Adaptive Technology: The Thinking Reader Series (Digital Talking Books)

Adaptive
Technology
The Thinking Reader Series
(Digital Talking Books)
An Overview
Designed by David Rose & Bridget
Dalton of the Center for Applied
Special Technology.
Marketed by Tom Synder Productions
(a Scholastic company).
A research based means to teach

effective reading strategies.
What is the Thinking
Reader Series?
Software to improve reading

comprehension for struggling readers
and special needs students.
9 books available for 6th through 8th

graders. Offers customizable levels of
support thus allows all students to
reach the same end goal.
How Does It Work?
The book is read aloud and the text is
highlighted on the screen.
Contextual glossary aids vocabulary

development and includes Spanish
translations.
Prompts are posed at various points;

responses are typed or recorded.
How Does It Work?
Includes 5 levels of embedded reading
comprehension support for
individualized instruction.
Quizzes within the literature test recall,

inference, and vocabulary skills.
Student performance is tracked and

can be viewed, printed or exported to
monitor progress.
How Does It Work?
Helped is available when needed; 2
characters and an agent model answers
and give hints.
As skills improve, support is gradually

withdrawn to challenge students.
Invites student-teacher conferences to

discuss struggles, progress, and methods
for success.
Titles Available
My Brother Sam is Dead
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
The Giver
Tuck Everlasting
Dragonwings
Wrinkle in Time
Bud, Not Buddy
Esperanza Rising
Bridge to Terabithia
Pros
Meets the latest guidelines on
universal accessibility including
changeable text size, background &
text color choices, keyboard
navigation, text captioning, and
screen reader.
Sets level of challenge and support for

each student at instructor’s
discretion. Varying levels of support to
reach common goal.
Pros
Relies on formative assessment via
tracking to increase challenges and
success. Generates progress reports.
Includes Spanish text.
Can be incorporated into a variety of

instructional settings.
Pros
The Thinking Reader Series has wide
application and can be used as
adaptive technology, but is also
universal learning friendly.
Hands on software is engaging and

offers high quality literature.
Pros
Adjustable levels of support and
multiple types of text interaction.
Provides an opportunity for student-

teacher dialogue.
Falls into and is valuable in any tier of

the Response to Intervention model.
Pros
Attention on national need to focus on
reading comprehension.
Aligned with No Child Left Behind

standards.
Requires little to no training.

Pros for Special Needs
Eliminates having to “dumb down” curriculum
since students work at their own pace.
Students with special needs are able to

develop skills and participate fully.
Boosts several features which make material

accessible to all students.
Constant progress tracking can be valuable

when communicating with parents,
administrators, etc. and working on IEPs.
Pros for Special Needs
A human voice can read the text, as well
as, a computer voice which can be slowed
down or sped up as needed.
Students can re-read, have information

repeated, and check vocabulary.
Use of technology to help students who

may not be successful in another
modality.
Cons
Writing and speaking are the other modes
to articulate thinking.
Spanish is the only other language offered.
Requires a reliable computer network

system & technical support (preferably in
house).
Only offers 9 books titles available 3 grades.

Who Benefits Most?
The Thinking Reader Series would be
best for those with learning disabilities.
It could also effectively engage

students with autism or AD/HD.
The program would be obsolete for

deaf students and wouldn’t be ideal for
those with hearing impairments.
Who Benefits Most?
Children with traumatic brain injury and
developmental disabilities could benefit
from the varying levels of support the
program offers.
English Language Learners can definitely

benefit from the program as long as they
speak Spanish.
Gifted Students could work on the same

level as their special needs classmates.
Thinking Reader Series &
Learning Disabilities
The series promotes scaffolding and

differentiation.
Those with learning disabilities can

work at their own pace with varying
levels of support.
Autism
Allows students to use technology
which they are accustomed to.
Use of software to read several novels

creates a routine which can be a
comfort to autistic students.
Engaged and working independently,

but still part of the group. Participation
in discussion, etc. encouraged.
AD/HD
Engages students by providing access

to hands on technology.
No worksheets, books, etc. to keep up

with, so students are more organized
as everything is saved on the
computer.
Deaf/Hearing Impaired Students
Deaf students would be unable to use
the TRS software since it’s composed
of Digital Talking Books.
Students with hearing impairments

could use the program depending on
how much they are able to hear. The
TRS could be used in conjunction with
other adaptive technology for the
hearing impaired.
Traumatic
Brain/Developmental
Disabilities
Since The Thinking Reader Series is
customizable for individual
instruction, those with TBI and
developmental disabilities could work
at the level which is best suited to
their needs.
English Language Learners
The program could benefit ELL

students if they speak Spanish.
Hearing the audio in English may

improve language acquisition and
vocabulary development.
Gifted Students
Gifted students can work on advanced
levels, but on the same material as their
classmates.
These students can work at the highest

level while reading the novel in book form.
The flexibility of the program allows for

students to be challenged in a general
education setting.
Implementation
Software with a 1 computer license:
$250
Software with a 10 computer license:

$1,000
Software with unlimited use: $2,200
Optional on site training: $2,000

Implementation
Training is not required. Software comes
with a Teacher Guide which includes
step-by-step instruction.
Formal teaching experience is not

required for implementation, however;
instructor should be familiar with
reciprocal teaching approaches and
reading comprehension strategies, as
well s, a basic computer navigating skills.
Implementation
The only cost is the software since
training is not required.
Funding may be available. Discount

on volume orders.
In comparison to other forms of

adaptive technology, The Thinking
Reader Series is fairly inexpensive.
Conclusion
The Thinking Reader Series is an affordable
way to improve reading comprehension for
a wide array of students.
The ability to work independently at an

individual pace builds confidence.
All students are able to reach the same

goals thanks to flexibility and universal
design.

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Adaptive

A research based means to teach

Software to improve reading

9 books available for 6th through 8th

Contextual glossary aids vocabulary

Prompts are posed at various points;

Quizzes within the literature test recall,

Student performance is tracked and

As skills improve, support is gradually

Invites student-teacher conferences to

Sets level of challenge and support for

Includes Spanish text.

Can be incorporated into a variety of

Hands on software is engaging and

Provides an opportunity for student-

Falls into and is valuable in any tier of

Aligned with No Child Left Behind

Requires little to no training.

Students with special needs are able to

Boosts several features which make material

Constant progress tracking can be valuable

Students can re-read, have information

Use of technology to help students who

Spanish is the only other language offered.

Requires a reliable computer network

Only offers 9 books titles available 3 grades.

It could also effectively engage

The program would be obsolete for

English Language Learners can definitely

Gifted Students could work on the same

The series promotes scaffolding and

Those with learning disabilities can

Use of software to read several novels

Engaged and working independently,

Engages students by providing access

No worksheets, books, etc. to keep up

Students with hearing impairments

The program could benefit ELL

Hearing the audio in English may

These students can work at the highest

The flexibility of the program allows for

Software with a 10 computer license:

Software with unlimited use: $2,200

Optional on site training: $2,000

Formal teaching experience is not

Funding may be available. Discount

In comparison to other forms of

The ability to work independently at an

All students are able to reach the same

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