentences and the app speak what has been typed. This is very useful for students that have difficulty speaking and want to contribute to the class. It would be helpful to have an accessory speaker for the entire class to hear. 2. Sign Smith – This app demonstrates how to sign words in ASL. This will be helpful if a student needs to learn a new work related to this unit, or if non-signing student would like to learn to words and phrases to communicate with their classmate.

=At-Risk Students= At-Risk students are commonly found in hands-on areas, as it seems to fit their learning styles better than a traditional classroom setting. Particular attention should be placed on motivating and giving quick feedback to help these students succeed. Technology can be a great tool for these students as it opens up the world and can give a lot of feedback if desired.


 * Strategy 1:** To help students receive that instant feedback that they desire, the traditional Safety Tests that we do will be replaced with Moodle quizzes. The same questions that were found on the traditional test have been imported to our schools Moodle site. Student will log on and take each quiz after we have studied and demonstrated each machine. At the completion of each quiz, student will be able to see their score for that instant feedback.


 * Strategy 2:** Prior to beginning each section of the unit, which will incorporate a single machine, the class will discuss and see what can be completed with this new machine. Digital pictures of examples will be displayed to provide students with an idea of the machines capability and to provide motivation to make it through each section of the unit. Video clips of the machine being used will be shown to help students understand what it will look and sound like when it is on.

Appropriate At-Risk iPod App:
1. iReward – This app incorporates a motivational chart that can be set up for certain goals. You can use images to show the goal or the rewards. This would be set up in this unit as a progression through the 6 machines that will be taught. As we get through each machine (goal) they would received the designated reward. 2. iResponse – This app runs very similar to the clickers that can be purchased for interactive whiteboards. During this unit, this app will be used when reviewing with the student to see what they have learned and what needs to be covered again. This will provide the quick feedback that At-Risk students need.

=Gifted and Talented Students= Students that are considered gifted and talented must be considered when planning any unit. If these students are not challenged, they will become bored with the content and see other ways of keeping themselves busy. Sometimes this will lead to negative behavior and it is best to have strategies to avoid this all together.


 * Strategy 1:** Set up the class so that the gifted and talented students become the moderators of the internet activities. Having these students provide peer evaluations of their classmate’s submissions allows them complete this exercise while challenging them to evaluate others work.


 * Strategy 2:** Allow the gifted and talented students to compete advanced research on the unit’s topic. Student can pick if they would like to complete a historical or future look into the unit, or a statistical look. Student would then be expected to compile their data and present it in a media rich environment such as a wiki.

Appropriate Gifted and Talented iPod App:
1. Wikipanion – This will allow the student to conduct further research on Wikipedia through a dedicated app. Since it is a dedicated app, articles are easier to browse on this app verses the mobile browser. 2. Awesome Note – This app lets students take notes on a topic and easily transfer these notes to Google Docs and Evernote. This app would be used by those students opting to do further research on the unit’s topic so that they are able to keep their notes digital and transfer them easily to a workable platform.