No-Cost Technology Tools s1

No-Cost Technology Tools for All Learners January 16, 2007

WHY USE TECHNOLOGY TOOLS? FRAME OF REFERENCE: Universal Design for Learning – CAST, TES Multiple means of: Representation, Engagement, Expression Technology is flexible and motivating Independence vs. dependence, “ Mistake tolerant vs. mistake intolerant” (Richard Wanderman) Taps into learner’s strengths and offers bypass strategies Tools are readily available and easy to use Offers repetition and review

Research Skills

Online Collaborative Word Processor

Use alt + click to access dictionary, research pane, copy and paste information Wikipedia

Del.icio.us – Social bookmarking tool which allows you to access your favorites wherever you are.

Organizational

To-do lists from Solution Watch

Study skills

 Cue Card - Free Electronic Flashcard Tool  Study Stack - create interactive web-based flashcards or use ones that are already created

Karen Janowski, M.S. Ed, OTL EdTech Solutions, LLC 131 Main Street, Reading, MA 01867 781-942-1555 www.teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com www.teachingeverystudent.wikispaces.com  Flash Card Machine - allows the user to create interactive web-based study flash cards

 Create note taking templates in Word

 Use "Power of Color" within Word (background color, highlighting color and font color tools) to reinforce concepts, to determine salient points and for review

 Use the "Organizational Chart" in the Diagram Gallery that is part of the Drawing Toolbar in Word to reinforce concepts and relationships which promotes learning.

 In Word, press the Alt tab + mouse click within a word to access the Research pane. When you are online, you will instantly get a definition of the word.

 Class Wiki Wikispaces

Reading Comprehension – (improves with preferred font, font size, font color, text-to-speech and ability to listen repeatedly as needed) WordTalk – free add-on and works within Microsoft Word; highlights text as it speaks, includes a talking dictionary and talking thesaurus. Example – delishus

Click,Speak - a free Firefox extension that reads the Internet and highlights phrases and sentences as it reads Text-to-speech built into Microsoft Word –reads within the Word document, can adjust voices, voice rate.

Use of Voice: Consider the Power of Voice

Insert Sound Object – For directions, go to www.teachingeverystudent.wikispaces.com, scroll down to Microsoft Word Cheat Sheets. Click on Insert Sound Object information.

Karen Janowski, M.S. Ed, OTL EdTech Solutions, LLC 131 Main Street, Reading, MA 01867 781-942-1555 www.teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com www.teachingeverystudent.wikispaces.com Voice Candy – Mac only Audacity Springdoo Yackpack

Free Timer

Tile windows vertically to provide the student with a visual cue for work completion.

To tile windows, right click the Task Bar>Tile windows

Karen Janowski, M.S. Ed, OTL EdTech Solutions, LLC 131 Main Street, Reading, MA 01867 781-942-1555 www.teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com www.teachingeverystudent.wikispaces.com