Capstone Project - iHear

Educational Systems and their approach to students

with learning disabilities and how they manage their
learning
assistive
technologies.
Lauriethrough
Adkism,
Elsa
Cardenas,

Brooke Doughtie, Hunter Somerville

Introduction
Student with learning disabilities require modified
learning environments.
Assistive and applied technologies can help students with
learning disabilities.
Many computers have built in assistive technologies that
can help all students learn better.

History
Many teachers and students are unaware of
the technologies that are available to help
them succeed.
There are laws in place to help students with
learning disabilities but many times these laws
go unused or are not interpreted well.

What is a learning disability?

Available Technologies
There are multiple technologies available to assist students
with learning disabilities.
Screen readers are available on virtually all computers and
can assist all students with and without learning
disabilities.
This project will expand the use of screen readers and
discuss how this innovation can be diffused to all students.

Knowledge
There are over seventeen Screen Reader
software program products available for the
visually impaired that includes COBRA 10,
BRLTTY, CakeTalking, Dolphin Pen, Jaws, and
Speakup.

Persuasion
However our team discovered that with all the plethora of Screen Reader
software programs, none of them has a touch device that will automatically
adjust the volume, signally for the teachers with the current benefits of the
teacher not having to read the test aloud, and have VOIP ABT (2014). It was
from that moment iHear touch device was developed. We believe the
automatic touch volume, and signal for the teacher will be a benefit.
1)Reduces test anxiety for a uncomfortable testing volume
2)Allows the teacher to assist other students
3)Significantly impacts the overall test scores. The automatic adjust available
on the touch device is equipped with frequency sensors that monitor
emotions such that of anxiety that is powered by the standard USB Port.

Decision Stage
This innovation decision is based on perceived benefit of the design
attributes, communication channels, perceptive nature of the social system,
and the efforts of the change agents implementation strategies. There are
three types of innovative diffusion decision that can be made they are
authority, collective or optional. Individuals with distinguished credentials
generally make optional decisions. Such examples of an optional decision
make are doctors and lawyers. All participants of the decision process make
collective innovation collectively. Authority decisions are made by the whole
social system in which they directly influence.
Within the realm of our innovation of the new Screen Readers the decision
stage is collective.

Communication/Time/Social System
Communication channels will include staff meeting, PTA meetings, community
newsletters and email delivery. Based on our research our team suggests the best
timeline for this diffusion of innovation should be implemented immediately. In
addition we suggest the communication cycle have a continuous process for at
least six months.
According to our research our team projects the perceived social system
interrelationship will exist between administration, teaching staff, PTA, parents,
and supportive community members. We project this social systems have an
active and supportive network structure ranging from close family members to
social media outlets.

People Involved
People involved in the process of the new Screen Reader, iHear, are
administration, teachers, support, and PTA.
The implementation process participants stems from the vision and mission of
the future organization development that can technology evolve because
schools face diverse issues every day and will often seek new ways to create
a more dynamic curriculum in order to innovate the school products and
services.

Innovator to Change Agent

In regards to becoming the innovator to change agents various factors of
adaptability will prove the organization core competencies in the effective
ability to elect change driver to lead an aid in sustaining the schools
technology transition to create a productive culture within the school.

Intended Audience
Intended audience for the diffusion innovation of the new Screen Reader are
opinion leaders (PTA) power actors teachers with working knowledge
regarding of the benefit of integrating, adopting, and adapting technology
within the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). Todays
teaching skills requires a pedagogy that incorporates technology to work with
the written format of content (lesson plans). The vision of the design of
Screen Readers for student with disabilities was developed by our team in
order for school to effectively compete within the educational demands.

Implementing Screen Readers Into Learning

Disability Accommodations
The Sped department at each campus will be the support person to
address applied technologies to help students.
Teacher and staff will be given a survey to help the district and campus
learn what is beneficial for learning disability students and how
implementing Screens Readers will be Beneficial for their students with
visual disability.
It will also create awareness to district and teacher and staff that there
are available systems such as Apple which has the VoiceOver and Window
which has Narrator.
The adoption process will be train teachers how to access, use and
implement Screen Readers for test taking and daily assignments.

Potential Barriers or Negative Effects to

Adoption and Implantation

Cost of software if teachers are looking for more features.

When will teachers have time for training and is it user friendly.

The built in software of Window, Narrator may not be fully accessible or fully featured to the whole operating
system to read all the text that the student may need like the and Apple VoiceOver on Mac.

The district also needs to decide what professional development training

Screen Readers are not all accurate in pronunciation or able to read all text.

Students become dependent on Screen Readers if not monitored properly where they will have the system do
the work for them without them motivating themselves.

How students will work on homework assignments from home if they do not have a computer to access the
Screen Reader.

Potential Advantages or Positive Effects to the Adoption

and Implantation of Screen Readers

All school levels are able to use this system

Built into Window and Apple computers and students will begin to enjoy reading no matter what their disability
is.

Teachers can use differentiated instruction and learning styles since Screen Readers help students that are
visually handicapped, as well as student with dyslexia and dysgraphia.

Teacher will be able to be available to more students and do not have to read out loud to each/specific
students because they will have programs available to help them with their students disability.

Some desirable advantages of Screen Readers are applied technologies that help disabled students be more
independent and to work independently to accomplish task.

Confirm Innovation
District will take into consideration the input of administrators,
teachers and staff at each campus from Elementary to High
School.
A collective decision will be made as to what system will work
best for each campus or potential stumbling blocks that could
impede Screen Reader from being a successful accommodation
for learning disabilities.
There also needs to be a study done with various students during
a six weeks to see the improvement on test score and
assignments when Screen Readers are their accommodations.

Integrated into the Educational System

Professional development opportunities for all faculties.
These trainings will help teach teachers to use differentiated
instruction in their lesson plans and become familiar with their
Sped. Students accommodations as well as understand their IEP.

Role of the Change Agent

The Visually Impaired & Orientation and Mobility Specialist will play
the role of the change agent.
They will seek to diffuse the new Screen Reader, iHear, touch device
in an educational system.

Strategy of Diffusion / 7 Step Sequence

The change agent will first help the district realize the need for change; by
utilizing the Screen Reader, iHear, teachers will not spend time reading test
out loud and students with learning disabilities will be equipped with a
resource that will benefit them as lifelong learners.
The change agent will establish a relationship with teachers and staff and
familiarize themselves with students who will utilize iHear.
Then the change agent will meet with teams of teachers to diagnose the
problem and create an intent to change. This time will also be a valuable
time model iHear and allow the team to explore the innovation and ask
questions.

Strategy of Diffusion / 7 Step Sequence

Continued....
The educational system will transition the innovation, iHear, into action.
The change agent will make frequent visits to classrooms and assist the
educator and students. Once iHear is stabilized, students are successfully
utilizing the Screen Reader, the change agent will step back and allow the
team leaders and technology coaches, the opinion leaders and champions, to
become the contact personnel for any questions.
The Opinion Leaders will now lead discussions, during PLC meetings, on
updates about iHear, questions, or comments. Therefore achieving a
terminal relationship.

The Adopter Category

Early Adopters - Opinion leaders, PTA, will convey ideas of iHear to co teachers and staff.
Early Majority - Educators willing, and even excited, to adopt iHear for the benefit of the students.
Late Majority - Educators that adopt resources after hearing of success other educators are having utilizing an
innovation.
Laggards - The resistant educators that are not comfortable with operating computers and are not comfortable with
change.

The change agent will address these complexities by being present and involved in PLC meetings, visiting classrooms
for observations and providing support, and by stepping back and handing responsibility over to the champions.

Identifying and Utilizing Opinion

Leaders/Champions
The opinion leaders, champions, will be identified as the team leaders and
technology leaders. They will work close with the change agent to help assist
in influencing teachers to utilize iHelp. Once the innovation is stabilized the
change agent will step back and the champions will step up to answer
questions, provide support, and continue purposeful talk about the innovation
during meetings.

Links
http://www.sc.edu/scatp/cdrom/atused.html
http://www.kurzweiledu.com/default.html