Vol. 5, No. 5 Sept/Oct 1997	Previous Issues Subscribe to AT Messenger Download PDF Viewer
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Putting Classroom Computers to Work: Multimedia, Internet, and More

by Ed Salisbury, Kent County ATRC

The computer can be a valuable tool to students in all grade levels. Educational software can enhance or augment the curriculum. Multimedia software brings a multi-sensory learning approach to education that is beneficial to all students, and may be particularly helpful to those with learning disabilities. The computer can be a means of access to printed material for those with visual impairments, as well as a writing tool for those with physical limitations. Many schools have computers available for use by students either in the classroom or in a lab situation. In many instances, these computers are under-utilized due to unavailability of appropriate software or limited computer knowledge among teachers and staff. Sometimes computers are inaccessible to students with disabilities, and there may be concerns as to the safety of data contained on the computer’s hard drives. With increased use of the Internet as a research tool, there is concern about the appropriateness of much of the material to which students have access. Fortunately, there is a variety of hardware and software available to assist teachers in making computers fun and useful tools in their classrooms.

The ability to find and access software quickly and easily is very helpful when computer time is limited. To simplify access to common application programs, a menu, or launching, system can be used. This is especially helpful in the DOS environment. Once a menu system is set up, students select the program wanted simply by pressing the appropriate letter or number. Someone with knowledge of DOS will need to set up and customize the menu system for student use. The Macintosh operating system includes a feature call Launcher. Launcher displays the application’s icons selected by the teacher as buttons in a window. Clicking on a button with the mouse loads the associated program. Buttons can then be organized into categories which are accessed by mouse. Launching, as well as menu programs designed for DOS, Windows, and Windows95, can be purchased in utility packages as well as downloaded from the Internet and various bulletin board systems.

Technology is available to assist the teacher who may have only one or two computers in the classroom. One problem in using a single computer with a group of students is the difficulty in providing full viewing access to everybody. To solve this problem, a PC-TV converter can be purchased. This small unit attaches a Macintosh or PC to a standard television. Another option is to purchase an LCD projection panel. This device works with a high wattage overhead projector to project the monitor image to a standard movie screen. Some LCD systems include an internal light source which eliminates the need for an overhead projector. Although considerably more costly than the PC-TV converter, the LCD systems can project a much larger image of higher sharpness and clarity. Another problem encountered in single computer classrooms is how to allow access to the computer by more than one student at a time. For group activities, especially in special education and early education settings, an alternate keyboard called the Intellikeys can be used in addition to the standard keyboard. The Intellikeys contains keys printed on plastic overlays which slide over a touch sensitive membrane. Overlays with different key sizes and arrangements are included with the Intellikeys. With the addition of the Overlay Maker program, custom overlays can be designed and printed on standard paper. To allow group participation, up to six Intellikeys can be connected to the computer at once. Overlays can be created to allow each student to participate in a particular part of the activity or to allow turn taking without having to pass a keyboard from student to student. The Intellikeys and the Overlay Maker program are available from Intellitools for Apple II, Macintosh, and IBM PC and compatible computers. Another piece of technology ideally suited for classrooms with limited computers is the AlphaSmart Pro. The AlphaSmart is simply a keyboard with an LCD display that can be used to take notes or compose documents. With a single keypress, AlphaSmart Pro files can be quickly uploaded to a computer’s word processing program via the included cable.

Another challenge faced in classroom computing is accidental deletion of files and programs. A software program called At-Ease is included with some Macintosh computers and can be purchased separately. At-Ease allows the teacher to control the programs to which students have access and to prevent the deletion of any file or application on the computer’s hard drive. A shareware program called ProGuard for Windows disables the delete function from Program Manager as well as the ability to delete files from File Manager. Individual applications can be protected with a user defined password. Without the password, the student is unable to open the application. Younger students may benefit from several programs similar in function to At-Ease but with a graphical and non-intimidating interface designed for children. These programs include Kid Desk from Edmark and Launchpad from Berkeley Systems. Both programs include custom desktops with only those applications selected by the teacher available. Each student can have his or her own desktop with access to his or her own applications and files. Both of these software programs are available for Macintosh and Windows. Even with the use of the various software programs mentioned above, deletions may still occur. If this happens, all hope is not lost. A software program called the Norton Utilities for Macintosh can be used to scan the hard disk and recover files that have been deleted. Windows includes a feature similar to this called Microsoft Undelete. To increase the chances of one hundred percent file recovery, these programs need to be run as quickly as possible after the deletion has taken place.

The computer can also be used as a tool for students with a range of disabilities. For students with difficulty completing worksheets due to a physical limitation, a scanner can be used to import the worksheet into the computer. A program like OmniForm from Caere is needed to define regions on the worksheet where text will need to be added. The student can then complete the worksheet using the keyboard as if he or she were using a standard database program. Depending on the physical limitations of the student, alternate keyboards such as the Intellikeys, Tash Mini Keyboard, or BAT one handed keyboard could be used in place of the standard keyboard. For students in the lower grades who may need to color or draw on the scanned worksheet, a paint or drawing program along with an appropriate mouse alternative can be used. Mouse alternatives may include a trackball, touch screen, joystick, Intellikeys, or a mouse activated by head movement such as the HeadMouse or HeadMaster. Students with difficulty writing due to a learning disability or physical impairment may benefit from word prediction software. Word prediction software like Co:Writer, Aurora, and HandiWord limit the amount of keystrokes needed to type words and phrases. As the student types, the software tries to predict not only the completion of the word but the next word in the sentence. The computer presents the student with a list of possibilities from which to choose. Students with visual impairments as well as some with learning disabilities may benefit from any of a number of talking word processors. These include Intellitalk, ULTimate Reader, and Write:OutLoud. With these programs, letters can be spoken as they are typed or entire documents can be read to the student using computer generated speech.

A wide range of educational multimedia software is available for all types of computers. This software generally includes exciting graphics, realistic sounds, photo quality images, and animation. CD-ROM storybooks like the Broderbund Living Books Series maintain the young students’ interest while introducing them to early literacy. The Little Planet Publishing Series turns students into writers who can incorporate voice annotations and graphics into their work. Literacy programs from a variety of software companies use a multi-sensory learning approach to teach reading skills. Authoring programs like Hyperstudio, and even Kid Pix with Companion, allow students to create slide shows for the whole class to see. Both programs allow students to include animation, voice annotations, and even sounds to their slide shows. With the addition of a color scanner or digital camera, students can even include photographs.

The Internet is a valuable resource to both students and teachers. Several problems are often associated with using the Internet in the classroom. One problem is the need for the computer to be connected to a network or phone line for Internet access. Another concerns the appropriateness and accuracy of some material students may find on the web. Students may also be overwhelmed by too much information on any given topic. A software program called Web Whacker addresses several of these dilemmas. Web Whacker allows the teacher to download specific web sites and their associated links to the computer’s hard drive. The students can access these sites without the need for an Internet connection. Because the sites are accessed directly from the hard drive, pages appear quickly and completely. Only those sites chosen by the teacher can be accessed. For teachers who need to prevent viewing of sexually oriented or violent material, programs like Net Nanny, Cyber Patrol, and Surf Watch limit the students’ accessibility to sites with adult content.

Computers can only be a valuable tool if they are being used. It is not always easy to integrate the computer into daily classroom use. But, with a little planning, creativity, and the addition of a minimal amount of hardware and software, the computer can help boost student achievement and enjoyment. Many software programs include testing and grading features, as well as the ability to print progress reports for each student. Most of the software and hardware mentioned above is available for preview and/or loan at your local Assistive Technology Resource Center.