LEANN TODD KIC AT TRAINER TASHA LANG STRUCTURED LEARNING TEACHER Digital Text Kansas Infinitec Coalition KIC

A Vision of 21 st Century Teachers Video Preparing students for their future, using technology as tools to connect, communicate and create.

A Moment of Consideration What is it that we would like to see the student do that they are currently unable to do, due to their disability? “Johnny needs helps reading.” What is he currently doing? What has been tried? Are there any current strategies being used? Accommodations? Modifications? Assistive or Instructional Technologies?

A Vision of 21 st Century Teachers Are you are digital immigrant or are you a digital native? “If I teach the way I learn, I will miss most of my students”. Quote by Dr. Rich Feller, Professor of education from the Colorado University.

The Case Against AT Video by Don Johnston

Infinitec Log on to the Infinitec website Register if you have never signed-in Sign-in if you have registered in the past.

Tour of the website We are going to take a few minutes to take a look at the Kansas Infinitec website. Infinitec has update the website. Let’s take a few minutes to sign-in and explore the site.

What is digital text? Digital text or electronic text is text in which there can be a separation of content (what is heard) from the display (what is seen). Digital text is flexible, and can be manipulated to increase or decrease font, font size or style. Text, background and highlighting color can be changed. Can embed content; such as definitions, background information or prompts for the reader. Can embed multimedia links.

Two Critical Reasons for the Use of Accessible Text Access and it’s the Law. LEA responsible for children who need AIM Even if they don’t qualify for other programs Timely Manner “inherent component…to ensure…..FAPE

InfiniTEXT InfiniTEXT is an online, accessible instructional materials collection Found on the Kansas Infinitec Coalition website. Designed for students who have a “print disability”, visual impairment or a physical disability that prevents them from holding a book or turning pages. InfiniTEXT is available to all school in Kansas. Can be used as a Tier 2 and Tier 3 strategy. Recently InfiniTEXT has scanned 96 textbooks and other novels that students are required to read, that were requested by Kansas Educators Let’s take a look. Chelsea Let’s take a look.Chelsea Crtext, mp3, pdf formats Example of UDL flexible method of presentation

What is InfiniTEXT ? A program of United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago A web-based repository for Educators to share scanned instructional materials For use by students with print disabilities 11,000+ files containing “student-ready” textbooks and other classroom reading resources Available FREE to all Kansas Schools through a KSDE grant 11 Initially created with the help of the Infinitec Coalitions in Kansas and Illinois Now available FREE to all Kansas Schools InfiniTEXT has grown to serve more than 140 School Districts in Kansas

Signing up for InfiniTEXT is Simple Agencies wishing to participate must sign a legal agreement – InfiniTEXT Subscriber Agreement – Lays out the rules Must be signed by agency leadership – Director or higher Agency names a “Primary Contact” – Can add additional users Return the signed agreement to UCP/Infinitec We “authorize” the Primary Contact and others as requested Sign in and get started ! 12 Signing the InfiniTEXT Subscriber Agreement

So What are the Rules ? Students must be certified eligible for the accommodation by a competent authority – with documentation.  Documentation kept on file at subscribing agency Only “authorized” staff from the subscribing agency may access the online repository.  Not a resource for Parents or students District must own and set aside a physical copy of any book being downloaded  This program is not an alternative to buying a book! District must have a written policy regarding student use of materials which is distributed to student & parents.  No copying or sharing.  Files for use by named student only 13

14 InfiniTEXT Student Eligibility Disability Qualified/Not Qualified Examples of Certifying Professionals Visual Impairment (VI), such as blindness or low vision Qualified Community Based A family doctor, ophthalmologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, optometrist, physical therapist, or other medical professional. School Based Teacher of the visually impaired, special education teacher, learning disability specialist, school psychologist, clinical psychologist with a background in learning disabilities, resource specialist or other educational professional Acceptable Documentation from Other Programs Certification from the National Library Service Proof of membership with RFB&D (RECORD OF DISABILITY IS MAINTAINED AT THE SCHOOL AND NOT SUBMITTED TO UCP/INFINITEC) Physical Disability (PD) which affects the ability to read print, such as inability to hold a book or turn pages Qualified Learning Disability (LD) or Reading Disability (RD) that affects the ability to read print Including when caused by : - Autism - Emotional disabilities -ADHD -Other diagnoses Qualified Students with ANY disability which impacts their ability to read with a professional certifying that the disability is severe enough and the individual needs accessible formats. Other Learning Challenges - ELL Not qualified, unless accompanied by a visual or physical disability, or a qualified reading disability that has a physical basis Not applicable I E P or 504 plan Suggested

Which Type of Agency Should Subscribe to InfiniTEXT? We support various models The School Subscription Model The District Subscription Model The Co-op Subscription Model 15 School Subscription District Subscription Co-op Subscription How to Decide: - What is your agencies role, structure and authority? - Where will the downloading take place, whose staff ? - Where will the student recordkeeping take place ?

How to Access and Use InfiniTEXT InfiniTEXT is accessed from the Infinitec coalition website InfiniTEXT will be found under “Services” InfiniTEXT pages contain lots of valuable information  Program Info is available to all - no login required After you are made an InfiniTEXT authorized user, you will create a login and password allowing access to the InfiniTEXT repository 16 Lets take a look at how it works! Click Here

Think, Pair, Share Turn to a neighbor and discuss a student that might benefit from electronic text. Be prepared to share

Practice Go to InfiniTEXT Find a novel or textbook Download an mp3 file Download a PDF file Access the PDF reader Download a CRtext

Our Recommendations to You… Every agency is in a different place with AIM  It’s OK! Focus on Improvement Begin using InfiniTEXT, Bookshare and the NIMAC today! FREE & Easy to use Empower your teams to work across your school system; encourage agency-wide planning to deliver AIM Get smarter about the technology, tools & formats Develop the policies and procedures to make this a natural part of the job of teaching your students 19

Other Resources Textbook Publisher Resources NIMAS (part of IDEA 2004) Books on Tape (est. 1952) RFB&D

Bookshare Great resource to access books in digital audio format, and embossed Braille. High quality recordings Free for student who qualify Browse the site

Bookshare Books without Borders Iris Site When looking at the 3 parts of Universal Design of Learning. Flexible method of presentation, engagement and expression. Bookshare is a good example of-flexible method of presentation “Reading while listening allowed students to read at or above their reading level, helped create positive attitudes toward reading, improved vocabulary and allowed students to participate in discussions and interactions.” (Kylene Beers, 1988) Bookshare video Qualifications for Bookshare

Manipulation of Text Balabolka- free text to speech Can download a portable version

Balabolka This a tool for all students Tier 1 and Tier 2 and Tier 3 strategy, is a free text to speech application. Let’s take a look and then discuss how we could use it. Balabolka is a cross curricular tool. First, find some literature that want your student to be able see and hear. Sparknotes, Baldwin Online Children’s Literature Project, Sparknotes, Baldwin Online Children’s Literature Project, Digital Book Index and Authorama Digital Book Index Authorama Handout will be given in individual sessions. Also can be used for spelling practice, vocabulary practice, paragraph writing, proofreading and editing. Balabolka website

Practice Download a PDF, or CRText file from InfiniTEXT. Open it up with Balabolka Select a voice, play your file Change rate of speech, change pitch Change background color, selection color, highlight color, selected text. Change font Change distance between the sentences Convert it mp3, save to your flash drive, play it back Cut and paste the CRText into Balabolka

Simple Wikipedia Wikipedia  Choose simple English to modify text A Vision of k-12 students today. A Vision of k-12 students today

Questions Leann Todd