{"id":2604,"date":"2016-02-10T06:30:25","date_gmt":"2016-02-10T14:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/?p=2604"},"modified":"2016-02-10T05:55:40","modified_gmt":"2016-02-10T13:55:40","slug":"assistive-software-inclusion-in-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/assistive-software-inclusion-in-the-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Assistive Software &#8211; Inclusion in the Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There are a number of assistive-type softwares that may help students with access to learning in the classroom. The following focuses on writing, reading, and vision supports. Most are free and can be easily downloaded by the student.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>EASE of ACCESS:<\/strong>\u00a0This group of tools offers simple word prediction through the on-screen keyboard, magnifier (for vision support)&#8230; <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/files\/2016\/02\/Using-EASE-OF-ACCESS.pdf\">Click here<\/a>\u00a0for instructions. Note the different ways to gain access whether you are a teacher or student.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SpeakIt:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Google Chrome extension that provides text-to-speech for most web content. Has a range of voices and languages to choose.\u00a0Options are available to adjust the speaking rate and pitch of voice. This is a good one!<\/li>\n<li><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-4137 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/learningtech\/files\/2016\/02\/ClaroSpeak_chromeicon-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"ClaroSpeak_chromeicon\" width=\"47\" height=\"47\" \/>ClaroSpeak:<\/strong> Google Chrome extension is a simple text-to-speech reader with word prediction, editing, proofing and speaking dictionary. There is also a more powerful\u00a0paid\u00a0app for ipads that includes access to pdf.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/rewordify.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Rewordify<\/a>:<\/strong> This is a site that I&#8217;ve written about before and is well worth repeating. (<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/2013\/09\/29\/reading-the-impossible\/\" target=\"_blank\">Click here for previous post<\/a>) Any text can be pasted into the box and it will return a simplified version \u2013 very quickly I might add. One of the options deserves highlighting. Retaining the original word within the text, while offering a simpler form provides two things: increase of comprehension and increase of vocabulary. Sitting side by side, relationships between the difficult term and easier one is visually connected. As well, the integrated dictionary allows access to almost all of the words in the selection. Finally, the content can be printed and stored.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Word Talk<\/strong>\u00a0on <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">MSWord<\/span>: \u00a0Text-to-Speech toolbar is part of computer images (click on the tab, <strong>ADD-INS<\/strong>). This toolbar provides reading support as well as a simple word prediction dictionary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/learningtech\/files\/2016\/02\/wordtalk.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4082\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/learningtech\/files\/2016\/02\/wordtalk.png\" alt=\"wordtalk\" width=\"681\" height=\"54\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/learningtech\/software\/graphic-organizerswriting\/kidspiration\/\" target=\"_blank\">Kidspiration<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/learningtech\/software\/graphic-organizerswriting\/inspiration\/\" target=\"_blank\">Inspiration<\/a> <\/strong>(graphic organizer to writing): \u00a0While this is not technically assistive software, it does have a sound recorder that can support memory or as an audio file embedded within the graphic organizer. The recorder will also show up in Outline Writing view. This provides a seamless process from ideas generation to written output. \u00a0All sd41 teachers can have a personal full copy of the software for home use. (See our <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/formsapply\/\" target=\"_blank\">FORMS<\/a> page for information on TAKE-HOME software.)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kurzweil 3000:<\/strong> This software is the cadillac of assistive softwares. It\u00a0will read almost any digital information (print, electronic, pdf or the Web)\u00a0in clear, synthetic speech, while a dual highlighting feature adds visual reinforcement.\u00a0 This provides a digital means of engaging with text and supports those students who require alternative methods for accessing, writing and recording information. <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/learningtech\/software\/kurzweil-3000\/\" target=\"_blank\">Click here<\/a> for more information.<\/li>\n<li><strong>iWordQ-CA<\/strong>\u00a0($29): This is an ipad app that mimics a simple version of what you would expect from the more robust Kurzweil 3000. In writing mode, text editor includes word prediction, spell checker, dictionary and speech recognition. In reading mode, text-to-speech offers proofing and reading options.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Add language keyboards<\/strong> to Win7 devices &#8211; access other languages through added keyboards. <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/learningtech\/files\/2016\/02\/Adding-Languages-Keyboards-Win7.pdf\">Click here<\/a>\u00a0for instructions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Do you have any favourites that integrate with reading or writing? Drop a comment in the box below. I&#8217;d love to add to the list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are a number of assistive-type softwares that may help students with access to learning in the classroom. The following focuses on writing, reading, and vision supports. Most are free and can be easily downloaded by the student. EASE of ACCESS:\u00a0This group of tools offers simple word prediction through the on-screen keyboard, magnifier (for vision&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4644,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,74,14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4644"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2604"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2608,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604\/revisions\/2608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/fastforword\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}