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Module 104-Assistive Technologies

The document discusses the emerging assistive technology of Microsoft's Immersive Reader program. It describes how the program provides features like translation, speed adjustment, highlighting, and identification of parts of speech to help struggling readers. Implementing the program may require teacher training, but it can be downloaded for free and used independently by students on their own devices. The document advocates for its use in classrooms to support students with reading disabilities and allow differentiated instruction. Future improvements to the program are expected based on teacher and student feedback.

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53 views4 pages

Module 104-Assistive Technologies

The document discusses the emerging assistive technology of Microsoft's Immersive Reader program. It describes how the program provides features like translation, speed adjustment, highlighting, and identification of parts of speech to help struggling readers. Implementing the program may require teacher training, but it can be downloaded for free and used independently by students on their own devices. The document advocates for its use in classrooms to support students with reading disabilities and allow differentiated instruction. Future improvements to the program are expected based on teacher and student feedback.

Uploaded by

api-688363045
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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Module 104 1

Introduction of Assistive Technologies

Technology plays a crucial role in today’s world. Technology provides the sources for

people to be able to interact quicker than we have ever been able to. People are able to better

function through all aspects of life. Technology has been very much integrated into classrooms

over the years throughout all ages and levels. Students have been able to expand their knowledge

in all content through a variety of ways. Technology is ever changing and provides lots of ways

for students to learn. Assistive technologies make it possible for students to be able to thrive and

provide a greater experience to learn for those students who have disabilities. Gatchalian (2019)

stated, “​I​ t is essential for teachers and families to involve students when it comes to the assistive

technology selection process. Selecting the appropriate technology that works best for student’s

in special education would increase the student’s success in the 21st century curriculum.” When

we involve everyone in the selection process these technologies can become a necessary aid in

assisting students with disabilities to be able to complete tasks that otherwise they would not be

able to do.

Implementing an Emerging Assistive Technology

A “cutting edge” assistive technology that I believe is emerging is Microsoft’s Immersive

Reader program. This provides students that struggle with any type of reading difficulty such as

dyslexia, with a way to make reading more enjoyable. The app has multifunctions within it such

as translation of languages, regulation of reading speed, highlighting key vocabulary,

identification of parts of speech, etc. It enables an immersive reader to be able to use strategies

and text decoding solution to be able to work through difficult words and parts of speech.

Students are able to upload pictures and things into the program. Student are able to use features

that will benefit them greatly such as the picture dictionary, which is great with helping a
Module 104 2

struggling student that has a writing or reading disability because it puts a picture above the word

that they are having a difficult time with. They are able to make a connection to be able to figure

the word out seeing that picture and word connection. Line Focus is also a great feature that

students can benefit from where they won’t confuse the line they are reading, by focusing on one

line at a time and repeating words that were missed. There are so many readily available tools

that you can use throughout the software program.

This program is free through OneNote Learning Tools and can be used by teachers in

their classrooms.Teachers will need to be trained on how to push out and implement this program

into their classrooms to make sure students do not feel like that are a cast out from the rest of the

class. This app is a great one to use as once they download it on their own computers and be able

to use their headphones to work through it. Students can download OneNote onto their

chromebooks through an extension on Google Chrome to activate it for their personal use.

Implementing this program will take modeling it for students but once students learn how to

move their way through the program, it will greatly benefit them with the help of them being

able to independently read at their own pace. Students will need to be given time to learn how to

navigate through the software but once they are able to do that independently, they will will able

to use the program at their own pace.

Future Implementation

Assistive technologies are used to help students be able to grow while also feeling

comfortable in their learning environment. Immersive Reader is a great tool that helps these

students with reading disabilities be able to feel comfortable learning and helps them to not lose

their love for reading and writing because they find it to difficult. I plan to implement this

assistive technology in my classroom this coming year after doing a little more research on it to
Module 104 3

help to differentiate my instruction and providing a safe space for my students that have

difficulties to learn. Teachers and students are continuously providing feedback on the program

and how well it works. I believe this feedback will provide major improvements within the

program in the future. I am excited about implementing this into my classroom this upcoming

year.
Module 104 4

References

Gatchalian, C. (2019, July 12). Assistive Technologies in the 21st Century. Retrieved July 06,
2022 https://techandcurr2019.pressbooks.com/chapter/21st-century-assistive-tech/

Microsoft Learning Tools. (n.d.). Retrieved July 06, 2022 https://www.onenote.com/learningtools

Winslow, J; Dickerson, J; Lee, C. (2016). Applied Technologies for Teachers. Second Edition.

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