1. Read & Write for Google An emerging technology! by: Jessica Morman ITEC 7445 Summer 2015

2. TCSS Technology Mission  The technology mission of the Troup County School System is to utilize the power of emerging technologies to transform education, changing the way we teach, learn, communicate and perform the business functions of our system.

3. What is RWG?  A tool to give curriculum access to:  Struggling readers/writers (IEP or RtI)  ELL students  Chrome extension  Works with  Chrome Web browser  Google Docs and PDFs

4. RWG features overview

5. What do I need?  Computer or chromebook  Google Docs  Chrome browser  iPad or Android tablet

6. TEACHER PERK ALERT!

7. How do I get it?  School system buys  Information Technology Department pushes to all computers/chromebooks  Assistive Technology Specialist assigns to students  Students MUST be signed in to CHROME for the extension to work

8. What about training?  Teachers and students can be trained in less than 30 minutes by the AT Specialist or via the TextHelp website videos  Click on the link  NO COST to call tech support!

9. How does it support instruction?

10. What does the research say?  TextHelp has summarized research here:  Bottom line:  Text to speech = improved reading comprehension

11. Funding!  DOMAIN license  $1.50 per year per student  12,500 students = $18,750 for every student  Leveraging departmental money  IDEA – fund for 200 students = $3,000  Any other department can add on at any time

12. Planning for implementation  After purchasing:  AT and IT meet and create timeline  IT pushes to student logins  AT schedules training with all teachers/students (most likely in webinar format)

13. Resources  TCSS vision statement - https://docs.google.com/document/d/17 mmmSycBBTfnuICQc6XYdYjVhJ_AXw8GFq Qt0GvompQ/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/document/d/17 mmmSycBBTfnuICQc6XYdYjVhJ_AXw8GFq Qt0GvompQ/edit?usp=sharing  TextHelp – https://www.texthelp.comhttps://www.texthelp.com

14. Jessica’s reflection on this activity for ITEC 7445  I personally have the RWG extension and have used it with students on a trial basis from the company this past Spring. I love it and our county rolling this out next Fall. I will say that I did not have to create a presentation when I asked for us to purchase this extension. In doing this assignment, I realize it would have helped me a lot because it would have helped guide me in an orderly fashion as to what to say next. It’s also something that administration could look at later as they process it when making a decision. Another thing I learned while doing this activity was how much research some companies do to test their product. I will be making sure I take that into account when I look at products to purchase in the future. Overall, this was a good activity that enhanced my knowledge of the product and how to present it to an audience.