Assistive Technology
Dragon Dictation, put simply, is a voice recognition application suitable for all types of users. Dragon Dictation allows a user to get their work down up to five times faster as opposed to typing, or even hand-writing a piece. Dragon Dictation allows users to send voice to text transcriptions to email, social media sites, and SMS messages but the application does so much more in terms of education. Students can (among other things) take notes as well as dictate stories and writing pieces. Students can also easily organize, adjust, and edit their writing pieces along the way. Likely the most valuable reason for Dragon Dictation in Education is in the Learning Support Community; students who do not have the ability to write, whether it be a physical disability or a general learning disability, can get their own ideas out and transcribed without having someone do the writing entirely for them. Limitations- need 3G/wifi, need microphone, can pick up other noise Pricing- Free
A graphic organizer program, Inspiration Maps is an application that enables users to create maps, diagrams, and other types of visual organizers; the organizers that are created are intended to allow the user to put ideas in order before extracting them into a base for writing. Also made available to users are pre-made organizer templates for ease of application use. This application allows students to literally see their writing coming together rather than visualizing it, risking the loss of their ideas and details, and then transforms the diagram into an outline for a writing piece. The application also includes other features: importing pictures into diagrams and the creation of study guides. Inspiration Maps is very user-friendly and can be accessed using both an iPad and a Personal Computer. Limitations- age, computer skills Pricing- $9.99
Starfall is a program designed specifically to target and teach phonics. The website is touted as a free public service and is appropriate for primary grades (pre-K, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade) but is also a great tool for Learning Support students and students with English as a second language. The website is very engaging and primary utilizes videos, songs, and games to keep users interested and motivated. Each of the lessons or activities includes audio and guides the student through the interactive lessons. Starfall has a very wide range of things for students to do always keeping them entertained and learning. Starfall does not collect data and therefore does not allow for teachers to track progress of any students; this makes Starfall more of an independent tool for the student, and not a tool for the teacher. Limitations- primary grades only, need computer with headphones, not teacher directed Pricing- Free
Khan Academy provides free, world-class education through a self-paced program suitable for virtually any student at any level. The site keeps students engaged with interactive “help” videos, quizzes, and activities, while still keeping each student working at their own pace. Should the student struggle with a concept/problem that has been presented to them, Khan Academy will break the problem down step by step, showing the student exactly how to solve the equation; this keeps the student working independently while still collecting data for the teacher’s later use. A teacher can guide learning through creating a custom profile for each student, assigning points for correct answers, and measuring performance. Teachers can access a summary of each student’s performance, or the performance of their class as a whole; the beauty of the summary is that each student’s struggle can be pinpointed and thus remedied by the teacher much more quickly than without the data. Limitations- math only, trouble with videos, students can guess Pricing- Free
IXL is a student-centered program that offers a wide variety of Math lessons. Each lesson is standards-based, so there is a lesson/game for virtually every topic a student would need intervention or even enrichment on. IXL is engages its users through games and goal-based activities. Teachers can monitor students’ progress, ensuring their ability to intervene on the specific topic a student is struggling with. The point of IXL is to get students to practice while keeping them engaged through fun games and activities; keeping the practice engaging will hopefully ensure the student is on the road to mastering the lesson. IXL is a very organized site; each lesson has the Core Standard Heading labeled next to it. Having the standard labeled keeps this site very-teacher friendly while still keeping it accessible to parents for home-use; parents can use both the search box and can read the titles under their student’s grade level. Limitations- not teacher directed, no assessments Pricing- $199/yr.
Sketchpad Explorer is an app that is based on an award winning software, “The Geometer’s Sketchpad”, that is functional at all grade levels. The app is very hands-on in that it allows the user to manipulate, drag, and animate math visuals. The focus of Sketchpad Explorer is deep understanding of concepts through investigation, activities, and interactive pieces/lessons. Sketchpad Explorer also offers iPad specific workbooks and activities but does press that users do not engage in repetitive drills or lessons. Sketchpad Explorer is one of the ultimate apps in keeping its users engaged. At this time, the app is geared towards individual users and not classrooms/full class lists; there is no data made available to teachers and therefore no way for a teacher to implement an intervention. Limitations- no assessment Pricing- Free
Edmodo is a social learning platform but is unique in that it is secure; in order for students to participate, they must first obtain a code directly from their classroom teacher. Edmodo can connect both students in one classroom and students in multiple classrooms, creating a great environment for collaboration. Students can access any content the teacher chooses to share and Edmodo is customizable for each and every learner. The goal of Edmodo is to take what students use everyday outside of school and bring it inside-giving them what they are not only comfortable using and doing, but love using and doing. Teachers can use the application as a way to share grades, homework, and messages; this makes this application valuable to parents as well as students. Edmodo is a great application for the school learning environment and the home learning environment. Limitations- need wifi/3G Pricing- Free
Skype provides free video calling through mobile devices as well as laptops and personal computers. Educationally, Skype would be appropriate for older students who have access to/their own video-capable devices and need to collaborate with another student or a group of students. Skype gives the user the ability to send files and share content making it a perfect application for group/teamwork. Another aspect of Skype could be the use between classrooms; students could be cross-grouped between different teacher’s classrooms and Skype would give the students the ability to collaborate without having to leave their own classroom. Aside from video calling, instant messaging is also offered; students can send each other or their teacher questions and answers or general information. Limitations- need wifi/3G, noise, camera needed Pricing- Free
A Glogster is the user’s very own digital poster, designed by them, using not only images, but also text, audio and even video. This tool gives students the ultimate freedom to create without having to drag out the standard paper, scissors, and glue. This tool is geared towards older students who have the ability not only to use a computer mouse, but a deeper set of skills in order to save and open files, navigate the world wide web, and any other skill required to create a virtual poster. Glogsters can be shared with other students, classes, and whomever the creator chooses to share with. The beauty of Glogster is the lack of limitation in terms of subject area; this tool could truly be used for virtually any subject matter in which a visual is required and it is a wonderfully unique alternative to the most commonly used presentation formats such as PowerPoint. Being unique, Glogster is another tool to keep students motivated to share and express themselves. Limitations- access to technology, need internet Pricing- $50-$5000 (based on package)
ScreenChomp is an app designed for the iPad and is simply put, a “doodling board” designed to enable easy sharing. ScreenChomp enables the user to literally record each of their ‘doodles’, be it instructions, a diagram, etc. and then send it to another user. The recording is not only visual, but also audible. Students could interact with each other to collaborate on projects or even help with that night’s homework; teachers could assist individual students with their homework or even send home a few visual tips related to a topic the student needs practice with; this application almost replicates a teacher assisting a student one-on-one in the classroom on paper, minus the face-time. ScreenChomp would be most appropriate for students with the available technology, and the ability to understand and use the application. Overall ScreenChomp is very easy to use. Limitations- ability, access to devices, noise Pricing- Free
