Accessibility for Equity
Disability Awareness Month
IDS Innovation Email: iccsdinnovation@gmail.com
💻 Accessibility Ideas 💡
Google Slides Closed Captioning
The What:
Google is releasing the ability for you to present with captioning in Google Slides. You can check out their blog post about it here.In a Nutshell:
You put your presentation into present mode. You will see a "CC" icon in the bottom left on the toolbar. Providing you are using a device with a microphone, once the "CC" is clicked, it will start captioning your words as you speak.
Note: This is gradually being made available to Google End Users. At the time of writing this, the captioning feature was not yet available in the Iowa City Google Domain.
Read and Write for Google
The What:
Read&Write for Google Chrome is an extension that makes the web, Google Docs and files more accessible for everyone. Check out this short video tutorial for an overview of its capabilities. The premium version has already been pushed out to students. Teachers should check out this post by Adam Kurth about teachers getting premium access.Note: Google Read & Write now checks spelling! Read about it here.
Flipgrid Immersive Reader
Flipgrid was recently acquired by Microsoft. This partnership has allowed Microsoft's Immersive Reader to be integrated with Flipgrid. You can read more about it here.
In a Nutshell:
Students will be able to do the following with Immersive Reader:
- Read text aloud
- Change text size, font, spacing and color
- Highlight parts of speech
- Break words into syllables
- Provide line focus
- Improve word understanding with picture dictionary
Creatability
The What:
Creatability is a set of experiments made in collaboration with creators and allies in the accessibility community. They explore how creative tools – drawing, music, and more – can be made more accessible using web and AI technology.In a Nutshell:
Check out the experiments that students can control using their faces and/or bodies.
Newsela, TweenTribune, Wonderopolis
Wonderopolis--> Is a fun-filled destination that provides a fascinating outlet for curious kids of all ages. Learning, discovery, and curiosity, as well as the concept of sharing the experience with family members, are strongly encouraged throughout.
TweenTribune--> An online newspaper for kids, aged 8–15. It is updated daily with stories from the Associated Press that are chosen based on relevancy to pre-adolescents.
Newsela--> Is a data base of current events stories tailor-made for classroom use. Indexed by broad theme, stories are both student-friendly and can be accessed in different formats by reading level.
In a Nutshell:
All three of the resources provide scaffolds for readers of all skill levels. From reading the text aloud to changing the complexity of the text, students have many options to tailor the passages to their needs.
💻 ITEC Conference Des Moines 🏫
Virtual and Augmented Realities
Here are a couple presentations over VR from ITEC:
Did you know that ICCSD has their own Virtual Reality Kit that can be checked out? Check in with your librarian for more information. They will be given the resources for check out on Nov. 1st.
Building Rapport
The keynote, Rushton Hurley, shared how powerful a simple phone call home or even attending a students extracurricular event can be on building relationships with students.
So many Amazing Sessions
- Sharpen the Seesaw
- Think, Make, Innovate: How to Incorporate a Maker System into your Classroom or School
- Contagious Culture of Greatness
- Challenging Yourself to Become a Better Teacher
- Bitmojis, FlipGrid, and Quizizz OH MY! Incorporating Tech into Small Group Math Instruction
- Leveraging Tech to Hone Your Adult Facilitation Skills
- The Fun and Cool of Getting Better
- Supercharged Chromebook Creativity
- Creating a Kid Centered Classroom
- Developing Emotional Intelligence for Leadership
- Flip, Flop and Fly: tips, tricks and tools to flip your classroom
- You can Do What with LEDs?
- Calibrate your Classroom with the 4Cs
If you want to see all the sessions and their resources, check out this comprehensive list.
👇 Reminder Below 👇
Clever
Clever Website--> https://bit.ly/iccsdclever
📱 Stay Connected 💻
@iccsdinnovation
@iowacityinnovation
@iccsdinnovation
Innovative Sparks
Remind Group
Directions to Join
Simply text @idsinn to the number 81010
👇 IDS Innovation Team 👇
Diana Hawley
Evan Hartley
Mike Haverkamp
Instructional Design Strategists Tech & Innovation
Email: ICCSDinnovation@gmail.com
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/Page/1534
Phone: 3196881000
Twitter: @ICCSDinnovation