Farmer: Instructional and Learning Strategies

Aspect 1: The Syntax
Learning Goals Instructional Strategies Instructor Actions Participant Activities

Participant Goals:
1. Understand the purpose of the Kurweil Educational System and various instructional implications of its use

Direct Instruction
Connections to Prior Learning 		Guide participants to demo website
Remind participants of learning about struggling readers 		Open Internet Explorer
Navigate to demo website for overview of application features
2. Learn to open and use Kurzweil to read text from a variety of sources.

Direct Instruction
Connections to Prior Learning
Guided Exploration

Explain basic menu bar and tool bar options
Guide participants in exploring opening, reading variety of text 		Explore options from menu bar and tool bars
Open and read text from saved documents and from Internet web page

3. Learn to change a variety of settings to individualize the program for specific students

Direct Instruction
Guided Exploration
Explain settings which can be adjusted for individual students
Guide students in exploring how altered settings affect reading
Adjust settings for: reading speed, reading mode, reading unit, language and experience how adjusted settings affect user experience of text which is read
4. Learn to use electronic notes within the Kurzweil program to communicate with students. Direct Instruction
Guided Exploration 		Explain how and why electronic notes are utilized
Guide participants to create and read notes 		Create sticky notes and footnotes
Use notes to: give directions/feedback, ask question and get response from student
Use read feature to read notes
5. Understand how students will access and utilize the Kurzweil system. Direct Instruction
Guided Exploration 		Explain accessing network version of software
Explain use of student accounts
Explain pilot implementation with limited seats 		Logon to network and open Kurzweil
Discuss implications of need for unique logins for students rather than generic student logins
Discuss methods of enhancing student access such as by using adaptor to "split" headphone signal so that 2 headphones connect to a single computer

Teacher Goals: (for myself as instructor)
6. Develop effective training materials.

Independent Work
Collaborative Learning
Focused questioning as appropriate		 Develop step sheet to be used as reference sheet during and after training
Question participants in order to improve on training materials 		Use step sheet during training
Provide feedback to guide development of additional training materials
7. Learn to utilize Kurzweil effectively to be able to address participate questions and concerns. Independent Work
Exploration
Connections to Prior Learning
Explore software based on knowledge of other applications
Use Help to access tutorial materials 		Ask related questions during training to identify features which will be useful for students learning their subject area TEKS

Professional Goals:
8. Utilize effective staff development strategies which address the needs of adult learners.

Independent Work
Connections to Prior Learning 		Value current skills of participants
Provide training to meet the participant-identified needs of struggling readers
Provide training which builds on the technology skills of participants

Build technology skills while learning software features to meet a variety of needs of students with reading disabilities

9. Effectively facilitate communication between departments. (Sp. Ed. And Technology)

Communication Skills Meet with Director of Special Education and Baker ARD Facilitator to discuss implementation and possible additional needs
Meet with Director of Instructional Technology and System Administrator responsible for Kurzweil implementation to discuss software installation and student accounts

N/A
10. Utilize effective coaching and mentoring skills. Communication Skills Work with MTTC coach to reflect on and evaluate project
N/A
Aspect 2: The social system
Describe the interpersonal structure of the instructional experience. 		Interaction between the instructor and the participants will be based on the common goal of meeting the needs of struggling readers. Building on the relationship we have developed over time, the learning environment will be relaxed and nonthreatening and will encourage learning, questioning, and risk-taking.
Aspect 3: The role of the instructor
Describe your general instructional role.		 As instructor, I will: prepare and present material, guide exploration, encourage thinking about ways to meet the needs of students, identify possible issues in utilizing this tool with students.
Aspect 4: The support system
Describe the types and amount of instructional, technical, and other resource support required for the instruction.		 Requires the development of training/reference materials (step sheet)
Must have technical support from system administrator and technicians
Software must be installed on workstations
Headphones must be available
Must use communication skills to coordinate activities and address problems
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