Slide presentation World Dyslexia Forum 2010 'Free and accessible technologies supporting teachers and trainers' by Ms E.A. Draffan For all films: http://di-videos.org/player/worlddyslexiaforum/2010/#/lg/EN/

1. Online collaboration – Free and
Easy!
E.A. Draffan

2. Access, Productivity, Free,
Portable and Online
Access
Productivity
Free, Portable and Online

3. • 81% of teachers agree that ICT makes learning more effective.
• Students ranked ‘using computers’ 4th out of 16 when asked their favourite
ways to learn but 95% are computer users and 75% mobile phone users (8-19
yrs)
• The top 3 choices were ‘learning in groups’, ‘doing practical things’ and
‘learning with friends’.
• 66% of parents would like schools to use technologies such as text messaging
and the internet to communicate more frequently. However, only 8% of parents
were kept informed using these methods.
81% of teachers
agree that ICT
makes learning
more effective.
Students ranked ‘using
computers’ 4th out of
16 when asked their
favourite ways to learn
but 95% are computer
users and 75% mobile
phone users (8-19 yrs)
The top 3 choices
were ‘learning in
groups’, ‘doing
practical things’ and
‘learning with friends’.
Becta
66% of parents would like
schools to use technologies
such as text messaging and the
internet to communicate more
frequently. However, only 8% of
parents were kept informed
using these methods.
21st
Century
Teacher

4. UK Further and Higher Education
• 76% Further and Higher
Education students access
internet from bedroom
• 2/3 using social
networking sites ‘regularly’
• 84% ‘like to keep up-to-
date with new technology
and use it as much as
possible both for study and
in my free time’. (JISC)

5. The Technologies
• Instant Messaging – Texting - Skype,
Twitter and MSN
• Collaborative Calendars/Mindmaps/Writing
– Wikis, blogs, Google Docs etc.
• Social networking – Facebook etc

6. Accessibility issues
• Some aspects of the collaboration applications do
not work well with assistive technologies or
allow for personalisation.
• Navigation and ease of use.
• Discussions have poor subject lines.
• ‘Open Source’ and free software may not always
be updated and improved as developers move on.
• Some online learning spaces specifically designed
for education may not be easy to use.

7. Instant messaging
• LexDis strategies
– MSN for Real-Time Communication
– Facebook with MSN
– Skype for testing knowledge and project work
• Issues
– Connectivity/use of video and voice
– Speed of typing
– Spell checking – across all apps on a Apple Mac!

8. Skype, Twitter and
MSN messaging.

9. Skypito and Accessible
Twitter
• Safety for children
• Use with screen readers or text to speech.

10. MSN for Real Time
communication

11. Wikis and Blogs
• LexDis strategies
– Blogging as a framework for writing.
– LiveJournal as a personal diary.
– Wiki used for collaborative writing.
• Issues – spell checking and layout of wikis.

12. Wikipedia on Mediawiki WordPress
blog

13. Online Spell Checking
• Google toolbar in many languages or JISC
TechDis Toolbar download for any browser.
• ieSpell – download as extra for Internet
Explorer (also in Dutch, French and German)
• Firefox Dictionaries – download as add-on or
Safari, Opera version 10 & Google Chrome
built-in
• Ginger and Ghotit online for errors in
sentences.
• Paid for Assistive Technologies…

14. Performance of spell checkers
varies
BUT so does usability
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Displays
1 step to
activate
3 steps
to
activate
6 steps
to
activate
Paid
Free

15. Social Networking
• LexDis strategies
– Collaborating online – Facebook
– Sharing ideas
• Issues

16. M-facebook

17. Calendars, Planning and
Collaboration
• Online task and time management
• LexDis strategies
– Google Calendar
– Google docs
• Issues
– Accessibility
– Login in - passwords
www.web2access.org.uk

18. Synote
• Add video and/or recording
• Add PowerPoints
• Add transcript
• Annotate
• Synchronise timings.

19. Access Tools
• 100% Fluid Layout.
• Program size
exceeding screen.
• Change colours.
• Change look and
feel of text.
http://access.ecs.soton.ac.uk

20. Free Programs
• Word Processing – OpenOffice.org 3.0.1 and Q10
• Dictionary/Thesaurus - WordWeb 5.5
• Typing - Senselang Touch Typing
• Concept Mapping – Freemind or Mindmeister
• Text to Speech in Word – WordTalk from Call
Centre, Reader from Sensory Software Int.
ReadPlease.com etc
• Colour changing – Colour Explorer from
MicrolinkPC.

21. Free Technologies – EduApps
• http://www.oatsoft.org
• http://adaptech.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/fandi_e.php
http://www.eduapps.org/

22. My Technologies - 24/7 access
• Students really value 24/7 access
• Students expect to be able to use
personal technologies and
services in institutional contexts.
• Students are creating their own
learning spaces.

23. Thank You
E.A. Draffan
Learning Societies Lab,
Electronics and Computer Science,
University of Southampton.
Mobile 07976 289103
E-mail: ead@ecs.soton.ac.uk
http://access.ecs.soton.ac.uk/
LexDis Project website
www.lexdis.org