4.4 Supportive Technology

4. Do: Use Supportive Technology in the Classroom

Now it's your turn: Try out text-to-speech on your device. Then, use it with your class or your focal student to see how text-to-speech may benefit to them.

The following links are directions (video or text) on how to set up text-to-speech on different platforms. Choose the one you feel most comfortable with, or choose the one to which you have access.

After setting up and using text-to-speech, reflect on your experience and respond to the prompts below in the Supportive Technology Forum.

On the iPad

For a text tutorial: http://www.imore.com/how-enable-speak-selection-iphone-and-ipad

For a video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfJJvcf7NlI

On Chromebook or Chome Read&Write for Google

For a text tutorial: https://paulhami.edublogs.org/tag/readwrite-for-google-docs/

For a video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NzR4Co-f1c

On a PC - Natural Reader

For a text tutorial: http://atrc.colostate.edu/Data/Sites/1/documents/Quickstarts/Natural_Reader_Quick_Start_Guide.pdf

For a video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp-uOVR-k_U

On a Mac In this YouTube video, a student with dyslexia shows how to activate speech to text on the Mac. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tawg6Z8qi4M

For a text tutorial: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11255

Reflections:

Go to the 4.4.1 Supportive Technology Forum to share your experience. Be sure to address the following questions:

How did the student(s) respond to text-to-speech? Was it beneficial?
Can you identify other students who may benefit from this technology?
How could you add text to speech to your next lesson?