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Showing posts with the label assistive technology

100 Powerful Learning Specialist and Educational Therapy Materials

This week I wanted to tell you about my online store, Good Sensory Learning. I’m Dr. Erica Warren, and I established this site so I could share all the materials that I have created over the last 20+ years as a learning specialist and educational therapist. When I first began my private practice, Learning to Learn, I had great difficulty finding fun and multisensory materials for my students that were effective and engaging. So back in 2005, I made it my mission to design and distribute high-end, remedial products as well as memorable, motivating lessons that bring delight to learning. If you would like to try a free sampling of my activities , CLICK HERE . How Are the Products Organized at Good Sensory Learning? You can download my Free Printable Catalog or you can browse the site using the grey “search all products” bar in the top right of any page with keywords such as dyslexia, working memory, and executive functioning. What’s more, drop down menus in the red banner allow you t...
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How to Convert Images and PDFs to Text Documents For Free

Have you ever wondered if you can turn an image or a PDF into an editable document? What was once a costly and buggy turnaround, is now free and quick with Google Drive. This can be an invaluable trick that can save students time, resources, and most of all, energy! Let me show you the steps. What are the Steps? 1) On your computer, go to drive.google.com  or select the icons shown in the image below. 2) Drag the desired file into your Google Drive as illustrated below. You can convert JPEG, PNG, GIF, or PDF (multipage documents) files. 3) Select File   Open with Google Docs as shown below. 4) A sheet icon appears while the file is converting (see below). Google is now changing your PDF or image file to text with OCR. 5) A Google document will soon open. The image will be on the top and the new editable text will be below it. What are the Ways Students Can Use This Helpful Feature? Take a clear picture of a teacher's notes or another stu...
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Free Advice for Mastering Voice Typing with Google Docs

Voice to text, or what Google Docs calls, voice typing, is an application used by more and more learners. This technology allows students to dictate ideas to a computer, and it types for them. While learners need to get comfortable speaking clearly and dictating punctuation, this way of writing can be extremely beneficial for those that like to express their ideas aloud, as well as those that struggle with spelling or typing skills. In fact, for many, it frees the mind to focus on content. Although many students toy with this technology, if they had the knowledge of all the voice commands, they could complete their written homework in record time. How Can I Access Voice Typing? If you would like to learn how to access Voice Typing on Google Docs, come read my comprehensive blog on this.  CLICK HERE   You can also view a demonstration here: What Are All The Voice Commands? It's amazing how quickly you can write an essay using Voice Typing on Google Docs.  The...
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PhotoMath and ModMath - Best FREE Apps for Struggling Math Students

Serving the needs of struggling math students can be challenging, and giving them the assistive technology tools for independent learning is vital. This week, I’m excited about sharing my two favorite, free math apps that can really change the playing field for students with ADHD, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, as well as those with graphomotor, visual processing, and spatial difficulties. Photomath: This FREE Android App and IOS App will knock your socks off! Open up Photomath in your smartphone or tablet, take a picture of a math problem, and Photomath will quickly provide the answer. Press the red arrow, and Photomath will display each step required to solve the problem.  Photomath Offers: Camera calculator that scans printed math problems and provides an answer. Camera calculator that also scans neat, handwritten problems. Step-by-step instructions on how to solve math problems. Manual, smart calculator with accessible math symbols. Graphs (NEW) Phot...
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13 Amazing Reasons Students Should Use Google Keep

Helping students find the best method for recording assignments and organizing their packed schedules can be a game changing strategy that can boost grades and confidence. Over the years, I have tested out many apps as well as printed and digital calendars.  Most recently, I have been evaluating Google Keep, and I’m really excited about this option that communicates across platforms. What is Google Keep? Google Keep is a web-based application that allows you to create, access and share notes, lists, and reminders on many devices.  In addition, it offers many cool features such as images, voice notes, drawings, reminders, color coding and more!  It’s an attractive interface that resembles customizable sticky notes. It also easily integrates with Google's other applications! keep.google.com On What Devices Can I Access Google Keep? Here is a list of devices that can use Google Keep. Below you will find live links to download pages: Google Keep on Mobile G...
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Learn Thru Music A Great Site for Learning

Using melodies and beats can enhance learning and make memorization a veritable breeze. I often use this strategy in my practice, but having to create all the content is time consuming. This problem was solved by Nathan John!  Nathan John and Learn Thru Music In August 2016, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nathan John , a creative, ingenious, British entrepreneur with dyslexia that is helping struggling students learn to read and memorize academic content around the globe. Nathan founded Rewise Learning in 2008 and specializes in providing fun and innovative educational solutions. Today we will be focusing on LearnThruMusic , a website that teaches core academic subjects using modern music genres, video, and interactive activities. These fun and effective learning resources were developed in consultation with teachers and students, and I know you will be impressed with both the variety and quality presented on their site. Come Experience Learn Thru Music LearnThru...
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Free Text to Speech on macOS Helps Reading and Writing.

Apple has offered free accessibility tools with their personal computing devices for some time, but with each new operating system upgrade comes improvements and changes. A few weeks ago, I did a blog and video on their Dictation accessibility tool, and this week I hope to educate you about the many benefits of their Speech accessibility tool. So, if you read better when you can hear written text and could benefit from editing your papers by listening to your compositions, you are in the right place. What is Speech? Speech is a text to speech technology on macOS that allows users to quickly transform written text into audible words. Simply highlight a word, sentence, paragraph or a whole article in a document, email or online website, and once you select the designated command keys, your Mac will read the selection aloud. To top it off, you can choose from more than 70 male or female voices across 42 languages.  How Can This Free Speech Accessibly Feature Be Enabled? ...
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How to Use Dictation on Mac and Benefits for Dyslexia

Apple has been offering free accessibility tools with their personal computing devices for some time, but with each new operating system upgrade comes improvements and changes. This blog focuses on the dictation tool, as it is real game changer for students with dyslexia and other types of learning disabilities. What is Dictation? Dictation is a tool that allows users to speak computer commands and also dictate text when creating documents, texts or emails. The computer “listens” to your words and follows your directives. Because the computer “hears” every utterance, it is important to speak clearly and mindfully so that your commands are not filled with ums and other unneeded articulations. How Can One Access Dictation? To begin the default is selecting the fn key twice (bottom left hand corner on most Mac keyboards), or you can enable the dictation keyword phrase and say “Computer, start dictating.” Here is how you can enable the keyword phrase. Choose Apple menu > Sys...
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Dyslexia Writing Technology: Voice Dream Writer

This blog shares my most recent video podcast, featuring dyslexia advocate and author, Winston Chen. Winston tells us all about the many benefits of his app Voice Dream Writer for individuals with dyslexia. This is the fifth of many free video podcasts for Go Dyslexia!  What is Voice Dream Writer? Voice Dream Writer is an iOS app that can be used on an iPad or iPhone. It is an easy to use writing application that has a number of powerful features. Voice Dream Reader Offers a Number of Helpful Tools: Dictation or Voice to Text: Voice Dream Writer offers voice to text or dictation, so you can speak to your iPad or phone and the words will appear. Proof Reading: Now you can edit your writing by listening to the text spoken aloud. Like a personal proofreader, Voice Dream Writer uses text-to-speech technology, so that awkward sentences, grammatical errors and typos can be easily found. It addition, Voice Dream Writer can read words and sentences as they’re typed or dictated...
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88 Assistive Technology Tools for Struggling Learners

Making sense of the complex weave of assistive technology devices and applications for struggling learners can be a confusing and frustrating chore. This blog talks about 15 different types of assistive technology that can benefit struggling learners with links to my favorite tools. For a more comprehensive discussion of these technologies  CLICK HERE Comprehensive Technologies: Don Johnston Inc. - $. Kurzweil 3000 - $   TextHelp - $ ClaroRead - $ Planning, Time Management, and Organization: iStudies Pro - Free/$ - Remember the Milk - Free - RescueTime - $ Strict Workflow  - Free - Wunderlist - Free - Text to Speech: AnyBook Personal Reader - $ Audible.com - $ IntoWords - $ NaturalReaders - Free/$ Project Gutenberg & Librivox - Free Raz-Kids - $ Read & Write for Google Chrome - Free/$ Read OutLoud - $ Snap&Read Universal - $ Voice Dream Reader - Free/$ Voice Typing - Free Speech to Text: ...
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