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INTELLISCHOOL: ACCESSIBLE CURRICULUM FROM INTELLITOOLS

by Suzanne Feit & Cyndy Hoberman
Curriculum and Training Specialists
IntelliTools, Inc.
55 Leveroni Court
Suite 9
Novato, CA 94949
1-800-899-6687

Web Posted on: November 22, 1997


Overview

Computers can provide enhanced physical and cognitive access to learning materials for students with disabilities.

Technology adaptations have proven to be one of the most effective mediums for providing access for students with physical, visual or cognitive disabilities. The use of adaptive tools fosters independence and enables students to focus on the task and not the challenge of doing the task.

In addition to issues of physical access, software-based curriculum materials offer students with disabilities unique learning advantages. When we provide visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning, these students demonstrate greater skill mastery.

The IntelliTools(R) line of creativity tools can offer a broad range of students access to curriculum through technology.


IntelliTools Learning Solutions

Most educational software today requires students to use a mouse and a standard keyboard. However, students with limited physical mobility or poor motor planning are unable to use a mouse. Other students are challenged by the complexity or layout of the standard keyboard. For these students, IntelliKeys(R), IntelliTalk(R), Overlay Maker(R), IntelliPics(R) and ClickIt!(R) from IntelliTools can provide customized hardware and software access solutions including access to popular educational software.

The IntelliKeys alternative keyboard can be used in a Mac or PC environment. Two switch ports allow users to interface with any switch software available. A set-up overlay makes it easy to adjust settings like keyboard response rate for different students. For example, a student who slides his or her hand across the keyboard can now have success in reaching the targeted key.


IntelliTalk

A student who has difficulty reading text independently can take advantage of the talking word processor, IntelliTalk. Text can be typed or scanned into IntelliTalk which reads and highlights every letter, word and/or sentence. IntelliTalk allows students to interact with text in a multi-sensory environment and enables teachers to create materials that foster independent learning.

With IntelliTalk, teachers can select font (including cursive) and letter size as well as take advantage of color cueing to help students focus on targeted skills. They can create templates with IntelliTalk to expose students to worksheet-style activities that also offer auditory and visual support. Students can hear letters, words and sentences as they type and can read back text as many times as needed.


Customizing Overlays

Writing is an integral part of reading. Providing students with overlays that allow them to access the curriculum can be a crucial part of curriculum adaptations. Entering text using letters, words or sentences is easily accomplished using the IntelliKeys keyboard and overlays created using Overlay Maker. Students learn language pattern by combining words on the overlay into sentences. Customizing overlays for success provides students with an opportunity to easily write and edit their work.

Overlay Maker and IntelliTalk are now available in Windows format. Both feature significant enhancements. IntelliTalk has many special features for people with disabilities. An easy to use, onscreen menu provides access to a variety of new features. Just a click of the mouse allows users to have words, sentences or the entire page read aloud. There are also corresponding keystrokes which enable access to the read menu options from customized overlays.

Overlay Maker for Windows now has two formats. Easy mode allows users to quickly build keyguard compatible overlays and then add text and pictures. Standard mode has feature enhancements which allow you to add free floating pictures to give overlays a more professional look. The addition of onscreen picture menus makes this program easy to use.


Multimedia Authoring Tool: IntelliPics

Learning activities that are enhanced with graphics and text can be created in the multimedia program, IntelliPics, for the Macintosh. This program can help students benefit by seeing written words associated with appropriate graphics and sounds.

Activities can be customized by taking advantage of scanned graphics, student drawings, clip art or screen captures. The activities can then be made accessible through the use of a switch or IntelliKeys. Switch and IntelliKeys users can easily work collaboratively on the same activity. Additionally the student can interact with the material by reading and listening. The program allows you to create quizzes. The quizzes can be customized to provide varying levels of feedback.


Ready-Made Solutions: Language Arts

Helping students with disabilities improve their language arts and literacy skills is of primary importance to assistive technology specialists, therapists, teachers and families. However, having enough time, expertise and resources to create all of the classroom curriculum adaptations needed by students has been difficult for many professionals. IntelliTools has responded to this demand by creating high quality, ready-made, accessible curriculum solutions for language arts.

The newest activity in the Hands-On(TM) Concepts series is called Animal Habitats. These fully inclusive reading and writing activities are enhanced with creative extension activities that can engage all learners in the classroom. Some of the skills reinforced in this integrative approach to language arts include story sequencing, descriptive writing, cause and effect relationships, comprehension and problem solving. Accompanying this product are extensive off line activities. Techniques for creating customized word and sentence overlay templates to build language sequencing and reading skills are also emphasized.


Ready-Made Math Solutions

The NCTM Standards have highlighted the importance of hands-on experiences in understanding mathematical relationships. Yet for many students with disabilities, working with manipulatives, or even pencil and paper, is difficult or impossible.

Through a grant from the National Science Foundation, IntelliTools has researched the essential math skills covered in adopted state curricula in grades K-6. In collaboration with math experts, we've begun to develop a series of accessible math software that can be integrated into almost every nationally published math curriculum. All software will be accessible by mouse, IntelliKeys and switch.

In the first of these programs, Three Way Patterns, students copy, create, and extend patterns with colors, objects and sounds in a multi-sensory environment. Those who can't physically snap and clap their hands or place manipulative pattern pieces in a row can now demonstrate their comprehension of patterns along with their peers.

With Three Way Patterns, students who are physically unable to arrange math manipulatives to create patterns and write about them can create and label patterns on the computer. The program gives auditory and visual feedback and an on-line 'Check Work' feature enables students to correct their own work. Students can explore patterns independently despite poor fine more skills that would have previously locked them out of this type of activity. IntelliTools has collected student work, testimonials and research results from classrooms evaluating this technology around the country.

Another program providing access to the math curriculum is MathPad(TM). Students who can't do pencil and paper math can now do problems ranging from simple addition and subtraction to long division with decimals directly on the computer. They decide where to move the cursor and when to regroup. A variety of font sizes and background colors are available. Input is made easy by an IntelliKeys overlay, a switch or a mouse.


Summary

The goal of IntelliSchool is to explore ways of making every aspect of the curriculum accessible to all students.

The IntelliTools family of products offer hardware and software access solutions that empower all students to become independent and successful learners.