The following strategies might be useful for any students who have a problem with getting notes down in class:

Difficulties talking notes down in class?

Students who have difficulty with writing for a variety of reasons including having dyspraxia/DCD or dyslexia, being hard of hearing, being vision impaired, having processing difficulties or having a physical disability often struggle greatly with getting notes off the board.

The following are a few suggestions that might be useful for those students if they could be implemented in the school’s efforts to make their great teaching and learning materials more accessible:

• ask teachers who use electronic teaching materials to perhaps put those notes and learning materials up online (perhaps on the school website, on Google Class Room, on One Note, on Teams, on Edmodo - see what the school might be using). SEE WHAT TEACHERS LEARNED TO USE DURING LOCK DOWN 😊 Then a student can access a perfect set of the teacher’s notes/learning materials/homework on their phone/tablet/computer at home.

• ask teachers who use PowerPoint or electronic notes to either email the notes to students or to allow them to take a copy of them on a memory USB stick. (File management skills would be important here for a student to store their notes, learning materials etc in correct folders so they are easy to access)

• getting notes in advance could be ideal to allow preparation of new vocabulary as the building blocks to new concepts a student will learn. This is called preteaching and may be helpful with a student’s memory difficulties. (mind mapping this new vocabulary could be a beneficial preteaching strategy). See what can be negotiated.

• ask teachers to give their notes in handouts - ideally in advance again (digital copies of the notes mentioned earlier would be preferable)

• allow students to photograph notes on the white board if a teacher does notes by hand. It would then be essential that students know how to save and store/file these images on their subject folders on the computer in a way that they can find them later for homework or revision purposes.

This will take some negotiating with the school and sometimes with individual teachers all of whom might react differently.

It would be good if all teachers employed the same approach to sharing their learning materials accessibly with learners. It is important to emphasize how a student’s vision, hearing, processing, writing or stamina difficulties do not impede their learning.

Click here for more infprmation: SnapType Home - SnapType (snaptypeapp.com)

Click here to view another video on  Reading Mode .

Designed for and with people with low vision, blindness and dyslexia, Reading mode helps improve your screen reading experience with a focus on customizable contrast, text size, text-to-speech, page clutter, and font types. Once downloaded, the app integrates into your quick settings and can be easily accessed across apps and web pages.

Instructions:

To get started:

1. Download and install Reading mode via Play Store

2. Find Reading mode on your home screen and tap to open it

3. Read the tutorial and it will redirect you to the settings at the end

4. In the settings, tap “Reading mode” and toggle on “Reading mode shortcut” to allow Reading mode to access your device

5. Please refer to https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/7650693 to set up different Reading mode entry points

Key Features:

• Focused reading view: Reading mode provides a customizable reading environment without clutter to make it easier to access content and focus

• Text-to-speech: Hear written content read out loud to you at the touch of a button. Choose from a selection of high quality long-form voices. Easily accessible audio control options to rewind, fast forward, and change reading speed on the go

• Adjust font type and size: Toggle quickly between font sizes, styles, colors, and line spaces to customize what’s best for your reading needs

• Quick access: Once downloaded, Reading mode is integrated into the phone interface for fast access

• Multi-language support: Reading mode supports English, French, Italian, and Spanish with additional languages to follow

• Compatible with Talkback: Easily use Reading mode when using your screen reader.

• Designed with privacy in mind: Content is never sent off your phone.

Requirement:

• Available for phones on Android 9 and later

• Currently Reading mode supports English, French, Italian, Spanish

Click here for more information on Microsoft Lens:

Click here to view a video illustrating how to use Microsoft Lens on iPads/iPhones

Click here to view a video illustrating how to use Microsoft Lens on Android Phones or tablets.

Once you have captured text from hard copy to your phone/tablet you can use al the other tools for example to read it aloud.

Click here to view a video on Google Lens for iPads and iPhones.

Click here to view a video on Google Lens for Android phones and tablets

You can use Google Lens from:

• Google Photos - on your desktop/laptop.

• Google Assistant on most Android phones

• The Google app on most  Android phones

Most useful for: Looking after the small details can help look after the bigger picture so Google Keep can help you look after these small details effectively. 

ITS KEY FEATURES ARE: 

• Scan and translate text: Translate text in real time, look up words, add events to your calendar, call a number, and more. Or just copy and paste to save some time.

• Find a look you like: See an outfit that caught your eye? Or a chair that's perfect for your living room? Get inspired by similar clothes, furniture, and home decor—without having to describe what you're looking for in a search box.

• See what’s popular on menus: Wondering what to order at a restaurant? Look up dishes and see what’s popular, right on the menu, with photos and reviews from Google Maps.

• Explore nearby places: Learn more about popular landmarks. See ratings, hours of operation, historical facts and more.

• Identify plants and animals: Find out what plant is in your friend's apartment, or what kind of dog you saw in the park

• Step-by-step homework help: Stuck on a problem? Quickly find explainers, videos, and results from the web for math, history, chemistry, biology, physics, and more.

OUR TOP TIP: 

When you go to the library or have a handout, trying using Google Lens to read the information. Remember to use your Headphones so you can listen without distractions.

DEMONSTRATION OF GOOGLE LENS IN ACTION 

Video source: The Verge YouTube channel 

Go to the Google Lens Website >

For instructions on Google Lens go to this Google site >

This video demonstrates how it works: Video showing how to use Live Transcribe

It  is aimed at people who are Deaf and hard of hearing to have conversations transcribed in rea time with just an Android phone.

Pick from over 70 languages and dialects to read accurate captions in the language that’s being spoken.

 You can also copy and paste from this app in to a document which would be invaluable to students who have a writing difficulty.

(If you’re using an external keyboard, see Dictate text while using an Apple external keyboard.)

How to use dictation on iPhone and iPad

• Launch any app that uses the keyboard.

• Tap on the text field to bring up the keyboard.

• Tap on the Dictation button. It's the microphone between the Emoji button and Space Bar.

• Start speaking. ...

• Tap Done when you are done speaking.

Click here for an Apple user guide on dictation: https://support.apple.com/en-ie/guide/ipad/ipad997d9642/ipados

This can benefit students by easing the reading load, helping with pronunciation or just giving options around taking in/revising information aurally.

Also if a student types their work on an iPad or Android tablet, these tools can proof read their written/typed work aloud  back to them helping them to listen to their work to independently identify and correct their mistakes.

iPad/iPhone

There are two text-to-speech options built into the iPad:

• SPEAK SELECTION: A SPEAK button will appear when you select text on your iPad allowing you to hear that text read out loud.

• SPEAK SCREEN: Swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen to hear readable content of the screen.

You can adjust the voice and the speed of the voice.

You can adjust to correct pronunciation (e.g. get is to pronounce Siobhán as “Shivaun”).

It will read 36 different languages aloud helping language students to tune in their ear for aural exams and to help with pronunciation.

This video will show you how to set up SPEAK SELECTION and SPEAK SCREEN on iPad/iPod/iPhones 

Android phones and tablets

Many Android phones come with a built in text to speech tool called SELECT TO SPEAK

Follow the instructions in this video to learn to activate to use it to read text aloud from websites, emails, online learning materials for learning, revision or just to lighten the reading load.

Some Android devices come with these tools already built in but if yours does not have it built in already you can download the Android Accessibility Suite for free from here:
Link to download the android accessibility suite

This is a short video to show you what it can do: Video showing how to use Seeing AI to make reading easier

It is called the Seeing AI (artificial intelligence) app.

It can allow you to photograph (or even just point the camera at the) page of text and then read that text aloud.

It can also narrate the world around you. Designed for the low vision community, this research project harnesses the power of AI to describe people, text and objects

Download on the App Store and see what you think: Seeing AI

Do you want to make your presentations better understood by everyone in the room? Some of your students may be a native speaker in another language or have difficulty hearing when you have a soft-spoken guest. Live Captions and Subtitles in PowerPoint can provide captions for your presentation in the same language you are speaking or translate it into another language in real-time! This feature is only available when using PowerPoint in Office 365 or in the app downloaded from Office 365. It is not available on the PowerPoint enterprise license desktop app.
 
How to turn on Live Captions & Subtitles:

1. Open PowerPoint Presentation in PowerPoint on Office 365

2. Navigate to the Slide Show menu 

3. Select the Always Use Subtitles option
   
   

4. Choose where you would like the Subtitles to appear 
   
   

5.  After selecting the location of the Subtitles, navigate to the Spoken Language options

6. Select the Spoken Language from the menu of options

7. Next, choose the Subtitle Language for the translation
   
   

8. After selecting the Subtitle Language, test your presentation to make sure your microphone is working. Start the slideshow and begin speaking. 

Please click here to view a video on using (automatically translated subtitles) when using PowerPoint

Microsoft Lens (formerly “Office Lens”) is a great way to capture information from documents, whiteboards, business cards, receipts, menus, signs, handwritten memos, or anything else containing text that you want to import but not manually type out yourself. It is superb for students who struggle to get notes off the board but it’s essential that they develop good file management skills to store, file and retrieve their captures using MSLens.

Click here for more information on Microsoft Lens:

Click here to view a video illustrating how to use Microsoft Lens on iPads/iPhones

Click here to view a video illustrating how to use Microsoft Lens on Android Phones or tablets.

Once you have captured text from hard copy to your phone/tablet you can use al the other tools for example to read it aloud.

This video will show you what it offers:

Dictate Speech Recognition: Video showing how to use Dictate speech-to-text tool in Office 365 

Please click on the Settings button in Dictate

to be able to activate autopunctuaton and to try dictating text in:

• Chinese

• French

• German

• Italian

• Spanish

AND IN IRISH 😊

Microsoft Immersive Reader is a free tool in Office 365 Online that supports literacy development for learners regardless of age or ability.

Immersive Reader uses proven techniques to enhance:

• Reading comprehension

• Language learning

• Decoding for readers with dyslexia

Please click here for broad overview of what it offers in Office 365:  Video showing  how to use Immersive Reader in Office 365

In addition to translating and reading aloud in a variety of different languages Immersive Reader can now read aloud “as Gaeilge” too!!!!!

Click here to download your Read & Write Chrome

Once installed on Chrome click on the  symbol on your Chrome toolbar.

Look for the purple jigsaw piece symbol for your Read & Write extension:

Click on this and it will open up your Read & Write Chrome extension toolbar:

Click here to view a short video on how to use your Read & Write tool bar.

How do I switch languages to Irish in Read&Write for Google Chrome?

Read&Write for Google Chrome supports text-to-speech in Irish (as Gaeilge). To change the text-to-speech language in Read&Write for Google Chrome, click the three dots on the right hand side of the toolbar, select Settings.

  Select Speech

Select ‘Irish Female Peig’ in the Voice dropdown. This selects the Irish voice. Choose OK to save settings. 

You can now use Select to Speak (Play), Click to speak, Hover Speak and Audio Maker to listen to any Irish text read aloud.

Listen with Speechify while you read on Gmail, Google Docs, PDFs, Wikipedia and all your other favourite sites.

Click here for more information and to try it for free: Link to download Speechify Extension

This video will show you how to use it: Video demonstrating how to use Speechify

Don’t forget to get Speechify to read aloud your typed/dictated work in Google Docs to help you to learn or to proof listen to your writing to help you to identify areas of improvement.

It could be incredibly useful for people who have a difficulty writing and indeed for speed and convenience for all of us.

When using Google Docs you have the option to “Voice Type”.

Click here to see  a video on how it works: Video showing how to use Voice Typing in Google Docs

Click here for further information: Google Support for using the Voice Typing function

While this is a wonderfully handy tool it is still essential that students develop their touchtyping skills – please see my other email for resources on this.

NaturalReader is a text-to-speech software with natural sounding voices.

This easy-to-use software can read to you any text such as Microsoft Word files, webpages, PDF files, and E-mails.

And this brief demo gives you an idea of what it does …….

Natural Reader - what is does and how to download it.

The software is free to download from this site ……

https://www.naturalreaders.com/software.html

What can Natural Reader do for students?

Helps people with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia:

Improves your reading, comprehension, spelling skills and concentration by listening to the text while reading.

Once you have typed or dictated your written work you could get this to read it  back to you to proof read or as revision.

Helps people for proofreading:

Not only can help you to pick out mistakes, but also can give you a good sense of the natural flow of what you have written/typed.

Helps people with vision problems or reading load:

Just sit back, relax, and let NaturalReader read to you. Reading is no longer stressful but is now enjoyable.

There are LOTS of free ebooks available here: https://www.gutenberg.org/

Try getting Natural Reader to read from one of these books.

MyStudyBar is a tool which helps overcome problems that students commonly experience with studying, reading and writing. Easy to install, simple to use, handy and effective, MyStudyBar provides comprehensive learning support at the desktop, where it is needed.

Although MyStudyBar is designed to support learners with literacy-related difficulties such as dyslexia, the toolbar can offer potential benefits to all learners.

Features of MyStudyBar

MyStudyBar has 6 sections; each has a drop down menu offering personal choice, flexibility and independent learning, particularly for those learners who require additional strategies to support their learning.

You can use MyStudyBar straight from a USB stick (if, for example, you are using a machine that is not your own) or you can install it directly to the desktop. (Technical staff in colleges or universities also have the choice of installing it on the network for everyone to use).

MyStudyBar step-by-step guides

To get you started with MyStudyBar we have provided some useful help materials. Included among these are video tutorials on how to get the best from the MyStudyBar and all its components.

If you’ve downloaded MyStudyBar but you’re not sure how to extract and copy the files to your USB drive you can view the extracting installation tutorials by selecting this link.

Introduction to MyStudyBar

A Mind Map is a visual thinking tool that can be applied to all cognitive functions, especially memory, learning, creativity and analysis. Mind Mapping is a process that involves a distinct combination of imagery, colour and visual-spatial arrangement. The technique maps out your thoughts using keywords that trigger associations in the brain to spark further ideas.

Mind Maps can be drawn by hand or using software such as Inspiration or Xmind. There are many other mindmapping programs.  When creating a Mind Map, there are several elements to consider including the map’s central image, branches, colours, keywords and images. Lets take a look at these now…

Steps to creating a Mind Map

Step 1. Create a central idea

The central idea is the starting point of your Mind Map and represents the topic you are going to explore.

Your central idea should be in the centre of your page and should include an image that represents the Mind Map’s topic. This draws attention and triggers associations, as our brains respond better to visual stimuli.

Taking the time to personalise your central idea, whether it’s hand drawn or on the computer, will strengthen the connection you have with the content in your Mind Map.

Step 2. Add branches to your map

The next step to get your creative juices flowing is to add branches. The main branches which flow from the central image are the key themes. You can explore each theme or main branch in greater depth by adding child branches.

The beauty of the Mind Map is that you can continually add new branches and you’re not restricted to just a few options. Remember, the structure of your Mind Map will come naturally as you add more ideas and your brain freely draws new associations from the different concepts.

Step 3. Add Keywords

When you add a branch to your Mind Map, you will need to include a key idea. An important tip in Mind Mapping is using one word per branch. Keeping to one word sparks off a greater number of associations compared to using multiple words or phrases.

For example, if you include ‘Birthday Party’ on a branch, you are restricted to just aspects of the party. However, if you simply use the keyword ‘Birthday’, you can radiate out and explore the keyword, party, but also a wide variety of different keywords such as presents, cake etc.

One word per branch also works well for chunking information into core topics and themes. The use of keywords triggers connections in your brain and allows you to remember a larger quantity of information. This is supported by Farrand, Hussain and Hennessey (2002) who found that medical students who adopted Mind Mapping experienced a 10% increase in their long-term memory of factual information.

Step 4. Colour code your branches

Mind Mapping encourages whole brain thinking as it brings together a wide range of cortical skills from logical and numerical to creative and special.

The overlap of such skills makes your brain more synergetic and maintains your brain’s optimal working level. Keeping these cortical skills isolated from one another does not help brain development which the Mind Map seeks to do.

One example of whole brain thinking is colour coding your Mind Maps. Colour coding links the visual with the logical and helps your brain to create mental shortcuts. The code allows you to categorise, highlight, analyse information and identify more connections which would not have previously been discovered. Colours also make images more appealing and engaging compared to plain, monochromatic images.

Step 5. Include Images

Images have the power to convey much more information than a word, sentence or even an essay. They are processed instantly by the brain and act as visual stimuli to recall information. Better yet, images are a universal language which can overcome any language barrier.

We are intrinsically taught to process images from a young age. According to Margulies (1991), before children learn a language, they visualise pictures in their minds which are linked to concepts. For this reason, Mind Maps maximize the powerful potential of imagery.

Firstly, Mind Maps are a great way for students to make notes on all of the information they receive. Do you ever feel like, as students, you are being told a ton of facts and figures and have no way to get it all down and remember it? Mind Maps help students to note down only the most important information using key words, and then make connections between facts and ideas visually – keeping all of your topic thoughts together on one sheet.

This makes note making easier or students, as it reduces pages of notes into one single side of paper. Having one visual resource to refer to makes everything easier. Then, when you come back to review your notes, you will remember the information more quickly – quite a feat!

With many Mind Mapping programs, you can attach files, videos, documents and web links to your Maps for information at your fingertips! You can add to these and edit when you revisit them for your exams.

2) Planning an Essay

Students get it all the time – your teachers are asking you to create an essay plan. But do you just not know where to start? Or, when you make a plan, do you find it hard to stick to? By creating a Mind Map to plan your essay, you generate more ideas quickly and, with the radial structure, you can quickly see the connecting topics, main paragraphs and structure.

Mind Maps will help you make a realistic plan for your essay, and create a logical structure for the introduction, main sections and conclusions. Mind Mapping focuses your mind on the message you want to get across and the key information you want to include, making you less likely to go off topic or start rambling – a great tool for making sure you hit the marking criteria.

With iMindMap, you create your Map of keywords, plus you can add notes if you need more detail. Once you have made your Mind Map, you can even export it to Microsoft Word – with your notes in place, your essay is nearly fully written! Great for students’ coursework. Mind Mapping to plan essays is especially useful for students facing timed essays in their exams!

3) Studying for Exams

Speaking of exams, how many students hate studying for exams? Having to go back through piles of notes, forgetting what they were about in the first place! With Mind Mapping, studying and exams don’t have to be scary. Simply review the notes you have made on each subject, and Mind Map the key information you need to remember.

To check that you have memorised this information, you can create a new Mind Map with only the main topic branches, and then fill in the rest from memory. You will find that you will have remembered more, and maintained the connections between ideas – ideal for answering exam questions! When students use mindmapping software, you can collapse branches to test yourself, or focus in and out on different aspects of the subject.

4) Creative Inspiration

Have you ever tried to write a story, paint a picture or plan an essay but had no ideas to start with? Mind Mapping sparks billions of creative ideas, for students to turn into the next great novel or artwork! Mind Maps work in the same way as your brain, meaning that when you have a thought – this could be an image, a word or a feeling – this instantly sparks off hundreds of connecting ideas.

Mind Maps are just a way of representing this process on paper, so start Mind Mapping and you’ll find thousands of ideas flooding out. Plus, Tony Buzan, the inventor of Mind Mapping and all-round smart guy, says that when you start Mind Mapping students should note down any ideas that they have – no matter how crazy or random! This is where the best creative plans come from – so don’t be afraid to be off the wall…

5) Problem Solving

If you have a tough problem or obstacle you need to overcome, Mind Mapping can help you to see things clearly. Students should know that the ability to problem solve is looked for by universities and future employers – Mind Mapping will get you ahead of the pack!

When you encounter a problem, your instinct is to panic, meaning your heart starts beating faster and you feel stressed. Instead of ‘forcing’ your mind to find a solution, Mind Mapping helps to open up many possibilities and options to solve the problem.

When you Mind Map for a solution, you can add any ideas or resources you can think of, and the nature of Mind Mapping means that you spark off more possibilities from your original thoughts. You can then refine your Map for the most practical or realistic solutions available. For students, by Mind Mapping a solution to your problem, you should become focused on the many options you have, and then choose the quickest/easiest/best one for your problem.

6) Making Presentations

Making presentations at school, college or university and eventually at work can be daunting for people, but they are a great way of showing that you know the subject well and are confident to talk about it. With Mind Maps, presenting is a breeze for students. Reading from sheets of notes is boring for students – with Mind Mapping you only have keywords and images to stimulate your memory, so you automatically present in a more conversational way as you keep eye contact with your audience.

When you make your presentation Mind Map, you only keep the most interesting facts and information, and you lay it out in a clear structure. You can even add numbers to order your talking points. With most mindmapping software, you can plan your presentation with all of your ideas and resources, create your presentation map and , with some, even present using an inbuilt Presentation Mode – all from within one Mind Map! These Presentation Modes can animate your Mind Map as you talk, to really wow your crowd.

7) Group Study

Group study can be a really fun way for students to share their knowledge, and Mind Mapping can help you to get the best out of a brainstorming session. First, you should make an individual Mind Map of your thoughts on the topic, as this will focus your mind on your own ideas and opinions – not all the other students’!

Then when you join together, you can combine your ideas with your friends’, without losing your personal insights on the topic, creating a new Mind Map with everyone’s ideas. With mindmapping software, you can create a Mind Map with each of your friends’ names as main branches, and then even record Audio Notes of you and your fellow students’ discussions, adding each persons’ input to their individual branch.

Click here for Xmind for iPad/iPhones: Link to download Xmind Zen for iPads and iPhones

Xmind is now available for your phone: Link to download Xmind Zen for Android phones and tablets

You can use it for definitions, case studies, poetry quotes etc.

You can download Balabolka from here: Link to download Balabolka, free software to allow you to convert text to a sound file

You can watch a video on how to use it by clicking here:  Video showing how to use Balabolka to convert text to audio files

Be sure to save these audio files to your Google Drive or your One Drive. Then you can access them on your phone and listen to your audio files anywhere, anytime.

Balabolka  will use whatever voices are installed on your computer.
 You can install other, free SAPI voices to read in other languages from this site: Download free SAPI voices for English and other European languages

This will allow you to create sound files to help with oral and aural work in other European languages like French, German, Spanish.

There are many free text to speech options for English (and other European languages) but this is a free program to read Irish text aloud.

Bain taitneamh as

Please click here to  view this video on how to use NVDA to read Irish text aloud. (Scroll down to NVDA)

A free program that will read Irish is a screen reader called NVDA.

Please be aware it is a screen reader aimed at users who are visually impaired so it tries to read everything as you move the mouse.

It has a variety of voices to choose from as follows:

To download the software and set Irish as the default voice:

• Download from abair.ie http://www.abair.tcd.ie/nvda/download.html

• Download the choosen voice for example the Munster Irish voice synthesiser “Dingle Pen”  - NVDA Addon ( voices representing other provinces are also available)

• follow instruction on website to start NVDA and select the Irish voice as the default reader. 

To use the software to read Irish:

• Start NVDA.

• Ensure the sound is turned on on your computer.

• Open your Irish text.

• Move the mouse beside the text you want read aloud.

• Give it a second and it will read aloud.

It can read texts you have typed in Irish for your students.

It can help read their typed Irish text.

Try it out reading text from this website: http://beo.ie/

Some other useful sites are:

• http://www.scriobh.ie/

• http://www.getthefocal.com/

• http://www.potafocal.com

and try out DuoLingo for free on your phone too J

Bain taitneamh as!

You may claim tax (VAT currently approx. 23%) back on assistive technology devices/software and the hardware required to use it.

Click here to view a video that takes you through the process of claiming VAT back on assistive technology and associated IT you have purchased.

Please click here for more information on the process on the Citizen’s Information  website.

You will need:

• —             A letter from the school saying the student needs this for their day to day activities

• —             Original invoice (VAT detailed)

• —             The device/software/hardware must be for the exclusive use of that person

• —             To complete form VAT 61A.... Click here to download this from: https://www.revenue.ie/en/vat/documents/form-vat61a.pdf  

Please pass on this information to other students, parents and educators?

That is why having a file management system is so important. A file structure gives students an organized, consistent place to save their work. Learning to give your files names that make sense now and that will make sense when you are looking for that work for revision later is really important.

It will depend on what system you/your school uses and where you save your files. Many schools use One Drive as part of Office 365 or Google Drive as part of Google Workspace(formerly GSuite) which is free. Please click here for some videos and resources here can give you guidance on how to get started with good file management.

File naming

Descriptive file names are an important part of organizing, sharing, and keeping track of a student’s school/homework files.

Develop a naming convention based on elements that are important to the work they are doing..

File naming best practices:

• Files should be named consistently

• File names should be short but descriptive (<25 characters) and should tell you what is in that file. They have to make sense now AND in a months time when you are looking for them for revision for exams.

• Avoid special characters or spaces in a file name

• Use capitals and underscores instead of periods or spaces or slashes

• If you wish to use the date use the format   YYYYMMDD