Kurzweil Mac V4.5 and Solo 6 (Read Out Loud) Comparison
Background
Windham High School, which opened in August 2009, offers a technology rich curriculum supported by a one-to-one laptop program. Each student is equipped with a MacBook laptop containing a suite of programs to support student learning and productivity. Embedded within the MacBook laptop is an easily accessible text-to-speech tool that students can use for auditory support.
Students with qualified learning disabilities are enrolled in Bookshare, an organization that provides access to digital materials and free software to access the digital materials. For MacBook laptops, the free software available from Bookshare is Don Johnson’s Read Out Loud for Bookshare.
During the 2009-2010 school year, eligible students could use Read Out Loud 5 Bookshare Edition to provide text-to-speech for Bookshare digital textbooks as well Read Out Loud 5’s highlighting, outlining, and notes tools to support studying. They could also use Read Out Loud 5 to support Internet browsing. All students could use the MacBook’s text-to-speech feature in conjunction with Microsoft Word or Mac Pages to help with proofreading and revision of written assignments.
In preparation for the 2010 - 2011 school year, all laptops were upgraded to Mac OS X 10.6, causing an incompatibility with Read Out Loud 5 Bookshare Edition. Since Bookshare and Don Johnson did not have a date for when the incompatibility would be resolved, the Special Services Department purchased an unlimited site license ($1300) for Read Out Loud 6, which would work properly with both Mac OS x 10.6 and Bookshare. For the 2010-11 school year, this software was loaded on the laptop of any student who needed it. Sta...
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...site license for Solo 6 Literacy Suite (which would allow installation on every computer at WHS) is $5399
Recommendation
Given that the Solo 6 Literacy Suite provides the similar supports as Kurzweil 3000 for the Macintosh V4.5, purchasing and installing the site license for the Solo 6 Literacy Suite on every computer and laptop at WHS allows all students to have access to the software. All teachers would also have access to the same software and may be able to incorporate the use of the tools in their teaching. In addition, purchasing a Web License Learning Lab Pack for a Kurzweil 3000 for the Macintosh V4.5 would allow college bound students to learn the tool and become proficient in its use prior to entering college.
Works Cited
http://www.donjohnston.com/products/solo/index.html
http://www.kurzweiledu.com/files/pdf/Kurzweil_3000_MAC4.5_Final.pdf
This will benefit Billy and his peer helper. The device would be considered low tech. Since Billy wears glasses he can use a computer with a screen reading software. Which will allow him to see the text displayed and hear what is being said while looking at the word. Screen reading software would be considered high tech. Both devices can be used to assist Billy in a regular classroom. Billy can use the classroom devices at desk to have a better understanding of what’s being taught. During choice or computer time Billy can use the screen reading to review what he didn’t understand during teaching instructions. I think both devices will interest and encourage Billy to want to
7). Students will have the opportunity to practice reading aloud and silently to improve their
Since my appointment to the Hillingdon School I have been afforded the opportunity to play an integral role in moving forward the ICT and Business Departments and the Technologies Curriculum Area. These roles, accompanied with the time that I have spent on the whole school ICT Development Group, have allowed me to build up a strong set of skills, experience and knowledge that has helped prepare me for a senior position within a very successful school. Indeed, my experience of working within a school that achieved the top grade in each of the Inspection Key Questions has provided me with an awareness of what is required for continuous school improvement and striving for educational excellence.
Technology may offer a variety of options for students who may struggle with written expression or have learning difficulties or disabilities. Programs can simplify website, such as netTrekker; encourage visual expressions of knowledge, such as PowerPoint or Google Slides. Students can add images, words, recorded audio and videos.
It is very hard not to realize that technology has overpowered education in many ways. “Technology integration is similar to a tidal wave, growing silently in strength, then falling with an unstoppable roar upon those who paid no attention or showed little interest” (Guhlin, 40). Nowadays, computers are almost considered a necessity in the classroom, and are the main component of technology integration. Computers are being used in more numerous ways, besides only being used for basic word processing. With a simple computer, copious availabilities of technologies can be used in the classroom. “The one thing that is so great about the computer is that it does give a lot of instruction--and you don't need to have hearing to take advantage of it” (Anderson, 12). It’s amazing how one simple screen can provide everlasting opportunity for learning.
...speaker and the listener. The student can store often used responses, and prepare anticipated answers prior to situations where he will be meeting with those less familiar with his speech capabilities. By implementing this type of device, the student has become more confident and can communicate appropriately for a student his age. In this instance, the integration of technology into the learning environment may make a difference as to whether the student is employable or overlooked due to the inability to communicate well on the job.
Several assistive listening devices can improve the communication ability of deaf children. According to IDEA, every child with a disability is entitled to have access to assistive technology (California Department of Education, 2004). The California Department of Education (2004) outlines IDEA’s definition of an assistive technology device. It explains that this device consists of “any item, piece of equipment or product system…that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability” (California Department of Education, 2004, p. 1).
Assistive technology is often used by individuals with a learning disability. A learning disability “describes a neurobiological disorder in which a person’s brain works or is structured differently” (Lee1). A person’s abilities can be severely affected from a learning disability. They may listen differently, talk differently, write, spell, organize, and work with school subjects in a different way. Learning disabilities also affect people’s individual and personal lives to a great extent. According to the National Institutes of Health, one in seven children has a learning disability. The disability manifests itself when the child shows difficulty in reading, writing, spelling, and conversing with others. The added time they need to process information may make them seem less intelligent then others around them, but this is not the case. Individuals with learning disabilities are just as smart as anyone else; they just need to learn in a different way. The earlier a learning disability is noticed and detected, the earlier a child may be able to learn how to deal with or compensate for it (Lee 1). This is where assistive technology comes into play.
Stanberry, K., & Swanson, L. (2009). Effective Reading Interventions for Kids With Learning Disabilities. In LD online. Retrieved January 13, 2014
For instance, allowing students the opportunity to use high tech software as they learn can potentially prepare them in future job opportunities. Students at the High Tech High School in San Diego are taught using the same computer programs one might find in a future job, thus preparing them for their future career (Schorr, Jonathan, and Deborah). Students who have used and are accustomed to using similar software as they might find in a workplace have a greater chance of being hired by the corporation and having overall success. Not only can this be a successful way of instruction, but it can also effectively inform students of different software. Similarly, students who learn the needed technology skills in high school are more likely to find success in a high-tech working career (Coleman). By giving students the opportunity to learn and become accustomed to various technology while still in school, it increases their chance of success with high-tech devices in their future careers. Using technology in school can therefore positively impact the students. Also, technology can engage students in learning. Empire High School, for example, had replaced all their textbooks with iBooks and Apple laptops in order to increase student engagement. Many teachers did in fact believe that the students felt more strongly about their school work after the experiment (Rotstein). Incorporating technology into curriculum can increase students’ willingness to learn. Because the majority of students enjoy using technology, adding it to school would be effective in increasing their will to learn. Some schools believe that technology can become a distraction, however. A student at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia commented, "’The teachers think their students are engrossed in class research when they 're actually playing video games and surfing the Net, (Welsh).’" The use of technology
This page provides an in-depth look at assistive technology available for learning disabilities. The site is an outlet for students with learning disabilities.
Bowser and Reed [1995] as cited by Bryant et al [1998] argue that as a child progresses through the Education System, their requirements change and this may necessitate a need for different devices. This is not limited to those children with a physical disability but is relevant to all children with SEN as they progress and the Education System places additional burdens upon them. For children with a visual impairment ICT can provide support in various ways; tools to support communication, to improve access to information and as a means of producing learning materials in alternative. There is a wide range of devices and software, which can
“The single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children,” a report from 1985 by the commission
Reading print books not only improves speech but also helps gets a grasp of what reading books is all about. The TopTenReviews stated,” you 're never going to get that comforting smell of paper or the weight of a good book in your hands when reading an eBook” (1). Getting a brand new book, is ecstatic as the smell of paper or the turning of pages is part of tradition. Reading with a book is convenient because it does not have any battery power to operate. According to TopTenReviews, “Most of the time you have a good battery life but, there will be times when you forget to charge it” (2). Traveling with books helps when doing reading, it will be beneficial if the tablet dies. Reading with print books helps escape from technology that will be distracting towards the
Collis, B., Knezek, G., Kwok-Wing, L., Miyashita, K., Pelgrum, W., Plomp, T., & Sakamoto, T. (1996). Children and Computers in School. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.