Intellitools Classroom Suite Intellitalk Basics James Geary, M.S.

Intellitools Classroom Suite Intellitalk Basics James Geary, M.S.

General Information Intellitools is a suite of programs designed to cover a wide range of classroom instructional needs. It incorporates many of the features necessary for accessibility by students. By creating access into the instruction, the focus is removed from the student s disability and is placed on their abilities. It also allows for instruction and activities to be created once, and then to be used by a wide variety of students with diverse abilities. Creating these begins with knowing what we are teaching, the diverse needs of students, and what must be incorporated to accommodate these needs. This helps to enable access to learning. Instruction is a process and should be driven by information and data. There are a number of questions that need to be answered about students for a constructive and positive educational experience to occur. How do students learn? How are they able to express what they have learned? How are they able to be successful in the classroom? How are they able to participate in the classroom setting? Answers for these types of questions will come from various sources. Some of these sources will include the IEP (for students with a disability), previous class work, experiences from colleagues, knowing good educational practices, and knowing the students. These answers should guide the process of how instruction and assessment is conducted and should consider the diversity of all classroom learners. This in itself can be a daunting task, but knowing how to deliver appropriate instruction to a student with disabilities can be even an even difficult task; and sometimes even more difficult to accurately assess the student s learning abilities. Creating instructional opportunities and appropriate assessments for students with disabilities can be time consuming and difficult, especially when done in isolation. Having to create different or multiple lessons for a class consumes more time, energy, and resources than does creating one lesson. The problem is that the one lesson may miss the student with a disability and leave that child with unmet educational needs. In fact, it is possible that the traditional one lesson presentation method may miss a number of students in the class. When a student misses an opportunity to learn, an educational barrier exists. By focusing attention on these barriers, we have the chance to construct instruction with access, providing a more barrier free experience for the student. One option for addressing these barriers is to create instructional materials in a manner that is accessible by students with wide ranging of abilities. This idea is rooted in the concept of Universal Design for Leaning (UDL). A basic understanding of UDL is that it is more efficient and effective to alter the environment than it is to make special alterations for each individual who needs it. This may not seem practical at first, but as accessible resources, instructional materials, and activities are created, the benefits of the advanced planning become obvious. The question is, How do we do it? Advances in technology have made this process more practical, reasonable and doable. The ability of computers to convey information in many different formats and many

different variations enables more material to meet the needs of students with different learning styles and abilities. Text-to-speech, font resizing, color adjustments, and visual layout on the computer are some examples of built-in tools that increase access for individuals. These allow for increased ways of interacting with the instruction during the time we are receiving information, working with the new knowledge or developing new skills, and expressing our understanding of this new information. One option for creating these materials is using the Classroom Suite by Intellitools. These programs provide tools that allow instruction and activities to be developed which are useable by students with a wide range of abilities. The suite consists of three programs: IntelliMathics 3, IntelliPics 3, and IntelliTalk 3. Each of these programs is designed to allow students to manipulate information in different ways. IntelliMathics 3 allows the student to work with math concepts and activities. IntelliPics 3 allows the student to work with content in a multimedia mode. IntelliTalk 3 allows students to work with information in a word document format. The program is very structured and self-contained. There are three basic categories of users: administrators, teachers, and students, each with different rights and privileges. This structure allows for a clear way of creating, using, and saving documents. It also allows these privileges to be assigned individually or by groups, according to need. These features help to make the program dynamic for working with varying abilities. Basic Structure for Users Intellitools Administrator Teacher Student While the program is like working in a shell because of its self-contained nature, you still have access to areas outside. Also, because of its self-contained nature, the program is not a simple one; it is however, very powerful. Because it is not so simple it will require more upfront time. This means that more time is required to create classes, enter students, and create instruction. However, the efficiency of the program is that it provides many benefits later. Its ability to generate reports, organize work (both assignments and student products), and provide a mode to create one product useable by many students makes it a worthy tool in the classroom toolbox.

This handout shows the use of the program from the viewpoint of the administrator. The administrator has total control and sets privileges for other users. The administrator can do any of the tasks possible by other users but will generally administer accounts. Teachers will generally create and deliver activities and other instructional material. They will create their classes and the students in those classes. They will also review student work and access reports. Students will interact with the instruction provided by the teachers. This manual will examine the IntelliTalk 3 program. The program will be overviewed with all basic components covered. Advanced features will be pointed out but not necessarily covered within. An example of creating a teacher, class, and student will be presented. The focus will then shift to creating an instructional presentation with activities to support it. This will cover the steps from the beginning to saving it for student use. Remember the information presented in the section about learning the program will all be from the administrators perspective. The student view does not provide all of the same options.

Opening the Program 1) Find and open the program on your computer. The first screen you see will look like the picture on the handout cover. 2) From here we will locate the Navigation Screen. It will look similar to the picture below. This is the screen where we will create new, open saved, and save new documents. Notice the View Options in the top right corner of the window. This controls the way the document window presents itself. 3) If the screen you see does not look like this one, click on the New button 4) From this window select the Blank Documents option. 5) This opens a window which allows you to create a blank document in one of the three programs in the Classroom Suite. 6) From this window we will select Intellitalk 3. 7) After familiarizing ourselves with Intellitalk we will create a lesson and two activities supporting it. 8) First we will explore the program, starting with the menus.

Using the Menus 9) File Menu The file menu will look much the same as other programs. Two items that are different are the Save As Activity, and the Sign Out Administrator. Save As Activity allowz us to save documents as a working or finished product. In other words, the students can not alter its form. The second lets us know that we are signed in as the Administrator of the program, allowing us the ability to make changes that affect all users program wide. This cautions us to pay attention to what changes and decisions we make. File Open is used the same as in other programs. When selected, you will be directed to a window that looks like the one to the right. If your work has been saved in the program then you will find it someplace here. If it is on the desktop or in another drive or folder you will select the Desktop button and navigate to the location you need. File Save/Save As is used when you are ready to save what you have been working on. When you are saving for the first time (document is still named Untitled ) or when you are saving a variation of a saved document, use the Save As option. After the document has been named, just use the Save Option. Again, the program will direct you to the program window. If want to save the work here, select the spot and click on the Save button. If you

want to save it to another location, select the Desktop button and locate the spot you want to save to. Then click the Save button. File Save As Activity is used when you wish to save a document as a template. When it is opened by a student, only a copy is opened and your original stays intact. The student will then save their work in the spot you have designated for their work. 10) Edit Menu Much of the Edit Menu in the first section looks similar to other programs. We see the difference with the Spell Check section. The spell check in most programs is generally found in another menu. It also provides us the information that the program has a dictionary that is editable. When selected the Check Work feature it allows the students work to be check against a predetermined standard. Insert Picture From Library/File allows you to place graphic items into the document. The items may be for description, enhancement or communication purposes. The Property Menu is used to give the properties of the document open. Capture Answers is a feature you will use when creating a reference point for students to check answers against. Custom Toolbars and Buttons allow for navigational or access features to be built into the activity. You can use toolbars as they exist in the program. You can combine various toolbars to meet the needs of the lesson and the students. New toolbars can be created by adding buttons from the library or creating new ones. The Edit Edit Spell Check Dictionary is where you add words not found in the general dictionary. Notice that you can Import and Export word list as well. If you are teaching a concept (science or social studies for example) that may have very specific words, you can

import them and they will work in you spell check and with the word prediction feature. The Edit Insert Picture from Library option allows you to place a picture in your document. The picture can serve many different functions. It could be for students who need some form of symbol to assist reading comprehension or they can be used for enhancement of meaning for you text. Notice the search field in the lower right-hand corner. You can search by name or you can scroll through the pictures. When you find the one you want to use, click the Insert button. The Edit Insert Picture from File works in the same manner as the option above but allows you to use pictures from outside the program. These can be images from the internet, digital cameras, or scanned items. This increases the options available to you and increases the power of the program. Edit Capture Answers is used when you wish to create a resource for students to check their answers against. After creating the Answer Field, you place the correct answer in it. You then capture these and when the student does the activity, they can check to see if they got the answer correct. This is

helpful as the student will know when they have finished if they have done it correctly. This ensures that they are not working with faulty information. Self-correction that is built-in allows the student to be more successful and it allows the teachers to not have to look at each item and correct it, perhaps a day or two later. The student has the information when they need it. Edit Custom Toolbars and Buttons is used to create access options for students. This is another spot where the power of the program comes into play. These buttons set the stage to allow scanning options for students with physical disabilities as well as students with cognitive disabilities to be able to effectively use the program. Using this tool, you can import existing toolbars and/or buttons into the document you are creating. You can also create new toolbars or modify existing ones. 11) Text Menu. The first three panels of the Text Menu work like other programs. They allow you to manipulate the characteristics and attributes of font style and position. The next two fields, Insert and Show Answer Fields allow for the placement of answer boxes to which you can assign the correct answers. This feature allows students to be able self-check their own work. This ensures that the student is working with correct information. When you select Insert Answer Field the program will place a line in the document where your cursor is. The cursor will be placed in the center of that line. This is where you write the answer to the question if you want error correction built-in. If Show Answer Fields is selected, the line will show. THIS ANSWER LINE IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH UNDERLINING A WORD. THE TWO COMMANDS PERFORM COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS. The last panel has two items related to Line Spacing. These allow you to regulate the amount of white space between lines. 12) View Menu The first panel shows the built-in keyboards available in the program. The different options allow for access by mouse, keyboard or switch control. The mouse can select the item on the screen and insert it into the document by clicking on it. Switch control allow students who are unable to use a keyboard

or mouse for input to interact with the program. The feature greatly increases access for students with physical disabilities. This is one way of creating a lesson or activity which can be accessed by more students than traditional methods allow. Menu Protection allows for the menu bar to be hidden. This helps to ensure the student stays were you want them to be. Show Status Bar places a strip at the bottom of the window. Page numbers will display here. Show Picture Library opens the built-in graphic library that comes with the program. The Keyboards Available In the View Menu Each keyboard offers specific options related to how the document is accessed. Some are for student use while the Authoring toolbar is for creating documents. When you create a document you will be able to use the one appropriate to the student needs. You can toggle which keyboards show in the Options User Preferences (Administrator) menu. View ABC Keyboard The ABC Keyboard is useful for students that are young or ones who are not able to use the QWERTY keyboard. View Advanced Typist Toolbar This keyboard allows the student to have more options over how their work looks. The user can manipulate characteristics such as font style, size and color.

View Authoring Toolbar This keyboard is used when you are designing a document. It provides quick access to the picture library, answer fields and other items needed when creating an activity for students. View Basic Typist Toolbar This keyboard is for use by students who are younger, have cognitively issues, or who require a less complicated set of options. View Frequency Keyboard This keyboard is designed to place letters that have high frequency use close together. This is extremely useful for students who have limited mobility. A student who tires easily or who is using scanning may be able to produce more work or produce the work faster with less fatigue. View QWERTY Keyboard This is the traditional keyboard, but without all the features of the full version features. This could be used with any student capable of using it especially if you want limited distractions.

View Hide Standard Toolbars This option toggles whatever menu is showing to either on or off. View Menu Protection,,, is to be used when you do not want the student to access the menus. Helpful when you need students to stay focused. A simple way to limit the options available to them View Menu Protection: Off This is how the menu bar will look with the protection off. View Menu Protection: On This is how the menu bar will look with the protection on. View Show Status Bar: On The status bar will show at the bottom of the window. If you have multiple pages open it will show which page you are on. View Show Picture Library: Categories This allows the picture library to show at the bottom of the window. It makes for quick placement of pictures in the document. This view shows the categories of pictures available. The Next button at the right moves you through the different categories.

View Show Picture Library: Pictures Selecting one of the options in the categories menu will show the pictures available to you. If you select all pictures it will open all pictures. You can also select individual categories. In this view, the Next button will move you through the pictures. 13) Options Menu Document Settings (Untitled) will display the settings currently applied. It also allows you to change the settings. Some of these settings include: background color, font, scanning allowances, as well as other characteristics. The (Untitled) just indicates that the document has yet to be named. User Preferences (Administrator) allows a wide range of options to be enabled/disabled for a specific user or user group. Administrator Options allows the administrator to have full access to the program and set privileges for other users. The same is true for Teacher Options. The next panel covering IntelliKeys, Speech, and Switch Scanning, will be cover later. At this point it should be noted that these three options play a large role in providing the type of access which makes this such a powerful program. Menu Access allow you to control the ability of the student to navigate beyond where they currently are. Word Prediction is a feature which is also very powerful. It provides a means for entering words based on predicting the word you are writing and/or the next word you want to write. This can be extremely useful for students with physical or cognitive disabilities. Options Document Settings (Untitled) Format Locked Text

Toolbars Appearance Word Prediction Scanning Overides Scanning Override Options Scanning Sounds Resume Scanning At: Flash Scanning Highlight Continuous Automatic Scanning Scan in Groups Allow Scanning Directional Arrows Allow Rotation Scanning Magnification

Options Users Preferences (Administrator).. User Interface Startup Check Work Word Prediction Scanning Speech

Options Administrator Options Administrator Options Basic administration options for quick and easy document settings. Options Teachers Options User Interface This is where the teacher sets the access for students and classes. This one deals with the interface the user will see. Startup This defines what a user will see when they start the program. Check Work This sets what the user will see and hear when work is corrected.

Word Prediction This allows the teacher to set the options the user will have with the word prediction option. Scanning This allows the teacher to set the characteristics of the scan feature. This includes speed, cycles, sound, and color. Speech This allows the teacher to set a voice and read rate the text will be spoken.

Intellikeys This menu allows you to send overlays to the intellikeys, which can be connected to the computer. Some overlays are come with the software/hardware, and others can be created. This is an extremely useful tool for students unable to use traditional methods of input. It also has two spots for switches to be used. Intellitools with overlays Speech These are options available for having the text read. Switch Scanning This is where the options for scanning are set. This is very helpful for students with physical disabilities. Notice there are several options available to scanning. Scanning Preferences (Administrator) This is another spot for setting scanning options. Scanning, for some students, is a method for data input which allows them to be successful as student.

Set Scanning Order- When a screen scans the order can be an important factor. The less the amount of scan, the quicker the scan will proceed. Dedicated Scanning This allows you to set the input options for scanning. 14) IntelliTalk Menu Highlight Locked Text is used when you are creating a document that you do not want the students to be able to change. This could be simple like information or one with answer fields. When this option is toggled on, the text you have locked will be underlined. Another option is that you can highlight only certain text and leave other text unlocked. In other words, both conditions can exist at the same time. Picture Options allows for attributes to be associated with pictures. These include size of the picture, color, text to be read and whether to show the picture, name, or both. Find and Find Again will search the document for the word you want to find. Y ou can search by whole word and by case. Insert Screen Break enables you control how much information will be viewed on any screen. This is very helpful for regulating how much information is displayed at one time. Some students find it easier to work when there is less distraction, for example, one question per screen (per page).

Normal View, Print View, and Page View allow you to view how pages will look if you have used the Insert Screen Break command. If you have created five questions, but only want one at a time to show you will place a Screen Break between each one. Normal View will show all questions with a line break in one view. Page View will take the same information and allow only one question per page to be viewed at one time. 15) Window Menu 16) Help Menu The Window Menu: will list all windows you have opened. This is useful for moving between documents before you have created buttons to navigate with. The Help Menu offers all of the options available to answer questions related to how to use the program. It is a good spot to start when you find that you need additional information to perform a specific task. You can search by using the built-in index or you can key in search terms to search for in the database.