SECTION TWO: Technology Available for Mobile Devices
The following is not an exhaustive list nor is it a recommendation of any specific product.
It is intended to provide examples of instructional resources.
The price, capacity, and flexibility of handheld devices make them attractive complements to laptop and desktop computing for students with dyslexia. In addition, tablets and other touch devices make text more accessible. The following apps are a sampling of what is available for free or at a low cost; however, students must have access to a mobile device in order to use them:
Organizational Apps
Search the web (using Google) with voice, access Google account.
Keep up with homework, chores, and other tasks. Setup includes adding rewards and points.
Reading Apps
This app allows for the download of your favorite titles in the same layout, fonts, and full-color images found in the print version.
This app is not a game. It is not programmed with an auto correct feature nor is it created to take the place of the teacher. Skills and concepts must be guided by the teacher.
This app offers free children’s books with read along support.
This app provides a list of the most common words used for teaching reading, writing, and spelling.
Download and read Kindle books.
This app allows students to take a picture of the text to be read and the application will read aloud.
This app allows for the creation of custom audio books.
Create a story with drawings, photos, and text entered through typing and voice recording.
This is an interactive app teaching the most common word roots in the English language.
This app allows students complete control over how text is translated to speech.
Access Wikipedia using a non-cluttered screen and have access to an online dictionary for any word in the article. Search Wikipedia using word prediction.
Writing Apps
Dictate using the built-in microphone.
Search the web with voice recognition capabilities.
Create mind maps (also called concept maps) and share on the web.
This app allows students to take notes during class while recording their lecture.
Teaching Apps
This interactive app provides students with practice to hear the sounds of letters as well as build words.
This interactive app provides students the opportunity to practice spelling words with consonant blends.
This interactive app provides students with the opportunity to practice spelling words with two or more syllables.
This interactive app provides students with the opportunity to practice spelling words with the silent final "e."
This app teaches young students early phonics.
This app promotes experimentation and the development of logical reasoning.
This app allows students to practice cursive writing after receiving explicit instruction.
This app allows students to watch short clips or full episodes.
This site offers students the option to choose and learn a foreign language in a game format.
This interactive app provides students with spelling practice while working on listening skills and building their vocabulary.
This is an interactive app that allows students to hear words, letters, and phonics sounds while matching to letters. This app also teaches upper and lower case letters.
This app provides a fun and highly interactive way to help students learn to recognize letters and their phonic sounds.
Trace the formation of letters and numbers.
This site offers a variety of games to teach vocabulary, grammar, concepts, and more.
This app allows the student to type math problems rather than write them.
This interactive app explores the periodic table and play games while learning about the elements.
This interactive game is for the secondary student learning about the elements and the periodic table.
This app is designed to improve spelling and reading skills beyond memorizing a word list for a weekly spelling test.
This interactive app provides students with practice to build strong phonic skills.
This app allows students to view rotating selections of full episodes with quizzes.
This interactive app allows the student to get a closer look at elephants, whales, rhinos and other fascinating species.
Classroom Uses of a Handheld Device, and/or Tablet
The following is not an exhaustive list nor is it a recommendation of any specific product.
It is intended to provide examples of instructional resources.
Handheld technology has the ability to offer quick access for students. This technology is usually readily available, mobile, flexible, and convenient. When budgetary constraints limit the purchase of permanent technology, mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets, may be a more plausible purchase. The following are examples of classroom uses of mobile devices:
- Language Development - Students use the voice recording feature to podcast their work. After reading a book, a student develops a book report that includes a brief summary of his or her story and then records the report using a handheld device. The teacher posts the podcast to the class website where it can be accessed from home or the classroom.
- Lesson Review - Students use the video feature to capture lesson examples in the form of short video clips. The students then review the lessons at a later date and share ideas with each other.
- Organizational Skills - Students organize their daily class work and homework assignments using the calendar application.
- Reading Fluency - Using the voice recording feature, students record themselves reading to improve their accuracy, rate, and prosody. Students then listen to each other’s recordings and follow along with the books.
- Reminders Feature - Students set appointments and are sent reminders based on the time of day or their location as indicated by the Global Positioning System (GPS).
- Video Conferencing - Students use "Facetime" or other video conferencing software that works with Wi-Fi to collaborate on homework assignments.
Additional Sources for Educational Apps
The following websites provide collections of apps that may be helpful to individuals with dyslexia, parents of students with dyslexia, and education professionals.
Dyslexia Help Success Starts Here: http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/tools/apps
