Adaptive Technology

The Thinking Reader Series (Digital Talking Books)

An Overview
Designed by David Rose & Bridget Dalton of the Center for Applied Special Technology. Marketed by Tom Synder Productions (a Scholastic company).
A research based means to teach effective reading strategies.

What is the Thinking Reader Series?

Software to improve reading comprehension for struggling readers and special needs students. 9 books available for 6th through 8th graders. Offers customizable levels of support thus allows all students to reach the same end goal.

How Does It Work?

The book is read aloud and the text is highlighted on the screen.
Contextual glossary aids vocabulary development and includes Spanish translations.

Prompts are posed at various points; responses are typed or recorded.

How Does It Work?

Includes 5 levels of embedded reading comprehension support for individualized instruction. Quizzes within the literature test recall, inference, and vocabulary skills.
Student performance is tracked and can be viewed, printed or exported to monitor progress.

How Does It Work?

Helped is available when needed; 2 characters and an agent model answers and give hints.
As skills improve, support is gradually withdrawn to challenge students. Invites student-teacher conferences to discuss struggles, progress, and methods for success.

Titles Available
My Brother Sam is Dead Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry The Giver Tuck Everlasting Dragonwings Wrinkle in Time Bud, Not Buddy Esperanza Rising Bridge to Terabithia

Pros
Meets the latest guidelines on universal accessibility including changeable text size, background & text color choices, keyboard navigation, text captioning, and screen reader.
Sets level of challenge and support for each student at instructors discretion. Varying levels of support to reach common goal.

Pros
Relies on formative assessment via tracking to increase challenges and success. Generates progress reports.
Includes Spanish text. Can be incorporated into a variety of instructional settings.

Pros
The Thinking Reader Series has wide application and can be used as adaptive technology, but is also universal learning friendly.
Hands on software is engaging and offers high quality literature.

Pros
Adjustable levels of support and multiple types of text interaction.
Provides an opportunity for student-teacher dialogue. Falls into and is valuable in any tier of the Response to Intervention model.

Pros
Attention on national need to focus on reading comprehension.
Aligned with No Child Left Behind standards. Requires little to no training.

Pros for Special Needs

Eliminates having to dumb down curriculum since students work at their own pace.
Students with special needs are able to develop skills and participate fully. Boosts several features which make material accessible to all students.

Constant progress tracking can be valuable when communicating with parents, administrators, etc. and working on IEPs.

Pros for Special Needs

A human voice can read the text, as well as, a computer voice which can be slowed down or sped up as needed. Students can re-read, have information repeated, and check vocabulary.
Use of technology to help students who may not be successful in another modality.

Cons
Writing and speaking are the other modes to articulate thinking.
Spanish is the only other language offered. Requires a reliable computer network system & technical support (preferably in house). Only offers 9 books titles available 3 grades.

Who Benefits Most?

The Thinking Reader Series would be best for those with learning disabilities.
It could also effectively engage students with autism or AD/HD. The program would be obsolete for deaf students and wouldnt be ideal for those with hearing impairments.

Who Benefits Most?

Children with traumatic brain injury and developmental disabilities could benefit from the varying levels of support the program offers. English Language Learners can definitely benefit from the program as long as they speak Spanish.
Gifted Students could work on the same level as their special needs classmates.

Thinking Reader Series & Learning Disabilities

The series promotes scaffolding and differentiation. Those with learning disabilities can work at their own pace with varying levels of support.

Thinking Reader Series & Autism

Allows students to use technology which they are accustomed to.
Use of software to read several novels creates a routine which can be a comfort to autistic students. Engaged and working independently, but still part of the group. Participation in discussion, etc. encouraged.

Thinking Reader Series & AD/HD

Engages students by providing access to hands on technology. No worksheets, books, etc. to keep up with, so students are more organized as everything is saved on the computer.

Thinking Reader Series & Deaf/Hearing Impaired Students

Deaf students would be unable to use the TRS software since its composed of Digital Talking Books.
Students with hearing impairments could use the program depending on how much they are able to hear. The TRS could be used in conjunction with other adaptive technology for the hearing impaired.

Thinking Reader Series & Traumatic Brain/Developmental Disabilities

Since The Thinking Reader Series is customizable for individual instruction, those with TBI and developmental disabilities could work at the level which is best suited to their needs.

Thinking Reader Series & English Language Learners

The program could benefit ELL students if they speak Spanish. Hearing the audio in English may improve language acquisition and vocabulary development.

Thinking Reader Series & Gifted Students

Gifted students can work on advanced levels, but on the same material as their classmates.
These students can work at the highest level while reading the novel in book form. The flexibility of the program allows for students to be challenged in a general education setting.

Implementation
Software with a 1 computer license: $250
Software with a 10 computer license: $1,000 Software with unlimited use: $2,200 Optional on site training: $2,000

Implementation
Training is not required. Software comes with a Teacher Guide which includes step-by-step instruction. Formal teaching experience is not required for implementation, however; instructor should be familiar with reciprocal teaching approaches and reading comprehension strategies, as well s, a basic computer navigating skills.

Implementation
The only cost is the software since training is not required.
Funding may be available. Discount on volume orders. In comparison to other forms of adaptive technology, The Thinking Reader Series is fairly inexpensive.

Conclusion
The Thinking Reader Series is an affordable way to improve reading comprehension for a wide array of students. The ability to work independently at an individual pace builds confidence.
All students are able to reach the same goals thanks to flexibility and universal design.