Instructional & Assistive Technology
Instructional Technology
The LFEC community embraces technology. We believe that technology is a vital tool in the educational process, and that students must be comfortable with all forms of new technology to stay competitive in today’s world. Teachers work with our Instructional Technology and Assistive Technology staff to introduce new technology to the students at the correct age and skill level. It is important to understand the needs of our students and to introduce technology that will enrich the learning environments we create at STREAM Academy opens up new channels for learners, who tend to connect more and achieve more when they have multiple ways to access information.
Assistive Technology
Designed for students who have challenges with decoding, we provide electronic materials so that all students can use text-to-speech software to access the curriculum as needed. We primarily use the Read & Write tools for Google, which can be individualized for voice types, speed of reading, and font preferences. Additional tools include a built-in dictionary, word prediction, an extensive phonetic spell checker, homophone checker, and study skills tools. All Howard School students have access to these tools at no additional cost.
Equipped with the right tools, assistive technology can help bridge learning difficulties for students, enhancing their overall educational experience. Assistive technology apps and software integrate easily into the curriculum to make learning more accessible at school and at home. For example, students who struggle with decoding are able to access and learn material at their intellectual level, instead of being limited to their decoding level. With this support, they gain exposure to higher level vocabulary and more complex sentence structures. In addition, students can use voice-recognition tools and/or electronic writing supports to bypass or help remediate a writing difficulty and produce written work that can be evaluated on the merits of creativity and expression. We also use assistive technology for note-taking support.