Visit SimpleK12's Teacher Learning Community to participate in a wide selection of free webinars focusing on using technology in schools and differentiating instruction. They are also offering a free Online Education Conference, April 25-26, 2012. The sessions look great and you can even participate wearing your own bunny slippers.
http://simplek12.com/tlc/webinars/
The pouring cup by Enabling Devices has always been one of my favorite switch adapted items because of it's multiple functionality and it's use for all ages. You can use it for cooking, science, feed the dog, water the plants, art projects, filling bags at a work site and the list goes on and on. Anyone else have one of these? Let us know how you've used it.
The Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative has a free chapter posted online that uses the SETT (Student, Environment, Task, and Tool) process to
"look at assistive technology tools to support students with disabilities in the area of mathematics. Included will be an overview of some of the issues in the current system of mathematic instruction that challenge students with disabilities to succeed. A continuum of tools and strategies and resources will be provided to support further
inquiry into the subject." Have a read! Click on http://www.wati.org/content/supports/free/pdf/Ch8-Mathematics.pdf
Many times I have recommended the vending machine activity from the Goodwill Foundation Community (GFC) LearnFree website for teachers whose students are learning to handle money. This website offers great simulation activities for a variety of tasks involving money. But in addition to the money activities the website has a variety of activities for individuals learning independence and work readiness skills. For a complete listing of these activities bookmark this webpage. These work great on interactive whiteboards!
I met a young lady recently who has very little control of her body, except she is able to move her head with limited range. I was blown away by her accuracy on the computer using a FREE, you got that right, FREE head mouse program. It gave her access to the internet, an onscreen keyboard, books online, and all the software on her computer. To use Camera Mouse you need a Windows 7, Vista, or XP computer and a webcam. Check it out: Camera Mouse at www.cameramouse.org
Who do you know who might benefit from having a reduced writing/more flexible environment for math?
Have you seen this? It replaces Charlie Brown's nemesis: the metal compass. The clear tools lets students see vertex points and line intersections. and a built-in protractor helps them to measure/construct angles.
Here, a reading frame is used to focus student attention.
A stamp that "draws" your coordinate grid. What will they think of next?
The TechMatrix, www.techmatrix.org, is a powerful, free online database to help educators and families find educational and assistive technology resources and help for students with disabilities. Check out the expanded search features, expert advice, professional development resources, Hot Topic pages and updated product listings. You will find technology solutions for all content areas, ages and grades. It also includes many resources for transition. Check it out and expand your knowledge of AT.
...since some students struggle with the visual space on a page. Consider scaffolding student worksheets by identifying (in advance) the location for them to write their responses.
Glad you asked!
It's a large coin-counting with images of coins and a dollar bill instead of calculator (number) buttons. Special sounds and a voice provide instant feedback to the student as s/he adds and subtracts. Plus, there's an "Oops" key to undo the last entry. Come see it at the AT lab...and ponder how to use it in independent and center work!
I found a very funny blog post that is bound to gain the interest of middle school students. This Algebra teacher changed the words to a Lady Gaga song to include vocabulary related to algebra---I wish this teacher had posted a video. Check it out:
http://croitz.blogspot.com/2011/05/apologies-to-lady-ga-ga.html
Students don't always see the purpose for math. For many when it seems difficult , they quit because that don't see a reason for learning it. This perception carries on into adulthood. I would like to share with you a site with video clips of real jobs and skills that use math to solve problems and create products. Embed these into your math lessons and see if it makes a difference. Please let us know what happens.
http://www.thefutureschannel.com/
Do you work with students who really learn best with visuals or repetitive opportunities to learn new concepts? Scholastic has created a website called "StudyJams" for math and science. It's a place where students can review at home or at school. Check it out: http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/index.htm
Have you ever pondered which technology might work best for an instructional situation? Considered which assistive technology might be the best tool in a transition setting? Well there is a great resource for you to consider, the TECHMATRIX, http://www.techmatrix.org/ Our friends at the National Center on Technology Innovation have also recently upgraded this great online tool and added a number of enhancements -- including an area for transition. Take a test drive and see how this can benefit your work!
Did you miss the TechKnowledgy Conference last year? Don't have money to attend a national AT conference? Check out the following recorded sessions from the TechKnowledgy 2010 Conference:
http://www.vcu.edu/ttac/169.html
Improving AT services through consultation, collaboration and coaching
Gayl Bowser, Independent AT Consultant, Roseburg, OR
Top tech tools for math
Judith Sweeney, Onion Mountain Technology
Universal design for learning: What does it look like and why should I care?
Fran Smith, Ed.D & Susanne Croasdaile, Ph.D, VDOE's T/TAC at VCU
Website: http://udlteck.pbworks.com/
Developing your assistive technology: Best practices for success
Bill Reeder & Jennifer Carr, Fairfax County Public Schools
Sit back, relax and learn!
For those of you that have individual whiteboards for your students---listen up. A teacher has posted a great way to review math using an IKNOW board in same format as a BINGO board.
Check it out: http://croitz.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-know-i-know.html
Serotalk has posted a Podcast from four users regarding their favorite MAC apps. Listen and see if these might be useful for you or someone you know.
http://www.serotalk.com/2011/04/15/tech-chat-97-four-users-share-their-favorite-accessible-mac-apps/
November 10-11, 2011, Roanoke Hotel and Convention Center, Roanoke, VA
This annual assistive technology conference will feature national speakers, practitioner workshops, vendor workshops, interactive sessions, software exploration, and many opportunities to discover innovative applications of assistive and instructional technologies!
This conference is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education's Assistive Technology State Directed Project and the Hospital Education Program at Children's Hospital in Richmond. It is designed for general and special educators, related services personnel, assistive technology teams, instructional technology specialists, administrators, family members and others interested in helping students with
disabilities achieve success using technology.
For additional information, visit www.ttaconline.org/atsdp. Early bird registration with a discounted rate will open in June, 2011.
Bring your teams. Bring your friends. Bring everyone!
Check out Gizmo's Freeware: The Best Freeware Reviewed and Rated" and find the best free games, word processors, online books, apps for Android etc.
http://www.techsupportalert.com
We were listening to this TED talk about how to provide prior knowledge and meet individual needs and thought that this free resource was a nice tool for a classroom with a curriculum that reflects Universal Design for Learning!
Read more at http://www.khanacademy.org/
As part of the website, Internet Special Education Resources, is a resource page that will be updated regularly that include software tips and tricks for parents of children with special needs. Check it out!
http://www.iser.com/sped-software-resources.html
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Sometimes we just need a little memory jog to remind us of some AT solutions we might consider when students are struggling in math...
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
For some of our students math may be like a foreign language, especially if they are asked to explain how they came up with their answer. Many students don't know the words to express themselves mathematically, perhaps because teachers have not taught the vocabulary or the student may have come up with another word to explain the concept with the hope of making connections to familiar information. The problem is, when we do this, we are preventing our students from growing in their math skills. A math dictionary might help students remember the vocabulary and it can be used for review. This site covers math up to 7th grade. http://teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/maths/dictionary.html
We heard some rumors that Flexitables were not going to be available soon, but feel better now that we spotted them at Didax.
No idea what we're referring to? Well, get yourself over to http://www.flexitable.co.uk/ and check this out! :)
I used FX Equation, which looks like MathType and Equation Editor, but has the added bonus of being easy to use...and not constantly requiring menu bar or (worse) drop-down menu use. If you like MathType and Equation Editor, great...but if not, try this. Go to http://www.efofex.com/empower.php for info on how to get it for free. (Downloads are on the left-hand side menu bar.)Let us know what you think!
Now, if only someone would make a digital math workspace with all of these input options for secondary math and a grid for alignment!
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics have identified five process standards students need to demonstrate in order to be successful. The goal of this document is to provide an organized list of strategies for making mathematics more accessible to students with disabilities. The authors have identified eight areas where students may struggle and each section identifies a task, needs of a student and possible accessibility strategies to consider. Check it out:
http://www2.edc.org/accessmath/resources/strategiesToolkit.pdf
Teach them how to take screenshots of what they are doing and then record their voice as they explain what is shown in the screenshot. How do we do this? Open up OneNote or Windows Journal or Apple/Mac's Notebook. You will be looking at a picture of a notebook page, complete with tabs to go to new notebook pages...as many as you would like!
Reduce this window, open an activity in the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) or any other computer-based concrete model. At any time during the activity, the student can press "PrtSc" or PrintScreen on the computer keyboard to take a screenshot of the activity.
Then maximize the window with OneNote or Windows Journal or Apple/Mac's Notebook, and paste that screenshot. (Then click "Save"!) Now a student can use a microphone to record (and re-record and re-record and re-record) an explanation of what it is they were doing when they were doing the activity.
But wait! There's more! Students can do more than just save still pictures of their computer screens and explain them by recording their voice. They can also record their screen LIVE while they click around and narrate using a microphone. Camtasia is one of the commercial ($$$) software programs that will do this, SmartBoard recorder will also do this, and Windows Encoder is free ($0); try check http://macsteps.com/blog/reviews/an-overview-of-screen-recording-apps-for-the-mac/ for Apple/Mac's functions as a screen recorder... for Apple/Mac's functions as a screen recorder...
Check out the TechTuesday wiki for directions for using Encoder (http://ttactechtuesday.pbworks.com/Windows+Media+Encoder)
Are you going to the Reaching and teaching all students in math conference on March 30 at GMU? Looks like it's going to be a good one...Scott Marfilius (http://www.scottmarfilius.com/) is one of my favorite presenters...kind of a cross between Alton Brown on the Food Network program "Good Eats" and your most fondly remembered K-12 teacher.
Reaching and Teaching ALL MATH students (UDL, Differentation and AT, What Do They Have in Common? Focusing on the Role Technology Plays in Math)
Date and Time: 3/30/2010 9:30 am ---- 3/30/2010 3:30 pm
Description: This free session will look at research-based instructional strategies and how technology can be integrated into math instruction. The presenter, Scott Marfilius, will focus on the connection between differentiated instruction and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how these strategies create a new paradigm for teaching, learning, and assessment. He will also draw on new brain research and new media technologies to respond to individual learner differences. These applications are enabling students with disabilities to find success within the general curriculum and are also being used to significantly impact the learning of regular education students.
Location: GMU Prince William campus, Verizon Auditorium.
Sorry--too late! Keep your eyes open for future opportunities!
Most of us use some type of portable digital device every day! Have you thought how many students already bring cell phones, iphones, ipods and itouches to school every day? Teachers are beginning to use cell phones as response systems for their students. We are all discovering new and innovative apps for ipods and itouches that are useful in academic and leisure settings and are providing educational solutions for students with and without disabilities. School administrators are beginning to communicate about the benefits of these devices and modifications needed to school policies. If you want to learn more, read on.....
•Mobile Devices in the Classroom-an article included in the November/December, 2009, issue of District Administration
http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=2198
•Ipod and itouch apps for special education--great list of apps for special education
24470331-iPhone-and-iPod-touch-Apps-for-Special-Education.pdf
•Virginia Superintendent's Memo #020-10 describes the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) competitive grants that include a number of iPod touch and supporting Apple products and a volume discount provided by Apple to schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. If you work in a Virginia school and are interested, visit: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2010/020-10.shtml
Fractions, decimals, and percents are unwieldy for many modern Americans...and students with disabilities are no different. But what AT is there for elementary students trying to learn this? NCTI recently posted a study of IntelliTools Classroom Suite 4's "Fraction Sense," software in which a sequence of fraction activities involving on-screen virtual manipulatives are used by students to build concrete understanding of the concepts involved in fraction operations. Read more at http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/index.php/2009/09/11/case-fraction-sense/
Take a look at AbleNet Equals. It encompasses pre-readiness math skills (attending, cause and effect, etc.), fundamental math skills (numbers and operations, measurement, and estimation), and higher order math skills (data analysis, probability, spatial sense, geometry, algebra, and problem solving). Each lesson provides three levels of instruction for students with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities. Click on the following link to take a look http://www.ablenetinc.com/Home/Curriculum/Equals/tabid/460/Default.aspx
Design Science has been working with AT vendors to include math supports in their products. On this page is a chart of popular AT products and how/if these products provide speech or Braille support for math. The site also includes some research surrounding the need for more products that provide access to mathematics
http://www.dessci.com/en/solutions/access/atsupport.htm
Great question! Take a few minutes to follow this link from the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System to learn more about these assistive technology assessment kits that offer Low Tech Tools for Inclusive Education.
We have an assortment of them in our library that can be checked out for three weeks as you determine what tools your students might need! Great for collaborative special education teachers who are finding their feet in strategizing for students in a new classroom.
Click on http://www.axistive.com/connsense-review-virtual-pencil-arithmetic.html to read a review of the Virtual Pencil Arithmetic program. It is used with students who find it difficult to write or align numbers and helps them to solve math problems, including working with fractions and decimals. The company has a website here: http://www.hentermath.com/.
viso_demo.mp4...just take a minute (actually 45 seconds) to watch it.
Cool, huh? Read more here: http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/index.php/2009/10/13/case-on-screen-speaking-calculator-improves-access-to-higher-math/
Numeracy and the ability to manipulate numbers is essential to STEM education. NCTI's recent case study highlights this:
Students who are blind or have low vision have been at a disadvantage with few tools designed for their needs. With the growing prevalence of math mark-up language, MathML, assistive technology researchers knew that a speech-interactive calculator would fill a need and be able to take advantage of new digital content. This 2008 Technology in the Works research project developed an on-screen calculator that shows real promise as a compensatory tool, but even more importantly, as a learning tool.
Are you in search of low tech to mid tech items you can use in your inclusive classrooms and need help in using them? Click on the link below for the Lottie Kit On-Line Workshop. You will find tools and resources that are appropriate for assessment, evaluation and accommodations in the areas of reading, writing, mathematics and organization.
http://www.fdlrs.leon.k12.fl.us/lottie_kit/intro.html
Many of our students stuggle with access to mathematics, whether it's the content, manipulatives, calculators etc. This website includes some solutions to some challenging problems. Explore this webpage and it's links to get ideas.
http://www.tsbvi.edu/math/calculators.htm
Often students with disabilities are prevented from participating in many key academic areas, most often Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Many teachers do not know how to provide accommodations in these areas or how to teach students outside the traditional means of instruction. Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access has a grant the National Science Foundation called Barrier Free Education. The goal of the Barrier-Free Education Project is to provide training and resources available to teachers anytime, anywhere. They have charts that include problems and solutions in all of the content areas.
Check it out and get great ideas
http://barrier-free.arch.gatech.edu/index.php
The beginning of the school year is a great time to review the AT needs of your students in the areas of math and reading. Click on the following links to AT that will get your students off to a grand start!
Cool Math
http://www.coolmath.com/graphit/
Elementary Mathematics
http://www.fi.uu.nl/rekenweb/en/welcome.xml?groep=6
Secondary Mathematics
http://www.fi.uu.nl/wisweb/en/
http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/projects/funded/jasper/intro/Jasperintro.html
Check out the following links to websites which feature calculators, online calculators and lesson plans. Have fun!
Pacific Tech
http://www.pacifict.com/
Cool Math
http://www.coolmath.com/graphit/
Texas Instruments
Calculators
http://www.graphingcalculators.com/
On line calculators
http://my.hrw.com/math06_07/nsmedia/tools/Graph_Calculator/graphCalc.html
Want students to be more actively engaged in learning? Try anchoring instruction around an interesting topic! Anchoring instruction provokes the kinds of thoughtful engagement that helps students develop effective thinking skills and attitudes which contribute to effective problem solving and critical thinking.
Principles of anchored instruction:
•Learning and teaching activities should be designed around an "anchor" which is often a story, adventure, or situation that includes a problem or issue to be dealt with that is of interest to the students.
•Instructional materials should include rich resources students can explore as they try to decide how to solve a problem (e.g., interactive videodisc programs)
Check out the following links for more information:
http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/projects/funded/jasper/intro/Jasperintro.html
http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/projects/funded/jasper/preview/AdvJW.html
The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) has just released "Game Changer: Investing in Digital Play to Advance Children's Learning and Health." Here's the down-low:
"Game Changer, a new report from Joan Ganz Cooney at Sesame Workshop, offers a new framework to use games to help children learn healthy behaviors, traditional skills like reading and math, and 21st-century strengths such as critical thinking, global learning, and programming design. It specifies how increased national investment in research-based digital games might play a cost-effective and transformative role and provides comprehensive actions steps for media industry, government, philanthropy, and academia to harness the appeal of digital games to improve children's health and learning."
To download the full report, visit: http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/index.php/2009/06/25/game-changer-investing-in-digital-play-to-advance-childrens-learning-and-health/.
According to Bouck and Flanagan( 2009) in their article Assistive Technology and Mathematics: What is There and Where Can We Go in Special Education, Students with disabilities continue to underperform in the area of mathematics, compared to their peers without disabilities. AT may be a means of providing assistance by increasing access to mathematical ideas and helping students experience higher levels of success. The authors present three areas of AT used in mathematics for students with disabilities: anchored instruction, computer assisted instruction and calculators. They suggest that both general and special education teachers must be taught to effectively integrate AT into their mathematics instruction for all students, especially students with disabilities. Examples of each program will be highlighted in my next blog postings so stay tuned!
Bouck, E. and Flanagan, S. (2009) Assistive Technology and Mathematics: What is There and Where Can we Go in Special Education. Journal of Special Education Technology, 24(2),17-28.
Here are a few great websites to support/learn more about math facts and principles: http://illuminations.nctm.org/, http://www.math.com, and http://nlvm.usu.edu/
Classroom Suite 3 was designed for grades PreK-8.
Preschoolers can use coloring book and puzzle activities; explore shapes, patterns, and counting; and work with cause and effect activities. Primary and elementary students can create their own electronic books and slide shows, practice math concepts with on-screen manipulatives,and develop writing fluency. Secondary students can create time lines, diagrams and outlines, write newspaper articles, and create professional -quality presentations to communicate their learning. Teachers can open instant authoring templates to create curriculum-based activities appropriate for preschool through middle school students. Assessments created are great additions to the student portfolio!
The new Classroom Suite 4 is a unique intervention tool that combines direct instruction with a flexible tool environment to help students in grades Pre K through 5 achieve mastery in reading, writing and math. It provides students with explicit instruction, constructive practice and embedded assessments to allow teachers to gauge progress and individualize instruction for their students. Classroom Suite 4 includes research-based activity templates that can be used out-of-the box, or easily customized to meet targeted needs. Lessons can be sequenced into "intelligent " units to align with district or core curriculum.
Follow this link to take a look at intelliTools Classroom Suite
http://store.cambiumlearning.com/ProgramPage.aspx?parentId=074003925&functionID=009000008&site=itc.
The math overlay provides access to math-related software programs or calculators. It can be a powerful tool in helping your students master new math concepts or answering questions. It has a limited number of keys...great for students who may be distracted by a standard keyboard or a full featured overlay.
Click on the link below:
http://www.synapseadaptive.com/intellitools/IntelliKeys.html
Are you struggling to teach your students probablility and statistics, databases or JAVA? Are they asking you, "Why do I need to know this? How will this help me in life?" Then you have to check out this site:
http://www.nostarch.com/mg_databases.htm
Mana Takahashi a graduate of the Tokyo University, Faculty of Economics has written a number of technical books with a flare for those who love a good comic book story. Through a unique combination of Japanese-style comics and serious educational content, students learn about topics that can be seriously boring. Has anyone seen this series before? Let us know what you think!
Looking for an interactive way to involve students in Math? Destination Math may be what you're seeking. Destination Math spans grades k-12 and takes advantage of the interactive capababilites oif multimedia technology. Animation, speech and sound effects motivates students at varying skill levels.
Take a look at this pouring cup.....allows students greater independence in math and science activities in the classroom and greater access in the kitchen.
http://enablingdevices.com/catalog/useful-devices/household-products/pouring-cups-accessories
We recently had a reader ask about Math Talk. If you visit http://www.mathtalk.com/ you will see that Metroplex Voice Computing advertises a way to do math without keyboard or mouse through speech recognition mathematics. They have MATHTALK demos via Desktop Streaming; it runs about $300 for the full version. Students can do their own math homework since a user can voice his or her own work and print work, so there is no need for family members or assistants to write math problems out. It offers voice arithmetic/pre-algebra/algebra/trig/calculus/statistics/graphing and includes Scientific Notebook; user can choose to translate math to Braille in Duxbury Braille Translator. Requires Dragon Naturally Speaking --any version. Take a look around the site and play with the demo if you’re interested in this product -- we’ll post more on it later!
Some of our high school students have a hard time practicing higher math (algebra I, geometry, etc.) because so much of it hinges upon the pencil-and-paper practice examples. Try these websites to shore up their understanding without any need for handwriting!
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/NAV/grade_g_4.html
http://www.brainpop.com/math/
http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/math/ALGEBRA/games/Aquiapage.htm
http://math.cudenver.edu/~rbyrne/flash.htm
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/
http://www.intmath.com
http://www.mathwords.com/ and http://www.mathwords.com/index_applications.htm
http://education.jlab.org/solquiz/index.html
This video presentation shows strategies for fully including students with disabilities in science and math activities. Science and math teachers who view this video will become better prepared to create an inclusive learning environment and accommodate students with disabilities.
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/winequ.html
Math Type is a program that creates mathematical notation for word processing, web pages, desktop publishing, and presentations. It contains more symbols and templates that the standard equation editor. Math Type appears to be very appropriate for high school level math and chemistry classes.
For sample templates and activities that have been created using Math Type go here:
http://www.adeptscience.co.uk/products/mathsim/mathtype/samples/index.html
You can get a free 30 day trial at:
http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathtype/default.htm
Lately there has been a lot of discussion about accessible instructional materials. This article is great because it highlights the challenges that are faced for making sure that math texts are accessible by all. As you know, math equations are not always easily recognized by text to speech programs. Here is an excerpt from the article by Steve Noble, Director of Accessibility Policy Design Science:
The use of digital texts, however, has been largely focused on providing access to standard literary materials, rather than to math content. Higher level math access with assistive technologies is particularly problematic, due to the fact that common scanning and optical character recognition (OCR) technologies used to convert print materials to digital form cannot process complex math symbols, and publisher created digital resources commonly use inaccessible graphical images of math equations.
Read the entire article at:
Here is a fun way to explain math concepts to students. Written on an older elementary level but the story is appropriate to students exploring geometry and algebra facts this series is another way to help students visualize math concepts. Check these titles out by by Cindy Neuschwander and Wayne Geehan,they are available through Amazon for under $12.00
Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter
Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi
Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone
Use the conditional formatting tool in excel to create a self checking activity for your students. The possibilities are endless. A definition can be entered into one cell and the student will be asked to type in the corresponding vocabulary word into the blank cell. By selecting conditional formatting from the format menu you can format the cell to turn green if the correct word is entered. Then format the cell to turn red if the word is not correct. The same procedures can apply for entering algebra or other math equations. Thanks to Tammy Worcester from ESSDACK in Kansas for this wonderful tip.
Assistive Technology, Inc. has published a new software bundled to assess and teach early numeracy skills, including number sense. Stages Math: Number Sense was created using the principles of Universal Design, allowing for multiple modes of access and response. The programs can be customized to provide prompting, graphical support, help buttons etc. to support students as they are learning. The software not only assesses, but can be used for instruction. “Use the software every day--the questions are never the same!” Check it out on the web http://www.assistivetch.com
Graph paper is beloved by many for its ability to keep us organized and in columns when we write numbers and letters. If this sounds like a sentiment you agree with, check out http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/ for more than a dozen free graph paper options.
Click on http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/scramble1.htm for a pretty good online version of math magnets. Warning: requires some mouse control and avoid using the place value board for calculating (it has no zero).
News from Washington! Read "Visually Impaired Students Study Math Using Innovative Software: Sighted kids also benefit from hearing equations via MathTrax program."
MathTrax is a graphing tool for middle school and high school students to graph equations, physics simulations or plot data files. The graphs have descriptions and sound so you can hear and read about the graph. Blind and low vision users can access visual math data and graph or experiment with equations and datasets.
To read the article, click on this impossibly long URL: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=December&x=200712041642461CJsamohT0.8393061.
You can access the MathTrax website at http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/mathtrax.
Big Calculator is a large calculator for Windows produced by Sensory Software. You can either click on the buttons with the mouse or use the numeric keypad to perform calculations. The size of the calculator buttons is determined by the width of the calculator window thus making it easy to adjust the size of the calculator. In addition, verbal feedback is given if SAPI 4.0 speech is installed on your computer. To download and read more go to:
Checkout the Visual Search Mode of the VCU T/TAC online library. Icons are used as search buttons for categories or subject areas. Selecting the Assistive Technology search button opens up several other search buttons for easy “one-touch” searching for AT items, software or helpful links. If you would like to checkout AT Library items call us at 800-426-1595 and ask for our library, or come by the VCU T/TAC at 10 E. Franklin St in Richmond.
Continue reading "Using Visual Search Mode for Assistive Technology on VCU T/TAC Online Library" »
It's been awhile since I ventured into the Crayola section of the store since my children are far beyond that stage, but recently I discovered several Crayola tools that now have that universal design feel. I'm especially excited about the audio ruler. Crayola Total Tools Audio Ruler measures out loud! This talking tool measures in quarter inch increments up to one foot with a thin line of disappearing ink. The ink helps to ensure that the measurement is what you wanted. Choose to hear the accurate measurement or a silly nonsensical measurement just for fun! Isn't this neat.
Also check out the erasable highlighters, ultimate cutter, and glue roller. All of these tools have wonderful grips to accomodate students with fine motor issues. Go to Crayola's website and check them out or go browse the Crayola isle of your favorite store.
http://www.crayola.com/products/splash/tools/TotalTools/index.cfm
The Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd) and the National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) have made available two databases that present evidence for the use of products and technologies that support the instruction of reading and mathematics for students with special needs. Click on http://www.techmatrix.org to reach both of them.
A few of the categories used to rate products: Adjustable Difficulty, Customizable by User Profile, Font Control, Response Time, Prompt Time, Input Mouse/Touchscreen, Switch, Text to Speech Reads the Problem, Corrective, Approximate Grade Level.
Click on http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities to see 137 math activities for a single student or pair of students, ranging from elementary to postsecondary math. Once there, click on the Instructor tab to see directions and standards connections. For example, the game "Arithmetic Four" has this description:
This activity allows two users to play a game of estimation where each player tries to connect four game pieces in a row before his or her opponent does. The players can choose to answer problems involving whole number and integer addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They can also choose the difficulty level and the number of players. This activity would work well in groups of 2 for about 25-30 minutes if you use the exploration questions and 15-20 minutes otherwise.
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html is a great resource for all students-easy for students with limited mobility as well as students without mobility difficulties. Try the "complete the pattern" application (http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_184_g_1_t_1.html)--it's fun! (My second favorite is the Sieve of Eratosthenes at http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_158_g_1_t_1.html)
Clicking on the "Parent/Teacher" icon at the top of each page provides:
- Objectives
- Lesson Plan
- Extension
- Assessment
- Materials
- Cross References
Clicking on the "Standards" button takes you to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Principles and Standards for School Mathematics page that correlates to the activity.
Click on http://www.kirstenhaugen.org/ask/ask.html and explore Kirsten Haugen's ideas.
Note: this is an updated link! Thanks, Fiona, for letting us know.
Math software can be very expensive and good programs are pretty rare. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) has done a great job of making over 90 online practice games available for preK-12 learning across the math strands.
Check out http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activities.aspx?grade=3&srchstr=fraction for an example of middle school fraction activities, and http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivitySearch.aspx to conduct your own activity search.
Check out http://www.ldonline.org/article/13709 for an article on Dyscalculia with some suggestions for supporting students with math disabilities. Suggestions are practical and easy, such as: "Use graph paper for students who have difficulty organizing ideas on paper."
I can't do this site justice with my words- you'll just have to click and play: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/
Here's what they say: "We have several fun online interactive activities here to help you...improve your mental maths skills...These pages are aimed at 7 -11 year olds. "
I had fun with division and multiplication...still playing...
Graph Club software is available for checkout from our AT lab. Here's what Graph Club is, according to the publisher's website (http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/product.asp?SKU=GRPV20):
! The Graph Club is an innovative, easy-to-use software tool for creating, exploring, interpreting, and printing graphs. The program's friendly, hands-on environment helps young students make the transition from graphing with manipulatives to graphing in the abstract. As students create and compare up to five different graph types, they develop essential graphing and math skills.MEETS STATE AND NATIONAL STANDARDS
Your students will: Formulate questions that can be addressed with data
Collect,organize,and display data to answer questions
Represent data using five different graph types: picture, bar, circle, and line graphs, plus tables
Compare different representations of the same data
Describe parts of the data and the set of data as a whole
Product Features Easily create picture, bar, circle, and line graphs, plus tables
Over 100 standards-aligned,ready-made activities in math, science,social studies, and language arts
Reproducible assessment tools including rubrics, checklists, and sample graphs
450 built-in symbols - or import and save your own
On-screen notebook with audio recorder lets students describe their graphs orally or in writing
Graph up to 12 categories with a scale of up to 1,000
A built-in, animated tutorial guides teachers and students step-by-step through the program's features
The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) serves as a special public school in the continuum of statewide placements for students who have a visual impairment and has some really nice materials available on the website. Click on http://www.tsbvi.edu/math/teaching.htm for the best list of math strategies for students with VI that I have seen! Topics include:
Collaborative/Inclusive Strategies
Challenges in Teaching Mathematics to the Visually Impaired
Arithmetic Calculation Using the Braillewriter
Solving Quadratic Equations
Solving Systems of Equations in Three Variables
Linear Measure, Perimeter, and Area
Transformations, Line Symmetry, and Tessellations
Geometric Constructions
Teaching a blind student how to graph on a coordinate plane: No tech, low tech, and high tech tools
While at the recent Closing the Gap conference I attended a session hosted by Boston Public Schools Access Technology Center, the developers of the SAM model for AT delivery. One of the many documents that was presented to the participants was a guide of math supports for diverse learners. This guide contains many strategies that can be used when teaching math lessons that incorporate the learning styles of multiple students. It is a great guide for trying to design lesson plans under a UDL framework. Download the file now:
Many of you are regular visitors to www.ldonline.org, a well-know website loaded with information for students, families and professionals regarding a variety of issues related to serving students with learning disabilities. It was originally started by Richard Wanderman, a well known educational consultant, presenter and successful adult with learning disabilities, who also happens to be a technology wiz. The site now contains lists of tools, schools, organizations and professionals and other resources for the LD community as well as new articles and commentaries. Richard has now developed a blog with his colleague David Clark, a well-know web accessibility consultant and successful adult with cerebral palsy. Richard has presented several assistive technology workshops for our TechKnowledgy Conference and is an amazing source of information. His creative and practical use of technology is helpful to students and adults with learning disabilities and the families and professionals who support them. We suggest that you check out his new blog at www.ldresources.org!
I recently found this great website for interactive math activities. Many of the acitivies are appropriate for secondary math teachers but some are also great for elementary teachers. Check out the area on probability.
The 4-in-1 Activity Center from SuperDuper Inc. is a great tool that includes a magnetic board, card holder, mirror, and write-on/wipe-off board. Click this link to see a full-sized flyer with the many uses of this tool:
View image
Interested in checking out the 4-in-1 Activity Center for 3 weeks and trying it with your students? Contact our Region 8 AT lab toll-free at 866-465-0412 and let us know!
Need a link to our library and AT lab? Click here: http://www.vcu.edu/ttac/Library/Library.htm
If a student writes slowly, you are probably considering a range of assistive technology devices and skill-building sequences. In addition, however, you may want to try one of these quick fixes:
1. Start adding word banks to your fill-in-the-blank/cloze worksheets and notes. Place a number in front of each word or phrase in the word bank and instruct the student to place only the number in the space, not the word or phrase.
2. Write word banks on a sticky note and try #1 above.
3. Write the answers on separate small sticky notes and stick them all to one piece of blank paper. Instruct the student to place each sticky note in the correct space on the worksheet.
4. Use rubber stamps to respond (easiest when few stamps would be needed--short math problems, etc.).
Use the dry erase marker to sketch a graph and write questions directly on it—errors don’t matter since the line is easily erased and redrawn.
Use the axes to graph results from survey or other data! Cling film sticks to the board, and stamps can be used on the board if you use dry erase stamp pad ink.
Students can hold up their answers to be checked at a glance! They can pass a challenge question on to the next student!
Flip the board over and the blank side can be used for other individual response and participation activities.
Our AT Lab has one set of 30 of these light and flexible X-Y coordinater grid markerboards for checkout, complete with markers. Do you teach in Central Virginia and are you interested in checking this set out of our AT Lab for a few weeks to use in your classroom? Call us at 800-426-1595 and ask for our library, or come by the VCU T/TAC at 10 E. Franklin St in Richmond!
We know that Hundreds Charts are one of the essential tools in early math instruction--counting, sequencing, fractions, decimals, percents, basic manipulative use, the Sieve of Eratosthenes!
Save some time and use this Microsoft Word version of a Hundreds Chart: print it, laminate it, project it, whatever you can think of! Click on this link to download the chart: Download file
Here's an example of virtual highlighting:
Idea: To find least common multiple of 8 and 6, highlight the multiples of 6 in yellow--when you hit one that should be both blue AND yellow, make it green! That's a common multiple!
You might want to pre-highlight one (8s or 6s) and have students do the other. Other ideas?
The Virtual Vine is a great website for teachers of students in preK-2 or any of us focusing on early learning skills. The webmaster, Cindy, has 19 years experience as a Special Education Resource Teacher, teaching range of students with mild to significant cognitive disabilities. Hew website, http://www.thevirtualvine.com, is full of great ideas for centers using no tech and low/light tech manipulatives.
Here's an example of one:
Counting by 2s, 5s, & 10s: I use my number chart and "highlighter tape" to help my students see the patterns of counting by 2s, 5s, & 10s. The highlighter tape is actually cling on bookcovers that I purchased by the box at Office Depot. You just cut the film to the size you need, then it easily sticks and and can be easily removed without any sticky residue. Eventually dust and grime will get stuck to the back, so you just throw it away and cut new pieces. I've been using the same box for years!
Click here to visit the math section of her site and see her hundreds chart with "highlights" http://www.thevirtualvine.com/math.html
A great way to prompt any and all students during choral response counting activities!
The Palm Beach County Schools Dept of Exceptional Student Education has posted the SETT framework questions as a considerations document that can be completed and shared by IEP team members. Check out http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/Records/PDF/1859.pdf.
The areas of handwriting, reading, math, learning/study skills, and computer access are included in the considerations form, with a multitude of suggestions for students and their IEP teams to try (Magic Rub erasers, highlighter tape). A column in the document is provided to evaluate effectiveness.
If you provide a small, magnetic wipe-off board to each student in the class, students can interact with concepts and practice skills in the large group with little concern for making big mistakes! In addition to acting as individual response boards for informal student assessment, the small dry-erase boards can be used for sorting and classifying.
For instance, the class discusses what the word "freedom" means, and students are asked to provide examples of freedom. On their small markerboards, they draw a picture or write a few words to illustrate the concept of "freedom." Students can erase as much as they want, use dry-erase stamp sets, and use peel-off stickers. The teachers can redirect and guide students as they work. Students then stick their magnetic boards to the main board and explain to the class what they wrote or illustrated. When it comes time to sort the boards into personal freedom and public/group freedom, any student can move the concepts around in the way they think is best, with no need to write--just re-stick on the board under a different heading! Also, no "error" or changed decision is difficult because the markerboard can simply be moved under a different hearding. The resulting graphic organizer can be copied down by students or could easily be digitally photographed, photocopied, and added to student notebooks.
Boone makes 5"x8" markerboards that are also magnetic and come in sets of 4, so 6 sets would outfit most classrooms. Want to make your own? Try laminating large index cards and sticking heavy-duty business card-sized magnets (available at office supply stores cheaply) to the back.
Tech4Learning has a wonderful resource, Recipe4Success, for supporting teachers and students using technology in the classroom. This resource includes software tutorials and guides for particular features, tools for creating graphic organizers or rubrics, as well as a multitude of many other resources available for free once your subscribe. This resource will save you lots of time and will allow your students to become more self-directed learners and better cooks! You need to check it out! Go to http://www.myt4l.com/
Recently we searched for a graphing calculator (such as the TI-83/84/89) that has large keys...the bad news (and ideas for dealing with the issue) comes from CATEA, the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (http://www.catea.org/quickrefguides/guides/Calculators.php):
This is a highly sought product that, unfortunately, is not yet available. The only current option is to use a computer-based program that emulates the calculator, along with an appropriate keyboard. Computer software options include:- TI InterActive! is a software version of the TI-83 graphing calculator. It is available from Texas Instruments for about $50.
- The Larsen Interactive Pre-calculus CD ROM series includes tutorials for algebra, college algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus. All CD-ROM's have a built-in graphing calculator with TI82 or TI83 functions as part of the package. It is available from Houghton Mifflin Company.
Is there a way that I could feel a graph?
Products exist that convert mathematical data and forms to tactile form. The following are a few examples.
Geometry Tactile Graphics Kit is a set of raised line drawings depicting concepts, figures, and relationships covered in geometry texts. The drawings are embossed in thermoform plastic, and are available from American Printing House for the Blind.
Generate a graph on a scientific graphing calculator program such as Graph-It, then emboss an image of the graph using a braille embosser.
Interesting posting on the website for Sabine Parish, LA: A quick checklist for determining student-specific modifications (http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/standards/CSmchecklis.htm). Some good ideas for us AT-minded folks!
Only one note: many of the "modifications" they list are things I would see not as modifications, but as accommodations or simply differentiated or alternate instruction...
...because we can't stop brainstorming uses for the wax-covered yarn and are so glad to see even more ideas posted online at wikkistix.com:
...and the manufacturer's site now posts occupational therapy uses for the cool light-tech learning tools (http://www.wikkistix.com/otuses.htm) as well as general educational uses (http://www.wikkistix.com/educational.htm).
Many districts have money to spend on AT right now, and with more students aiming for standard diplomas down the road, some of that AT money is probably going be spent on content-focused material.
If you are looking for some good math software, for SOL content in grades 1-6, check out the following online software review article. "Electronic Resources - Using Mathematics Software to Enhance Elementary Students’ Learning" is a well-written and researched article available in the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) online journal (http://my.nctm.org/eresources/view_article.asp?article_id=6479&page=1). The authors included screen shots of many of the titles they review.
Added bonus: This is software that meets the needs of many students with disabilities while still being appropriate for all students! A great way to create centers that are automatically leveled to each student's math needs.
Some of the software referred to:
Building Perspectives Deluxe.
The Cruncher 2.0.
Data Explorer.
Factory Deluxe.
Fathom Dynamic Statistics.
The Geometer’s Sketchpad.
The Graph Club 2.0 Deluxe.
Graphers.
Green Globs and Graphing Equations.
How the West Was One + Three x Four.
Math Arena.
Math Munchers Deluxe.
Oregon Trail.
Zoombinis Logical Journey.
Multiplication "War"
Split a deck of playing cards between 2 people.
Flip over the top card of each deck simultaneously.
The first one to say the fact based on the cards turned over (a four and a five = Say "20") gets the cards.
The person to get the most cards wins!
Adaptations:
- Keep a multiplication table out for beginners to refer to when they start playing.
- Take turns with a short timer; if the person whose turn it is doesn't get the answer right (based on multiplication table or other strategy), the other person can steal it!
Keep pace with Miss Dixon at her blog, http://inclusion-in-mathematics.blogspot.com/. She is posting all summer about the nuts and bolts of helping kids learn in inclusive middle school mathematics classes . Benefit from her knowledge--down in Alabama, even warmer than we have it here!--and offer your own specialized AT knowledge by posting comments to her blog!
How many of us have thrown up our hands in despair at reading an accommodation on a student's IEP that indicates the need for "hands-on activities and manipulatives" in our Middle School Math or Algebra class? Fear not! Donna Roberts provides a way that Algebra tiles can be easily (and cheaply) constructed and distributed to an entire class on her website http://regentsprep.org/Regents/math/teachres/ttiles.htm. These Algebra tiles allow students to manipulate a range of problems, and Ms. Roberts offers links to activities that use the Algebra tiles to address concepts including signed numbers, the distributive property, adding and subtracting polynomials, and quadratic equations.
As an added bonus, Ms. Roberts notes,
Many of the commercial versions of algebra tiles are made from plastic and possess a "projectile" quality. I have found that the homemade tiles are seldom "airborne" since they are aerodynamically deficient.
Happy Tiling!
We just opened up a box of these Flexitables today and had some fun manipulating them. Basically, the Flexitable is a thin grid that has vertical and horizontal channels molded into soft PVC plastic--it feels like a shower curtain (and kind of smells like one, too!). You fold and unfold again and again to find equivalent fractions--decimals are printed on the other side.
For example, if you ask a student, "Your answer is 6/10. Is there any way to simplify that, by showing it with a smaller denominator? Check your Flexitable!" The student would fold the table until only six of the 1/10 squares showed on the grid. Looking up the grid, they would see that folding the table that way left exactly three of the 1/5 squares. So, 6/10 = 3/5!
This gives students a chance to get a solid conceptual basis before moving to the symbolic level, as well as helps the students to review the concepts when they are in the symbolic level.