TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES

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TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES TO ASSIST WITH READING

MARY BETH FLEMING ERIC FLEMING

Assistive Technology Services – Fairfax County

Technology Strategies to Assist With Reading

Mary Beth Fleming Eric Fleming

Assistive Technology Services Fairfax County Public Schools

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Kids InfoBits

many FCPS online databases feature built-in text-to-speech support

FCPS Online Databases Pebble Go Go Groiler Online Biography In Context myOn Tumblebooks Kids InfoBits

Insects and Spiders of the World International Wildlife

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http://www.fcps.edu/is/libraryservices/onlinedatabases.shtml FCPS Online Databases http://www.fcps.edu/is/libraryservices/o nlinedatabases.shtml

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FCPS Online Resources: Pebble Go

https://www.pebblego.com/choose/choose_product.html

•Enter site through FCPS online

databases – no login or password

•Searchable

•Reads aloud

•Print activities provided

Pebble Go

Emergent Reader solutions that include searchable print activities and can be read aloud. No FCPS login or Password required.

https://www.pebblego.com/choose/choo se_product.html

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•Searchable

•Read aloud option for

articles on their website

•Texts are leveled

•Information organized by articles, fast

facts, magazines, websites, & media FCPS Online Resources: Go Grolier Online

http://go.grolier.com/

Go Grolier Online

Leveled articles and media content with read aloud capabilities.

http://go.grolier.com/

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•Searchable

•Audio articles

•If you want to read any article, use

ReadOutLoud or Natural Reader FCPS Online Resources:

Biography In Context

http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/?userGroupName=fairfaxcps

Biography in Context

Searchable audio articles that must use a screen reader for digital text reading. http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/?userGro upName=fairfaxcps

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•Students have personal log-ins –

ask your child’s teacher

•Searchable

•Audio feedback

•Create reading list

•App

FCPS Online Resources: MyOn

https://www.myon.com/

myOn

FCPS Logins and passwords are required and should be provided by classroom teachers.

Searchable reading materials with audio feedback.

https://www.myon.com/

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• Search & Index

• Audio feedback

• Reading level

• Go through FCPS library portal or you’ll need

a login/password (fairfax/fairfax) FCPS Online Resources: Tumblebooks

http://www.tumblebooklibrary.com/Home.aspx

Tumblebooks

Must login through FCPS Library Portal or through a login/password

(Fairfax/Fairfax).

Search digital books titles that are leveled and have audio capabilities. http://www.tumblebooklibrary.com/Hom e.aspx

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•vision •physical •organic dysfunction

eligibility flow chart

https://aimva.org/eligibility-flowchart

AIMVA

Must have an IEP and Doctor’s note to qualify for use.

https://aimva.org/eligibility-flowchart

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https://aimva.org/

AIMVA Search Tool

Teacher view of how to search for books in AIMVA portal.

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AIMVA

If you qualify for AIMVA, you can gain access to Learning Ally and Bookshare.

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• Free through AIM-VA

• Otherwise, membership fee of $119 for

one year with unlimited books.

• Human readers

http://www.learningally.org/

Learning Ally

IEP only service. Paid Membership. Books with Human readers.

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• Electronic voices

• Free

• Individual and organizational

memberships

www.bookshare.org

Bookshare

Free Resource. Digital books available with electronic voices.

www.bookshare.org

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What is a screen reader?

also referred to as “Text to Speech” (TTS)

the artificial production of human speech from electronic text makes use of the

computer’s speech engine

Screen Readers

Free Text-to-Speech Tools.

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Why use screen readers? assist students who benefit from

hearing information read to them to help with comprehension

assist students who are reading below grade level

assist students with editing written work assist students who are learning English

Screen Readers

Free Text-to-Speech Tools.

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•Copy/paste text into a large reading window or use a “floating bar” •Can be adjusted for speed or volume •Parents can download to use at home

Version 11

NaturalReader

Approved for use with special education students. Switch between full software mode and mini-bar.

Reading bar reads web pages and digital pages.

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•Free add-in to MS Word •Speaks text in Word

documents

•Includes a talking spellcheck, dictionary, and synonyms list •Can adjust speed & volume •May cause technical

difficulties with Word

Speak from cursor Speak paragraph Speak sentence Speak word Speak selection Talking spell check and thesaurus

WordTalk

Approved for use with special education students. Non-Microsoft product that will highlight text and read digitally.

http://www.wordtalk.org.uk/Home/

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•Available in MS Word 2010 and 2013 •Speaks text in Word documents •Select text & click the Speak •Must add Speak tool to the Quick

Access Toolbar (QAT) or ribbon •Speed and voice may be

adjusted in the Control Panel

Speak Tool - Word 2010 and 2013

Add Speak to the Quick Access Toolbar You can add the Speak command to your Quick Access Toolbar by following these steps:

Next to the Quick Access Toolbar, click Customize Quick Access Toolbar: Click More Commands:

In the Choose commands from list, select All Commands:

Scroll down to the Speak command, select it, and then click Add:

Click OK.

When you want to use the text-to-speech command,

click the icon on the Quick Access Toolbar.

Convert text to speech

After you have added the Speak

command to your Quick Access Tool, you can hear single words or blocks of text spoken by highlighting the text you want to hear, and then clicking the Speak command.

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adapted book text & guided reading outline activity linked to a webpage

Read:OutLoud 6

Free to FCPS students in school or at home

Reads aloud text from websites and documents (.txt, .rtf, .pdf)

Additional features: outlining, guided reading, excellent voices

Does not work well with Flash applications.

The latest version added updated dictionaries. The license has been extended and is available to all FCPS students.

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•copy text from web page or document •paste into Text

Compactor TextCompactor.com Text Compactor as an AutoSummarize Tool http://www.textcompactor.com/

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Use with students who have difficulty

reading long passages of text

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Use for pre-reading by students who

struggle with comprehension due to decoding problems or learning disabilities

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Use for post-reading to review

information or check for understanding Research by the National Reading Panel found that summarization is an effective strategy that helps readers improve memory and identification of main ideas.

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•FCPS Student/Teacher Logins •Cloud Storage •Convert Files to Google Formats •Share Documents •Collaborate with Teacher/Peers •Tools, Apps, Add-ins •BYOD compatible Google APPS for Education

Google Apps for Education

Cloud Storage Collaboration Research Tool Voice Text Tool Student Login:

[email protected]

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•Application for iPhone,

or iPad

•Snap a Picture of a

Worksheet

•Type to Fill in the Blanks

with Adjustable Fonts

•Save as PDF or email

SnapType App for iPad

SnapType App

Available in App Store. Snap a photo of any worksheet and digitally complete the form by typing with the digital keyboard. Save as a PDF or email completed form to a teacher.

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Intranet: http://fcpsnet.fcps.k12.va.us/ssse/its/index.htm Public Web: http://www.fcps.edu/dss/sei/ats/index.shtml

Assistive Technology Services (ATS)

Visit the ATS intranet site:

http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/ssse/its/index.ht m

Mary Beth Fleming – [email protected]