Addressing Diversity with Technology
Scenario 1: Shawna has very limited vision. She is unable to see standard size letters and words.
Resource web site:
Names and description of the adaptive technology selected
The website that I chose was The technology device was the Optical Character Recognition and Text to Speech. Using the innovation, Shawna could take text from a printed material and convert an “image” to annotated text in order for a text reading program to read written material aloud from a hard copy print or a website. There will be the use of a scanner, scanning software, Optical Character Recognition software, text to speech software, and a compatible computer. The user would scan the material into the computer as an “image”, much like a Xerox copy. The Optical Character Recognition would convert the image of the page into text which will read aloud using the text to speech software.
Options that are available are voice, rate of speech, highlighting, and screen display, which could all be used to individualize the assignment. Text can be read back a word at a time, paragraph by paragraph, or page by page. Some reading aid software such as Read and Write can convert text to a wave file for use in an MP3 player.
Explanation of how device would be used to assist the student
The technology that would be used to assist Shawna’s limited vision is the Optical Character Recognition and Text to Speech device. Using this technology, she could hear the text from a book, magazine, journal, and have it read back to her. She could go back and listen as many times as needed, or go as slowly as she needed in order to comprehend the material. She could also use the highlighting option to identify specific material and/or use the screen display option. Using Read and Write Gold, she could convert the text to a wave file for use in an MP3 player if she needed to have the text at home or in the classroom.
Sample Lesson Plan Using the Technology
Purpose: World War II was an important event in the history of the United States and the world. It is critical for students to understand its impact on our history. Student will explore the causes of World War II, the Holocaust, and Adolf Hitler.
Objective: In an on-level social studies class (7th grade) Shawna will research information on World War II. She will identify the causes of the war, learn about the Holocaust, and read biographical information about Adolf Hitler. Shawna will the create a 10 minute presentation to be delivered in class. The presentation will be oral, and she will be required to have a visual of some sort, such as a poster or a power point. Shawna would use the Optical Character Recognition to convert her text to speech as she was researching different media in order to gain information on her topic.
Material: Required materials would be a computer, OCR, Read and Write software, and MP3 player, an LCD projector, and optional earphones.
Learning Environment: This lesson will take place predominately in the media center, where the research will be done. This lesson will require several days to complete, due to our standard block of time being seventy minutes/day. Presentations will be made in the classroom with other students and teachers as the intended audience.