An Ally for One and All: Reading Access - BLOG #5

An Ally for One and All:  Reading Access

When looking at this week's module, it is clear that when we plan our library design spaces and how we support access to content, we must have a clear plan for ALL to be able to have access.  What benefits our patrons that are "differently-abled" benefit all, as perfectly noted in Dr. Green's personal story and example. Technology that was once used to assist the deaf and blind are now a part of our everyday lives in the cell phones and devices we use.  This is also the case in our classrooms with the example of Learning Ally, which is truly geared to provide access for those that REQUIRE a different way to access the written word.  

Brief History

The roots of Learning Ally began back in 1948, when Annie T. MacDonald worked with the New York Public Library's Women's Auxiliary to make vinyl records for injured soldiers.  This was the beginning of the Read for the Blind (RFB) accommodation.  Throughout the decades texts were added and records changed to tapes to e-Texts to online access.  Then, in 2011, the name was changed to Learning Ally to include all users and services.

Learning Ally Timeline

Accommodation

In Dr. Copeland's articles, she noted how "new technologies and changing literacies have modified the library scene...but our mission to provide our children with the information, knowledge, and skills they need to become information literate, productive, contributing citizens remains the same" (Copeland, 2011).  Learning Ally allows teacher librarians and teachers to provide educational supports to help make this possible.  

Learning Ally is a auditory technology application that provides students with a variety of learning differences, access to novels and textbooks, as well as providing instructional options for younger students. This human reader accommodation provides 80,000+ titles in their library from early readers through college level texts, and beyond.  Students are able to search for the titles they require, so they may work at a similar rate as their peers.  The only needed tools are a device to download the application and headphones.  Students now have the option to have the text highlighted as they read, or follow along in their hard copy text to make notes, annotations, etc.  This allows each user to determine how they want to use the application and how similar they would like to be to their peers.  This allows for the accommodation to really be individualized, as well as give the user ownership.  

Access/Use/Cost

Learning Ally is simple to access, once the user has an account set up.  After set up is completed, it is very easy for parents, teachers, and students to add book selections.  To help with the selection of independent reading selections, the Lexile Level is also provided to be able to match a student's independent reading level to the text they would like to access.  Many times, a student's independent reading level is much lower than their auditory reading level/understanding.  Knowing these details, can help the school librarian help with making suggestions of possibly titles of interest for reading enjoyment.  This accessibility tool is very user friendly for users of any age. This quick video gives a great introduction to using the application.

Learning Ally Audiobooks in the Classroom: Helping

 Students Learn and Succeed

There is a cost for access to Learning Ally for districts and individuals ($135 plus).  Schools and/or districts must purchase individual liquesces for each individual student, which provides equity of access based on individual need.  For those users not attached to a school district, there is a waiver option as Learning Ally is a non-profit.  This really shows that they have put their money where their mouth is. when it comes to providing access to those truly in need.  To apply for the waiver, you must have a 504/IEP or a medical diagnosis, fill out a membership, and the assistance program application. 

Learning Ally Blog

Copeland, Clayton. (2011, January/February).  School librarians of the 21st                        century. Knowledge Quest, 39,3. 

Chromebook Extensions - Screencastify - BLOG #4

Chromebook Extensions - Screencastify

Two years ago, no one could have imagined that technology would be such a critical tool for public school teaching.  No one could have imagined that all instruction and access to our libraries would be done completely virtual and remotely.  We knew that schools were working to incorporate technology into our daily class experiences, but there was not such a sense of urgency for it to happen at such a dramatic rate.  Two years ago, my school was not a one-to-one technology school.  We were working towards that goal, but were no where near where we needed to be for our "forced" move towards being ready for virtual/remote teaching.  

Being pushed into this remote form of learning was a daunting task to be online the entire day to provide the most direct form of teaching.  Our school worked quickly to provide a Chromebook for every student, which I'm happy to say was completed successfully.  While working remotely with Chromebooks, I have to admit that I mainly used applications I already knew, like Google Classroom, CANVAS, and Google Forms plus some extensions like Snap&Read and KAMI.  Through this remote time, I did have the opportunity to try some new extensions to assist in this unknown realm.  Through this search, I found Screencastify and used it sporadically, but not regularly.  Most recently, with my own case of COVID, I found that I needed to provide quality instruction to my students, so they did not fall behind in their learning.  Once again, I turned to the Chromebook extension of Screencastify due to the potential of its pedagogical functions. 

The Screencastify extension can be easily added two different ways.  One way is to click on the Google Apps icon and type in Screencastify. Another way is to click on the extension icon that looks like a puzzle piece, click on manage extensions, and then click on Open Chrome Web Store. Either way is very simple.  Once you have added this application, you are ready to film short instructional videos.  You might want to create an instructional video for your students on how to add this extension to their Chromebooks depending on your plans on how to use this in your classroom.  

Screencastify offers a free basic use, but I decided to upgrade so I would be able to record longer videos over five minutes.  This extension gives the options to use your desktop webcam to record yourself, instruction, or materials (ie. novel page while reading aloud).  Another option is to record your voice while displaying your screen.  This is how I utilized this extension with my recent quarantine.  Realizing that students were struggling to complete lessons, I decided to walk through several problems on each lesson and provide direct instruction.  This was made easy by the use of writing tools.  The ability to verbally instruct and provide written instruction makes this a way to make recorded learning personal.  Once these recordings were made, it was very easy to upload the mini-lessons to my CANVAS page. as Google Classroom is not the preferred mode to post assignments at our school.  This being said, Screencastify works VERY well with Google Classroom. 

As a teacher of children that are "differently-abled", I need to be able to provide different levels of instruction.  These lessons can be made even more personal by being able to record different lessons based on each students' needs.  Recordings can be edited.  This extension is able to be used for students to submit recorded responses to assignments.  Before this is attempted, there does need to be instruction on the expectations.  One great use I found was for students to send their questions.  They could record how they are working out the problem, and then share it with me.  Teachers can also provide accommodations to their students by recording themselves reading tests/quizzes aloud and then sent to directly to specific students.  I found that this was a great way to read aloud class novels and provide annotation instruction while reading.  This is a great communication and accommodation tool.  Below, you will find a wonderful list of different ways to use Screencastify compiled by Matt Miller.  

This extension would also be a great tool to use in the school library.  Teacher librarians can use this to post read alouds, book reviews, and instructional videos on how to access the library from home.  Teacher librarians can also use this tool after collaborating with teachers to   provide specific lesson to individual classrooms, as well as assist with Professional Development for staff.  

24 Ways to Create Great Classroom Videos

 with Screencastify

25 Ways to Use Screencastify with Google Apps

Resources

Miller, M. (2019, February 14). 24 ways to create great classroom videos

         with screencastify. Ditch That Textbook. https://ditchthattextbook.com/14-               ways-to-create-great-classroom-video-with-screencastify/

Screencastify. (2022). The perfect match.  https.//www.screencastify.com/                              education/google

Technology Integration: Reinventing Instruction - Blogshare - Week 4

Technology Integration: Reinventing Instruction

With our current educational situation in such a state of uncertainty due to an outside force beyond the control of educators, technology tools and being able to share these resources with students in a meaningful way is a must.  What was once a "fun" way to engage students in the classroom is now a required skill in order to ensure that students are able to access educational tools and instruction in a way that can be replicated whether in the physical school building or in their remote educational setting.  Now more than ever, "with the ever increasing incorporation of technology tools in schools, the role of school librarians added technology integrationist to the role of the information specialist" (Wine, 2011, 209).  We, as the future librarians, must continue to hone our skills of locating relevant tools, but also the communication and collaboration skills to share these valuable assets with the our colleagues and teachers.  What is so important to remember is that these tools are meant to enhance and supplement instruction, not to replace it. 

No one could have ever imagined how things would be when the state of South Carolina presented the 2014-2016 state technology plan that we would be relying on technology the way we are today.  Looking at the date, I started to question what are the current technology plans for our state.  I was able to locate our state's most recent technology plan, which I have provided the link to below.  I was somewhat confused when trying to locate a plan between 2016 to 2020.  It is obvious that planning was occurring 2019, but where is the plan in between?  What is important to notice is that there is still a lag in providing the access to wi-fi for at home learning between the different districts, as most counties are autonomous in this area.  Even with the rich resources in my current district, we were NOT prepared for the technology support services needed to support at home learning for all students.  This was definitely an area that no one fully anticipated.  What is interesting is how the new plan incorporates the Profile of the SC Graduate, which relies on a well rounded learner.  School librarians are instrumental in assisting to provide the access and support to meet these goals.

2020-2024 South Carolina Educational Technology Plan

In trying to decide what area to focus on for my blog share, I went to my own recent need for technology.  Not only did my district declare a mandatory Virtual Learning Day due to inclement weather, but then COVID struck home.  During these unexpected absences, I depended on technology to reach my students to provide uninterrupted instruction.  Technology tools and applications gave me the ability to "speak" with my students and allowed me to supply them the most engaging and meaningful instruction, even if I couldn't be there.  So, while searching, I came across a FANTASTIC TedTalk from Salman Khan, the creator of Khan Academy (link below).  His insight into how his tutorial videos have moved from helping his cousins, to YouTube viewers at home, and now to classrooms was amazing.  The use of these technology instructional videos has been able to remove "the one-size fits all lecture from the classroom...[so] peers actually [are] able to interact with each other, [and] teachers have actually used technology to humanize in the classroom" (Khan, 2011).  Khan's statement supports Wine's idea of building "a sense of community" when using technology (Wine, 2011, 207). 

Let's Use Video to Reinvent Education | TedTalk Salman Khan

So, when selecting one area, I decided to focus on math.  Even though Khan Academy has a plethora of resources for supplemental math instruction (along with many other core class topics), I wanted to select a source that wasn't so well known to me.  Continuing my search lead me to a fantastic blog for middle school teachers.  What first caught my eye was the link to Maneuvering the Middle: Classroom Technology  With my focus being on locating math technology and blogs, I located multiple resources, but a "new to me" resource that I will apply in my 8th grade math resource class is Maneuvering the Middle:  Desmos Activities to Try in Algebra. These tools focus more on upper middle and possibly high school level, but can be watched again and again for refreshers and before introducing new content.  Being able to assign these resources, so when students come into the classroom hands-on instruction and interaction can occur.  This allows not only students to interact with each other, but it allows teachers to have the ability to sit down with students in a more useful manner and build collaboration within their own "community" classrooms.  

Other Math Resources for ALL students, including Differently-Abled students:

 

Assistive Technology Tools and Resources

References

Khan, S. (2011, March 9). Let’s use video to reinvent education [Video]. TED               Conferences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTFEUsudhfs&t=189s

Pickering, Nicole (2021, July 21) . Student-Centered Math Lessons.  Maneuvering the middle.  https://www.maneuveringthemiddle.com/.

Wine, L. (2016). School librarians as technology leaders: An evolution in practice. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. 57(2), 207-220.