Technology Solutions to Support Access to the Curriculum and Study Skills Gill Wilson Trafford SEN Advisory Service 2015

Objectives To understand the potential of new technologies to support communication, teaching and learning for children and young people with additional needs. To explore how ICT and technology can enhance different learning styles and develop approaches which are particularly effective.

Recent surveys have found that 39% of 2-4 year olds have used digital media such as smart phones and iPads. Also suggests that most 6 year olds know more about tablets and smart phones than a 45 year old.

While some experts (and parents) see the benefits of introducing technology at a young age others say that the idea of giving young children access to this kind of technology is developmentally inappropriate.

Experts debate merits of children spending too much time on tablets, iPods

Application Isn’t the question very much affected by “how” this technology is used? Just like a book for example... The iPad is much more useful to the child if the experience is shared, discussed and a social and learning opportunity created.

Guidelines A safe and structured environment Sensory equipment/technology suited to the child/young person’s needs and situation or activity. Let the child/young person choose the activity wherever possible. Use equipment to support engagement with the child. Provide calming and alerting activities according to need. Plan your time carefully in keeping with the child's needs.

SENSORY ISSUES VARY We are all different Children learn in different ways so understanding the child’s sensory patterns can help you guide their learning

We need to consider…. The choice of content that is read, observed or played. With whom the activity is pursued. The interaction between the child and his peers, parent or teacher. What is the ultimate aim of the activity? -the reason why you introduced the resource

What is Assistive Technology? Any piece of equipment, or product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Low Technology (non battery operated) – clip boards, three ring binders, paper resources Medium Technology (battery operated and simple technologies) – simple voice outputs, calculators, timers, tape recorders High Technology - (computer and non computer) Computer – adaptive hardware i.e. touch screen monitors, trackball/alternative keyboard Non Computer – video camera, digital camera, scanner

Simple Low /Medium Tech Solutions Digital recorders Talking postcards Talking tins Talking calculators Digital cameras Talking photo albums Hand-outs

Alternative keyboard and mouse This one has chunky one inch square keys that are colour coded and easy to find and press. The colours also help the user to identify vowels, consonants and punctuation marks. Designed for children, this BIG trackball has many features that make it ideal for users who don’t have the fine motor skills required by a mouse.

Apps Due to the number of apps flooding onto the market daily, choosing the right app is becoming increasingly complicated. There are a number of apps available at a low cost to support text to speech or support literacy skills and other aspects of the curriculum.

Apps, carefully selected: Use technology which stimulate engagement and provide feedback. Are a completely different experience from passive viewing.

High Tech Solutions

AAC (Alternative Augmentative Communication)

Proloquo2Go: AAC in Your Pocket

iPads, Learning Tool or Expensive Gadget?

Clicker Apps Apps/US-Clicker-Sentences-mac.movhttp://video.cricksoft.com/us/Clicker- Apps/US-Clicker-Sentences-mac.mov

Write Online & Clicker 6 Software

Print Disability What is a print disability? A print disabled person is anyone for whom a visual, cognitive or physical disability hinders the ability to read print. This includes all visual impairments, dyslexia and any physical disability.

Key provisions: Altering format options e.g. background colour, font size, style and colour, using zoom, layout. Adding speech support to existing programs, applications and web pages e.g. text to speech programs with MS Word such as Claroread, Texthelp. Using literacy programs with speech options e.g. talking books, spelling and phonic games and activities, talking word processors and on screen word banks (Clicker 6 ) Using portable writing aids e.g. laptops, word processors, tablets, iPads, palmtop devices. Predictive text and tools with speech support e.g. Clicker 6, Write on line, Co Writer, Penfriend, Text help and Claroread. Mind mapping and planning tools e.g. Inspiration, Kidspiration, Write on line workspace, writing frames etc. Offering alternatives to writing as a key method of recording e.g. Dictaphones, voice activated software, Typing and keyboard awareness programs e.g. BBC Dance mat typing, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

Some Issues Lack of access and the appreciation of the need to have learning materials in alternative formats at the same time as other students. Lack of support for personalised technologies that may provide access to e-text in schools and a lack of e-texts. Lack of time and training for this type of support e.g. knowing what's available and having the skills to support the students effectively. Most teachers make print based worksheets rather than use e-texts. Security/ safety

My Study Bar v3 A collection of free portable accessibility apps to support students writing and reading. Link to Study BarLink to Study Bar R29ohttp:// R29o

Mind mapping exploring the use of various concept mapping applications to help organise and structure writing. Mind mapping can be a way for you to draft your ideas and when created or drawn by you they are likely to be more meaningful. It is possible to condense an entire chapter into a single page. We can also use various programs or applications to create a mind map/flow chart for us. Lots of free apps for iPads/iPods/ iPhones to create mind maps using the mainstream technology that students are used to. Programs such as Inspiration, Draft Builder and Write on line can help too.

Mind mapping using technology Mind mapping for the iPhone Mind Mapping on the iPad

Make learning auditory Use a range of speaking and listening strategies to support learning such as mp3 players, I pods I, pads and text to speech options. Make use of devices to listen to and record ideas Record sound using a computer. Attach the recordings to files so that you can hear instructions or information Teach others things that you have learned, as this embeds understanding and memory Use of audio books and e books Use of devices to read electronic books such as kindle or iPad. iBooks works with VoiceOver, the screen reader in iPad, so it can read you the contents of any page.

The future

New smart phone features of the future New sans-serif font that has been designed for small screens to make it easier for the user to read. Voice operated personal assistant Siri e.g. text to type by talking to the phone to find things or send a text message. Face recognition to unlock phone Apps that identify songs, images video’s and reads barcodes. This technology has now been combined to identify input form a persons environment and pull up related information…digital watermarking. Firefly-a virtual recognition program able to recognize most things so an example would be taking picture of a piece of art and the phone app will pull up a webpage for the painting. Phones with this intelligent software will be able to read street signs, phone numbers from a distance and recognise beyond a hundred million items in real world situations.

Speech supported software Voice activated software Dragon Dictate/naturally speaking Clicker 6 Write on line on screen grids word banks Write Outloud Co: Writer Solo Literacy Suite integrated solution.

Any questions