AT Strategies Using What You Already Have!
Transcript of AT Strategies Using What You Already Have!
Unleashing the Power of MS Office:
Tools for Struggling Students
Wendy S. HomlishBonnie N. Young
Assistive Technology ConsultantsCarbon Lehigh IU 21
Schnecksville, PA
Universal Design for Learning or Assistive Technology?
• Students with or without IEPs and 504s
• Differentiated instruction• Learning styles and multiple
intelligences
Using MS Office Applications to Address:
• Writing
• Learning and Studying
• Reading
PROBLEM:
• Handwriting is…– illegible to reader– illegible to author
• too large for paper/age• too slow, too fast• too light (not enough pressure)• Ineffective spacing of letters and
words
PROBLEM:Student exhibits…
• Disorganized ideas• Topic jumping• Difficulty expanding thoughts and ideas
– Short, simple sentences– Poor grammatical structure
• Difficulty with word retrieval– Poor vocabulary choices
PROBLEM:
• Mechanics of writing…– Too many misspellings – choose words that are
“safe”– Difficulty applying spelling rules– Little variety in sentence structure– Cannot recognize correct spelling from a list
Important Points• Technology alone will not solve the
problems.• Good teaching strategies must also be
included.• Students must be taught the skills to
use technology.• Sitting a child in front of a word
processor does not make them instantly competent
Word Features for Production, Mechanics,
Organization• Templates and Wizards (spelling; book
report, etc.)• Auto Correct• AutoText• Forms• Using the “Right-click”• Thesaurus• Synonyms• Spellchecker• Views – for pre-writing organization
Production
• Templates and Wizards (spelling; book report, etc.)
• Auto Correct
• AutoText
• Forms
Wizard and Templates
• Wizard – a feature that asks questions and then creates an item, such as a form or a calendar, according to your answers– available in MS Word as well as on the
Microsoft Office Online website• Template – a file or files that contain the
structure and tools for shaping such elements as the style and page layout of finished files (i.e. book report, spelling test)
Auto Correct
• Located in TOOLS MENU– Contains data base of commonly
misspelled/mistyped words– Can add or delete from list– Can also use for abbreviation expansion to
reduce keystrokes
Auto Text
• Decrease keyboarding effort
• Increase efficiency
• Text pops up above typing & is inserted on “enter” (example)
Forms Feature
• Forms toolbar
• How to create
• Examples of use
Moveable Word Banks
• Create text boxes for use in a fill-in-the blank activity (word bank)
• Save as….• Student clicks and moves text box rather than
writing/typing the answer• (Example)
Mechanics
• Using the “Right-click”
• Thesaurus
• Synonyms
• Spellchecker
Using the Right- Click
• Spellchecker– Visually, can turn red line off/on dependent
upon student/teacher preference– Can be disabled dependent upon activity– Can use the Right-click or menu bar
• Synonyms– Assists with vocabulary and word choices– Right-click on word for suggestions
• Thesaurus– Right click - brings up task pane
Spelling & Grammar
• Right click on misspelled word-possible word choices appear
• Right click on correctly spelled word to see choice for synonyms
• Spelling/Grammar preferences– Readability statistics
• Under Tools Options click Spelling & Grammar Tab – 26 fundamental rules– Choose style of writing that Word grammar
check will apply
Spell-check Options
Organization
• Organize for pre-writing
– Power Point– Word
Brainstorming
• Create outline quickly in PowerPoint• Get ideas down quickly• Use slide layout with title and bulleted text • Go to Outline View for more “traditional”
layout/view
Outline View in PowerPoint
PP to Word
• Go to File – Send to…• Choose Microsoft Word• This opens a document in Word
– Select all text (Edit – Select All) and click on the Bullets icon in the toolbar to remove bullets
Send to…WordOutline View
Outlining in Word
• Why use?– Organize, reorganize– Quick overview of bigger picture– Can move large blocks of text easily– Collapse view to reduce clutter– Electronic studying
• Found in View – Outline• Students need instruction in using these tools!
– “Cheat sheets” at computer?
PROBLEM:
• Disorganization – of personal materials and of ideas
• Overwhelmed by large amounts of material• Unable to “get started”• Difficulty knowing “what’s important”
Word Features That Support Research and
Studying
• Task Panes
• AutoSummarize
• Outline Features
Task Panes (View – Task Pane)
Click – Research to open research task pane
Type yourTopic here
Definition and pronunciation from search
Obtaining the information
Modify Topic Search(Internet Access required)
Results
Captured Information (from the Web via the Research Pane)
AutoSummarize• Looks for keywords in document• Can produce a summary or abstract• Does well with reports, articles, scientific papers• Doesn’t do well on fiction, correspondence• Go to TOOLS menu to AutoSummarize• You can determine type of summary and length
Summary information highlighted by importance
PowerPoint
• Flashcards for studying• Electronic bulletin board• Make learning fun!
– Role playing– Test reviews– Q and A
PowerPoint Flashcards forStudying
• Use flashcard template or create your own• Type in question and answer (teacher or
student) – one per slide• Use for test review, studying, independence• Example
Electronic Bulletin Board
• Visual representation of:– daily schedule– activities– assignments– instructions– special information– example
PROBLEM:
• Learning disabilities• Dyslexia• Read slowly, must re-read to extract meaning.• Struggle to decode unfamiliar words• Fatigue easily, need frequent breaks
Visual Changes
• Change font, spacing, size of text– Fonts that are easy to read: – Arial Tahoma Verdana Comic Sans
• “De-clutter” the toolbar• Use highlighter for important information
(student or teacher input)
Toolbar Options• Why change the toolbar
– Student overwhelmed – Student click happy– Just learning MS Word
• Reducing amount• Changing the look• Making changes
– View – Toolbars – Options– Can make changes right from tool bar
Reduced and enlarged
Visual Changes to a DocumentReading Issues
• Zoom – Go to View – Zoom – choose %• Highlighting – Option under Formatting Toolbar• Background Color – Format - Background• Font Color – Option in Formatting Toolbar• Font – what is best? Ask the student!• Character Spacing – Format - Font• Word Spacing – Edit – Find - Replace• Line Spacing – Format - Paragraph
Word Count and Readability
Text Readers (NOT part of Office, but work WITH
Office
• Talking Word Processors (copy and paste text)
– Free Downloads• BrowseAloud (talking web browser)• HelpRead• ReadPlease 2003• Read-e (talking web browser)• NaturalReader• TextAloud MP3
LINK to this and more at:www.cliu.org
•Special Programs and Services•Assistive Technologies (on left)
•Launch Power of Office CD