Assistive Technology For Everyone

Assistive Technology
Assistive technology is any type of item, device, technology that is used to support a student's learning success.
Remember that anyone can use assistive technology to enhance their learning. 

Here are some examples. Please note that I am not endorsing these sites.
I am offering you some suggestions so you can find the best strategies for your own success in this course.
If you find a useful site, please let me know. Thank you.

• • stationary ideas - sticky notes, highlighters, pen/pencil grips
  • day planners (paper or digital)
  • handwritten notes
  • handwritten cue cards (I really like using these for memorizing terms.)
  • graphic organizers (paper or digital)
• • • 10 popular graphic organizers to print
    • bubbl.us
  • using speech to text
    • Google
  • using text to speech
    • Google
  • audiobooks
    • audiobooks.com
  • using text summary apps
    • textcompactor.com
  • math
    • calculator
    • graph paper
    • website list
  • noise canceling headphones, fidget tools, tactile items

• • Where to store all your applications/sites on a computer or a device? I use symbaloo.com
  • Where to save all your passwords? I use lastpass.com

Questions:

1. Is assistive technology a form of cheating? No. Are reading glasses a form of cheating? Not at all. Assistive technology is available for all students to utilize.
2. Does assistive technology lower student motivation? No, in fact, assistive technology offers students another way to engage in their learning. For example: If your eyes are tired of reading, you can listen to a page, rather than read it. We all learn in different ways, so explore what works for you.
3. If we listen to a lesson, does this make it more difficult to learn to read?  If you can read the text and listen to it at the same time, you are receiving a multisensory learning experience.
4. Can you learn to use assistive technology on your own?  You can find information on the Internet about assistive technology, but please remember that your teacher is here to help you explore additional ideas.
5. Does assistive technology give students an unfair advantage? No. All assistive technologies are available to everyone. For some people, using assistive technology allows them to learn in an environment that would otherwise be difficult for them to be successful.

Benefits of assistive technology are:

• • increased student engagement
  • embeds technology into the curriculum to support excellence in student learning
  • increases fluency when English is a second language
  • supports the sharing of knowledge
  • increases student collaboration
  • improves everyone's workplace skills
  • saves eye strain