With technology matched to their personal learning strengths and challenges, struggling students can enjoy improved academic performance, increased independence, and greater self-confidence. Successful outcomes, however, require more than just knowledge about tools. How do you actually make it happen?
This three-hour workshop will provide education professionals with a practical understanding of how to build comprehensive - and effective - assistive technology (AT) solutions for students with reading and writing challenges. Through lecture, demonstrations, and some light hands-on activities, Assistive Technology Consultant Shelley Haven will guide attendees through strategies for selecting, implementing, and supporting technology solutions that work (i.e., produce the desired results) for their clients and students. This pre-conference workshop will include:
- Demonstrations of how specific technology features address challenges associated with reading (fluency, comprehension, critical thinking, and taking notes) and with writing (composition, writing mechanics, and producing legible text).
- Strategies for applying tools to accomplish common academic tasks (e.g., take notes while reading, brainstorm ideas prior to writing, complete a worksheet).
- Acquiring, creating, and sharing accessible educational materials for use with these reading and writing tools.
- Protocols for objectively evaluating the effectiveness of technology accommodations for reading and writing.
Participants will be able to: use a “feature match” approach to differentiate between commercial AT products for reading and writing by comparing their features in the context of a student’s academic needs; define “accessible educational materials” and explain their importance for students who need reading and writing accommodations; and explain how to make educated decisions about technology accommodations with the help of various protocols.
Should I bring my laptop or tablet? This workshop will include some light hands-on activities using participants' own devices (for example: Chrome browser extensions, tools built into their device's operating system, and visiting certain resources on the Web). Attendees are invited to bring their own Mac or Windows laptop, iPad, or Chromebook if they wish to participate in the activities, but it is not required. One-to-two weeks before the workshop, registrants will receive a short list of free apps and browser extensions to install in advance. A special pre-conference edition of the WisdomTech Bar will help attendees make sure they have what they need.