Educational Software
Software to Assist with Reading
CAST Ereader software reads web pages and other documents. Screen readers such as Ereader help students who have reading and/or attention problems, and those who have visual disabilities.
 The Kurzweil 3000 is a state of the art text-to-voice software program. The Kurzweil converts written text into a synthesized speech. This software is especially helpful for students who are dyslexic, for students who are visually impaired, and for students who are slow readers. The Kurzweil helps students increase reading speed and comprehension. It uses a multisensory approach that allows students to both hear and see the text as they read. Kurzweil will even let studetns type text and hear the text as they type it. The Kurzweil is very user-friendly and requires very little training time. Students may choose from a variety of voices and may adjust reading rate, font size, and the color as well as the amount of text highlighted.
Read & Write Gold Version 7 is a "one-stop" solution for reading and writing. It includes reading software with RealSpeak voices and voice recognition software that allows students to dictate papers. This software program also has a scientific calculator and a pronunciation tutor.
Speed Reader is a software program designed to assist students in improving their reading speed and comprehension. Students can progress through the program at their own pace.
Victor Reader Soft software is used in conjunction with CDs recorded by the Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D). This software allows students to listen to recorded texts with the convenience of a digital format. This is most helpful to students who are visually impaired, or to those who have difficulty visually processing written text.
Word Attack is a program that is designed to assist students in mastering the definitions and pronunciations of over 4000 words. The five activities presented are adjustable to meet the student's needs and offer a variety of ways to learn through crossword puzzles, word scrambles, and other games. This program is helpful to students who have difficulty with the pronunciations, spellings, and meanings of unfamiliar words.
Zoom Text offers a magnification program (2x to 16x) and screen reader for everything the computer can access including email, web pages, and software. This program is most helpful for students who are visually impaired.
Software to Assist with Math
Algebra World provides a multimedia presentation for algebra and geometry concepts. The program is divided into the following topics: expressions, integers, equations, ratios, proportions, percents, and geometry. It is designed to interactively teach essential concepts that provide the foundation for more advanced algebra. The concepts are demonstrated in a hands-on manner. Learning of the problem-solving process always demonstrates why it works in a graphical format where objects are pushed, pulled, collected, or clicked-on. Movement through the program is intuitive and the individual can move from topic to topic as needed.
Software to Assist with Writing
Draftbuilder is a program designed to assist students in the steps necessary for writing research papers. The program gives support in planning, organizing, and writing a first draft.
Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional Solutions is a voice-to-text software program. Students speak what they want typed into a microphone, and the software converts the speech into written text. It does require a student to establish a voice recognition file through continuous training. The Dragon software is very helpful to students who have a difficult time getting their throughts down on paper, for students who have difficulties with spelling, and for students who physically have difficulties with writing. This program is most useful for students whose oral language skills are stronger than their written language skills.
Inspiration is software that offers a tool for developing ideas and organizing thoughts. The program integrates visual mapping and outlining to assist in comprehension of concepts and information. This is helpful to visual learners wsho need to use mind maps to organize information for writing papers.
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is a software program that helps the student improve keyboarding skills. The program offers age-appropriate content and lessons. The pace and material for the exercises can be individually designed.
Hardware to Assist with Spelling
Franklin Computers: hardware that helps students who have difficulty with spellnig, including homonyms. These hand-held devices give definitions of the word so the student can find the correct word that they are looking for, and some have a speaking function.
Quicktionary II Reading Pen: portable reading tool that displays and speaks dictionary definitions. It also displays syllables and spells words out loud.
The Assistive and Instructional Technology Lab offers many other instructional software programs designed to improve study strategies, including several learning inventories.
Procedures and Policies
Students entering the lab must sign the logbook noting the date of use, equipment and software used, and the time in and out. Students may be asked to exchange their college identification card for any portable equipment they use.
A student worker who is trained in the use of hardware, software, and any other equipment in the lab will supervise the Assistive Technology Lab. If the student worker is not available, please contact the Supervisor or Coordinator for the Test and Study Lab.
The following actions may lead to removal from the lab and/or loss of lab privileges.
- Eating or drinking in the lab
- Disruptive behavior and/or harassment of others
- Use or installation of instant messenger
- Theft or attempted theft of lab materials or hardware
- Use of inappropriate and/or non-educational materials
- Tampering with hardware or hardware setups
- Failure to follow instructions of the assistive technology lab worker
Please note: Refer to the Wesleyan Student Handbook for policies governing computer use on campus. Lab use will be academic in nature and restricted to Wesleyan students and those possessing junior identification cards. |
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