Assistive Technologies 3-Year Project

The Assistive Technologies Project included several Key Demonstration Projects, which were implemented and researched over a three year period. These action research projects laid a foundation for examining a variety of assistive technologies within the Calgary Board of Education. Results from these projects were examined on a larger scale and used to inform models of allocation of such resources for all Calgary Board of Education Learners.

The Key Demonstration Projects:

Text-to-Speech Multi-jurisdictional Research Project

In collaboration with Alberta Education, this project examined the use of text-to-speech software for evidence of benefits for learning disabled students in the area of reading. In addition, it investigated the impact on the practice of teachers, who engaged in designing learning experiences using text-to-speech software.

• Final Report:
• Text-to-Speech Final Report (pdf)
• Text to Speech Presentation (pdf)
• Text to Speech Video

Speech-to-Text Research Project

This component of the project examined the use of speech-to-text software for evidence of benefits for students with identified learning disabilities.

Optical Character Recognition Project

This project examined the academic improvement for learning disabled students in the “regular classroom” who were given access to a variety of scan and read systems to assist them with decoding text.

Behavior and Communication Project

This project focused on children with severe communication and behavior needs and examined the interaction of the Intellitools software and SmartBoard technologies for impact on the development of communication skills.

Interviews were conducted with Teachers and Educational Assistants involved in the project and provide a snapshot of the positive changes and some of the challenges encountered in implementing the Project at these two sites.

 

 

Video Clip Video Clip

Designing Web Based Instruction Project

This project focused on setting a CBE standard in the development of universally accessible web based resources. It involved the development of an ePD course on Web Accessibility which provided a professional learning opportunity for educators to learn how to evaluate web sites and how to incorporate accessibility options as they build their own websites and teach these concepts to students. Teachers share their Hear what teachers who have taken the course have to say

Jan Video Clip Kim Video Clip

Integrated Infrared Sound Amplification Project

The Integrated Infrared Sound Amplification Project investigated the impact on diverse learners of transforming teachers’ aural language into digital text through infrared technologies.