Tania Sciancalepore's Photo Story about ELL websites

Tools that can be used by ELL students

LearnThat.org/vocabulary/?English

This site contains a 150,000 word database and makes personalized spelling tests for the individual learner.
LearnThatWord provides a faster and more effective solution to commit words to long-term memory. The site takes into consideration multiple learning styles: Students can listen to related audio files word pronunciation, sample sentences as often as needed in order to fully absorb a word's spelling and meaning. Parents and teachers can log onto the LearnThatWord site to review a student's progress, see which words have been mastered and which need more work.

English Language Learners mod 12

English Language Learners

Sean's Module 12 Blog Assignment

Technology to Assist English Language Learners

The article that I found clearly states how technology can help students who are learning English. Students can use the Internet to find different programs to assist in learning the new language. Students can also communicate with other students to get help with learning the language. Also, students will be able to use the internet to assist with translating things that they don’t understand.

The article gives a great example of students who used laptops and the students were able to communicate with them. This allowed the students to practice their use of the new language and also work together and complete an assignment. There are many form of technology that will be able to assist student who are English Language Learners, finding one just takes knowing your students and the most effective way to teach them.


http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te800.htm

Mod 12 Assissting English Language Learners

It is no surprise that English Language Learners are composing over half of the schools population.Technologies today can help English Language Learners in a number of ways.Programs such as Kurzweil 3000, this program boosts the accessibility to grade level because it can scan and read content in any text format and in multiple languages. Other great programs for assisting English Language Learners are Reading Assistant and My Reading Coach. Teachers have even gone as far as using individual computer programs to help their students who are English Language Learners.Technology has made it easier to gain access to helpful tools that could really assist English Language Learners. Other fun technology that can be used to assist English Langauge Learners is online games and electronic books offered on the web.
However, some would argue that although software might be effective and very helpful,teachers may not have the right training to use the web or computer to assist English Language Learners. But technology can serve as a great aid. Take for example Margaret Hawkins, a professor as University of Wisconsin. She believes that the use of technology for English Langauge Learners is happening outside of the classroom, such as online games, chat rooms and other Web based interactions. Technology is making an incredible impact on students who are English Language Learners, making it easier for them to be part of a classroom and not feel as if they are just a body in a desk. Technology is a great way to bridge the gap between English Language Learners and students who already speak English.

www.edutopia.org/technology-software-english-language-learners

Kasey Vice Photo Story

Kasey Vice: “The Word and the World: Technology Aids English-Language Learners”

The article, “The Word and the World: Technology Aids English-Language Learners”, provides an insight on what technologies help English Language Learners and how these technologies can help these students. The article begins by analyzing the ELL students of Cinnabar Elementary School in Petaluma, California who make up half the school’s population. The lead teacher for the Cinnabar Elementary School ELL program recommends using technology for ELL students to provide “structured one-on-one English practice” to engage ELL students. The technology that Cinnabar Elementary uses includes Read Naturally and Rosetta Stone. Read Naturally is a multimedia reading program that helps students become fluent in the English language. Rosetta Stone is a language-learning software that helps students associate pictures with words and gradually advances to vocabulary building and sentence structure to offer the students a challenge.

This article also discusses the rise in population of English Language Learners. It is predicted that by 2015 one in three American students will be English Language Learners. With the rise in numbers schools are beginning to prepare for influx by strategizing ways to fill this gap. It is said that schools are looking to technology as the answer since the increasing number of students outweighs financial and human resources, such as ELL teachers.

http://www.edutopia.org/technology-software-english-language-learners

Technological Tools for Assisting English Language Learners

The article that I have found in regards to various technological tools that can assist English language learners is entitled "Supporting English Language Learners with Technology" and it was presented by Juliette Heinze. In this article, three technological tools are proposed that can be used to enhance the learning of students who may not be fully fluent in the English language. The first tool is using image galleries to assist in the vocabulary skills of such students. Enchanted Learning is an online tool that displays picture dictionaries which can better help students associate various words with the images that correctly relate to those words. The second tool is using the notion of multilingual books in order to provide assistance for English learners. Instead of purchasing a number of multilingual books for the students, Heinze suggests that the students create and publish their own multilingual books using Microsoft Word which will ultimately help each student with better understanding and interpreting the English language. The third tool is using technology to create multimedia projects that will increase a students interest in the English language. The Jason Project is an online site that provides video, labs, and live satellite broadcast that can assist students in their learning and can help them enjoy their English learning in ways that a simple textbook can not.

All three of these English learning strategies can be applied directly to the classroom and the teacher can provide the needed assistance to his/her students as the students visit these online websites that can further enhance their English learning. The teacher should visit these websites prior to displaying them to their students and familiarize themselves with the material so that they can better assist their students with any help that they may need while they are exploring the English language.

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=10516

Podcast

Gabcast! EME 2040 #1

Gabcast! EME 2040 #1 - Stacie Staple's Podcast

Technology for Students with Learning Disablilities

Technological Tools for Assisting Students with Special and/or Diverse Needs and Noting the Specific Learning Outcomes for each Technology

There are several ways to assist those with special or diverse needs by using technology. The internet can be used to research information for research papers and group or individual project presentations. The internet becomes a global tool that can create bridges of learning and understanding for special needs students. The internet will provife information worldwide for students and give them the opportunity to share their thoughts with other students.

Powerpoint presentations are another method if assisting students with special needs to understand lessons in smaller amounts at a time with visual stimulation to assist with the learning of a lesson.

One of the advantages of online learning is that it can be customized to those who have special needs and assist them with their lesson.

http://www.suite101.com/content/e-learning-solutions-for-special-needs-teaching-a242287

www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/27704.aspx

Tania's Podcast

Gabcast! EME 2040 #1 - Tania Sciancalepore's Podcast

wesites highlighting technological tools for assisting students with special or diverse needs

Technological Tools for Assisting Students with Special Needs

www.rehabtool.com/



This site specializes in computer adaptations and builds custom software solutions for children with disabilities. The product that they highlight is called vocalize, it’s a speech assistant that was developed with speech impaired persons to enable them to speak in a friendly human voice using standard computer equipment. Voice-enabled communication boards, as well as cognitive rehabilitation tools adapted to the special needs of the disabled are also products offered by this site. Included on the page is a “describe your needs” tab where one can characterize the impairment or disability, and the site will offer the technology best suited in order to aid and compensate for this disability. I found this very interesting due to the recent visit I made to Pine Ridge Middle School. In one class, a student was using a device for augmentative alternative communication. This particular student would not be able to communicate his needs without this device.

Mod 11 Assistive Technology for Children with Autsim

Assisstive Technology is any item , product or piece of equipment modified or customized to help individuals with disabilites.These products are used to maintain and improve their use of technological devices.Children with Autsim have an easier time processesing visual information rather than auditory. Kids with Autsim can begin with using line drawings or pictures. Take for example a program called the Boardmaker created by Mayer-Johnson. This allows the user over 3000 Picture Communcation Symbols in black, white or color.The user can choose to add words if he or she chooses and the symbols can be any size. A great feauture this program offers is normally the symbols are universally understood. This allows the clutter to be removed and the picture is understood clearly.
Another great piece of software they could use is called Picture This. This allows a more concrete representation and has over 2,700 photos to choose from. Children with Autsim can use low technology, mid technolgoy or high technology. Depending on the severity of their autism they may choose to use different products. In high technology this is were they would use technology such as cameras, computers and adaptive hardwar. There is new technology being created everyday to assist children with autsim and this has made it much easier for not only the child but the teacher as well.

www.specialed.us/autsim/asst10.htm

Module 11-Technological Tools for Assisting Students with Special and/or Diverse Needs and Noting the Specific Learning Outcomes for each Technology

Technological Tools for Assisting Students with Special and/or Diverse Needs and Noting the Specific Learning Outcomes for each Technology

There are many technological tools to help students with special or diverse learning needs. In my opinion it should be known that technology does not cure or remedy the learning disability but rather allow a person with a learning disability to demonstrate and apply his intelligence and knowledge. Word processors can assist students with Dyslexia. A learner that struggles with reading can use reading systems, which allow text on screen (document, web page, or email) to be read aloud through the computer's sound card. A talking calculator is an appropriate tool for people with Dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects mathematics skills. Not all assistive is computer-based. Common office supplies such as Post-It Notes and highlighter pens provide elegantly simple means of sorting and prioritizing thoughts, ideas, and concepts. It is noted that tools that are made by a person with learning disabilities usually provide the most effective and comfortable accommodations for learning.

http://www.washington.edu/doit/Stem/articles?71

Sean Stathas' Podcast

Gabcast! EME 2040 #1 - Sean Stathas' Podcast

This podcast describes two websites that relate to the topic of assistive technology.

Sean's Blog for Technological Tools for Assisting Students with Special Needs

Rehabtool.com is an online website that majors in assisting students as well as adults, who have special needs and/or disabilities. This website was created six years ago and they are still striving to improve the educational learning processes of individuals with special needs today. Their mission is to enhance the lives of these individuals, to help them become more independent, and to help them receive greater inclusion in today's society. One of their most important features is called Vocalize and this product is an innovative speech assistant which was produced in order to help individuals with speech impairments to speak in a friendly human voice using only standard computer equipment.

Rehabtool.com provides a wide variety of search options that one can browse when looking for an assisting tool. They simply ask that one describes the specific needs for the individual and then this website will help search for the best assisting tool that will meet those needs. They are a proud member of the Alliance for Technology Access and they do their best to ensure the greatest productivity for all special needs individuals.

http://www.rehabtool.com/

Kasey Vice's Podcast

Gabcast! Assertive Technology #1 - Kasey Vice's Podcast

This podcast discusses two articles found on the Internet about Assistive Technology.

Kasey Vice: Assertive Technology for student's with learning disabilities

Assistive technology (AT) is used to help individuals with various types of disabilities. These disabilities can range anywhere from cognitive problems to physical impairment. Assistant technology helps students focus on his or her strengths so they can reach their maximum learning potential. An example used in the article discusses how a student that has trouble reading might benefit from listening to audio books instead. It can be said that assistive technologies have the capabilities to compensate for a deficit of the student’s skills. Assistive technologies can assist a student in various subjects. Listening, math, organization and memory, reading, and writing skills can all be addressed when working with assisting technologies. Some assisting technologies include electronic math worksheets, personal FM listening systems, portable word processors, and talking calculators. Keep in mind that these are only a few of the numerous assisting technologies that are available to students with learning disabilities.

When purchasing assistive technologies, there are some key factors consumers should keep in mind. Some of these factors include the setting the AT will be used in, if the AT is simple to learn how to operate or not, and if there is technical support is available for the AT device. As for the setting, the consumer should think about where the AT will be used and stored either at home or in the classroom. The consumer should also keep in mind that the AT should be fairly easy to operate and come with step-by-step instructions to show the user how to operate the device bought. If there is potential for confusion on operating, the consumer should also consider the availability of technical support that they can call with operating questions.

http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/assistive-technology-for-kids-with-learning-disabilities-an-overview.gs?content=702

http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/evaluating-consumer-AT-products.gs?content=783