Running Head: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

Assistive Technology in the Classroom

Abigail Wright
North Greenville University

Assistive Technology in the Classroom

Assistive Technology in the Classroom

In a world that continues to develop and growing complexity, teachers must continue to
find new ways to teach and assist their students. As more technology enters the classroom,
whether in teaching, learning, practicing, or assisting, teachers must constantly be a on the
lookout for new technology and ideas. Specifically, teachers take the responsibility to research
and find assistive technology for their students with learning disabilities. Students with learning
disabilities usually have a more difficult time in learning, comprehending lessons and doing
homework. New developed technologies can help these students in their classroom tasks, and
take pressure from the teachers shoulders, who can know that the student is learning more
effectively. Some assistive technology devices are proofreading software, electronic math
worksheets, text-to-speech programs, alternative keyboards, talking calculators and paper-based
computer pen.
Proofreading software and programs
are used in classrooms today to assist students
that have difficulty in writing. Students might
struggle with spelling, grammar, punctuation
and sentence structure. This program tends to
scan the students work, in a special document
that processes, and alerts the student when there are errors. Usually the student can fix the
problems on their own after the alert. A common program used for proofreading is called
Ginger. This program can be downloaded from the Ginger website, and is an add-on for
Microsoft Word. It provides many features ranging from emojis, grammar checker and a
dictionary.

Assistive Technology in the Classroom

Electronic math worksheets is another

program that helps students with the
comprehending and organization of math
problems. This program is on a screen, which
helps students who have a hard time focusing
working with the traditional pencil and paper.
Altogether, this program helps students and
learners who struggle with math in general, but numbers and words can also be read with a
speech synthesizer. The program is used all across the United States in Universities, Colleges
and Schools. Mathtalk is one of the specific programs used. Prices vary from around $300 to
$875, but it features voiced software, graphing, provides translation into Braille, has a
manual/tutorial and saves all print homework. The program additionally can solve, evaluate,
factor, expand and simplify. Teachers can easily prepare
homework and the student can do the homework.
Text-to-speech (TTS) helps children and students who are
dyslexic or have difficulty reading. The TTS software
usually reads text out loud while the student can see the
words on a screen. These programs can be downloaded
onto the computer or any other electronic device. It allows
actual printed material to be scanned into the program, so
that it can be transferred into digital text. NaturalReader is a
free TTS program, which can be downloaded or used online. It simply reads the text and can be
used with Microsoftr Word, Webpages, PDF files and emails. Additionally, it can also make mp3

Assistive Technology in the Classroom

files from the documents. NaturalReader comes with several packages raging from Free to the
ultimate package of $200. This program is used in schools across the United States and Canada.
Alternative keyboards that help students with typing and inputting information into a
computer. An alternative keyboard has add-ons which
change the appearance and functions compared to a
standard keyboard. The keyboard usually has reduced input
choices, group keys can be organized by color or location
and may add graphics. This technology assists with
learners who have a difficult time writing. Intellikeys is an
alternative keyboard. It is a thin keyboard that is more
sensitive than the standard keyboard. You can slide different overlays over the keyboard for
different learners. There are several different kinds of intellikeys, ranging in price, the cheapest
keyboard being around $400.
Talking calculators are provided to students with difficulty in translating math symbols
and numbers to paper. These calculators help students
check answers and more effectively preform math
homework on their own. The calculator has a speech
synthesizer where the numbers, symbols and other keys
are read aloud for the student. These calculators are
used throughout classrooms and are not very
expensive. An 8 digit talking calculator is around 10
dollars. These calculators can be found for free on the internet, or downloaded onto a computer.

Assistive Technology in the Classroom

A paper-based computer pen can make audio and a recording by just using the special pen
and paper. A student and write a paper or take notes,
and a voice will read whatever the student writes. The
pen can then be used to read notes or papers back, by
touching the pen to a paragraph it was used to write.
This tool helps students with their ability to read,
memorize, write or listen. The Pulse Smartpen created
by Livescribe is an efficient and effective pen.
Everything written with this pen can be sent to a phone or ipad. The prices range from the type
of pen bought, but the Smartpen is around 150. It is used by both students and working adults.
Assistive technology is used throughout the United States in classrooms. The technology
helps students who might have learning disabilities or simply need more help in their studies.
There are hundreds of different types of technology, and they all help students in different
aspects of their learning careers.

References

Assistive Technology in the Classroom

Millstone, J. (2014, June 1). Assistive Technology: Tools That Help With Learning. Retrieved
March 2, 2015, from https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistivetechnology/assistive-technologies-basics/assistive-technology-tools-that-help-withlearning
Raskind, M. (n.d.). Assistive technology for kids with LD: An overview. Retrieved March 2,
2015, from http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/702assistive-technology-for-kids-with-learning-disabilities-an-overview.gs
Stanberry, K. (2009, January 1). Assistive Technology Tools: Writing. Retrieved March 2, 2015,
from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/assistive-technology-tools-writing