AT tools to try in 2015 - Read and Write Gold

RWG tools to try

Tool: Calculator

Why: Students can do simple and more complex computations using the RWG calculator. The calculator has built in auditory support to reinforce number input and calculations. Students can also make calculation within a document like Microsoft Word. To support executive function and organization the audit trail feature allows students to track their work for multistep problems.

Favourite Use: When supporting problem solving solutions of multi-step math problems involving units of measure, the calculator has a built in conversion feature. When teachers are not assessing a students computation to convert various units, the RWG calculator allows students the ability to quickly convert units of length, mass, velocity, time, temperature and volume.

Video: http://youtu.be/7AWPtxj95Ew?list=PLgJQCBtlfe8InXI4268_8CQQNCLeWQcD5

Tool: Picture Dictionary

Why: The Picture Dictionary is a web-based tool teachers can use to access picture symbols to support the use of visual supports for all students. These visual supports can benefit all learners, however they are often essential for students with Autism

Favourite Use: Picture symbols from the Read, Write Gold Picture Dictionary can be brought into ActivInspire to create interactive picture symbols with text and sound

Video: http://youtu.be/4Qh-I54szMo?list=PLgJQCBtlfe8InXI4268_8CQQNCLeWQcD5

Tool: Vocabulary List Builder

Why: Teachers and students can easily build a vocabulary list with the term, definition and related image.   Students can also add their own definition or notes to the document.  Since the vocabulary list builder opens in Microsoft Word, the list can be edited to meet the needs of all learners.

Favourite Use: Making vocabulary lists at the start of a new math unit to help students understand the new terminology

Video: http://youtu.be/pvVmemx-6nw?list=PLgJQCBtlfe8InXI4268_8CQQNCLeWQcD5

Supporting critical thinking using Visuals LC2 update

Using Images to Develop Critical Thinking for Students with Special Educational Needs

Visual Literacy 
Our second learning communities are in full swing! The focus of this learning community for HSP (Home School Program) Special Education teachers, has been the use of images as information sources. Teachers are able to use photographs to create a rich discussion about the explicit versus implied message, as well as to encourage students to create educated hypotheses about the image to foster critical thinking.

During this learning community, Itinerant Resource Teachers (IRTs) modelled one way Special Education teachers could use images in their classrooms to facilitate such a discussion. In ActivInspire, IRTs modelled how you can cover a photograph using a rectangle and then, using Magic Ink, you can slowly reveal the image, as the discussion progresses. (The importance of asking specific open questions to support higher order thinking skills (HOTS) was also incorporated.)

For example, this image was found through Creative Commons (Photo by Casey Martin). By only revealing part of the image you can ask your students: Where was this photo taken and how do you know? Who is in the image? What is the person doing? It’s important to have students justify their answer, by providing details orally or by annotating on top of the image.

The IRTs continued modelling the lesson, by revealing another section of the image to continue the discussion. In this example, you could ask your students: what are the people doing and how do you know? What do you think happened right before this picture was taken and how do you know? What is the relationship between these people? It’s also important to re-visit the original hypotheses to confirm if they are accurate or to modify them when more of the photograph has been revealed.

The last part of the modelled lesson , was revealing the entire image and determining which of the hypotheses was most accurate. It’s also great to provide students with a context for the photograph. In this example, this is a Nevada National Guard member, who is part of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan stationed at Camp Mike Spann in northern Afghanistan, who is sharing a soccer ball with children.

Magic Ink
To find out how to use Magic Ink in ActivInspire, check out our YouTube video:  http://youtu.be/eLnN5q79lUo

To learn more about using images as an information source and to develop critical thinking, check out the resources from The Critical Thinking Consortium:  http://tc2.ca/en/teaching-resources/online-resource-collections/investigating-sources-online.php

Read and Write Gold Picture Dictionary PD

No Access to BoardMaker? No Problem!

We have likely all worked with students who benefit from the use of visuals in order to support their learning. Visual supports or picture symbols may be an essential tool to support receptive and expressive communication, social, personal and academic development for some students.

Mayer-Johnson’s BoardMaker software can be used to create picture symbols to support student learning. However, not all schools or classrooms may have access to this software. In the past this may have presented a challenge…but not anymore! 

The Picture Dictionary tool in Read and Write Gold – Version 10 makes creating picture symbols easy and accessible. 

The TDSB’s Assistive Technology team facilitates a PD session entitled, “Using the Read and Write Gold Picture Dictionary to Create Visual Supports for Student Learning”. At this session, participants were provided with lesson/activity examples of ways in which the RWG Picture Dictionary can be used for a variety of purposes and at all grade levels/stages of development.

Register on Key to Learn today to attend one of our upcoming

Read and Write Gold Picture Dictionary PD sessions!