Content Area Instructional Toolbox
First Grade Unit
Living Things: Trees
SPED 656
Fall 2014
Camille Boden
Part II: Multiple Means of Action & Expression
Assistive Technology Tool 1: Online Manipulatives, Interactive, Tutorials, Animations
A. The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html) is a website that includes a collection of interactive, web-based virtual manipulatives and concept tutorials for K-12 mathematics instruction.
B. The purpose of the tool is to actively involve students by providing an online alternative to physical objects that help students visualize mathematics concepts.
C. This tool will assist a student to access the general education curriculum by representing mathematical ideas in multiple ways. For example, many students have trouble with the symbolic nature of fractions. However, when they use the virtual fraction models available on the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives, they build mental images of fractions and this visual understanding helps them understand the concept more clearly.
D. There is no data provided to support the use of this tool.
E. This tool is completely free to the public.
F. I think this tool is extremely beneficial for students. While it is always helpful to have physical manipulatives in math instruction, some classrooms might lack the supplies. I also find that students are more engaged when learning takes place on technology, or simply in different ways. Because it is a free tool, it is possible to use in any classroom or at students' homes provided there is internet available.
Assistive Technology Tool 2: Voice Recognition Software
A. Dragon NaturallySpeaking (http://www.nuance.com/dragon/index.htm) is voice recognition software that allows a student to dictate documents, search the web, email, and more just by using speech.
B. The purpose of this tool in an educational setting is to assist students who struggle with written communication or students with physical disabilities who are unable to use their hands to write or type.
C. This tool will assist a student to access the general education curriculum because many students have trouble getting their well-developed and interesting thoughts out on paper. This includes students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia or working memory issues, students with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, or students with limited English proficiency. Dragon allows students to communicate their thoughts as if they were talking with a friend, eliminates the barrier of typing, and cuts down work time drastically.
D. This link provides anecdotal evidence supporting the use of this tool (must click on "Testimonials" tab).
E. This tool ranges in price depending on the version- the most basic home model is $49. The Dragon K-12 School License Program is designed for schools that would like to install Dragon software on up to 20 school-owned computers at a single location.
F. I'm really impressed with this tool and think it would be beneficial for students of all abilities, as well as teachers. Many computers have free voice recognition capabilities included, but none that adjust to your personal voice or allow you to control the whole computer with speech, instead of just a word document. This technology really changes things in a positive way for students with disabilities, and the benefits seem to outweigh the cost greatly.