In class this morning, we were given the opportunity to work on our Kurzweil curriculum package. This was my first time working with Kurzweil, which is more than slightly embarrassing, as I'm 35% program support this school year. I have used similar software, such as the applications found within Premiere Suite, and have certainly seen the educational benefits of such programs, so I am excited to gain more familiarity with the Kuzweil program.
Our work this morning was productive, though slow. This was the first time many of us had explored Kurzweil in depth, and so though it is relatively user-friendly, there is a lot to learn! I think it will take some time to become completely familiar with the program, and appreciate the opportunity to gain hands-on experience as a means to educate myself about Kurzweil.
After spending some time wit the Kurzweil program, I understand can see the benefits in using this program with students with ADHD, as I can see how many of the features (in addition to just using the computer, period) would be helpful for maintaining the student's focus. I can also see this program benefitting students with poor working memory, in addition to students who have encoding and decoding difficulties. This is an exciting program, as it has the ability to allow students with learning disabilities at all levels to access the curriculum independently, and I think one of the most significant phrases that will stick with me from this course is that "students need to be interacting with the text" in order to learn.
Make sure to check out my link "Kurzweil for Everyone", as I think it's a great video that demonstrates some practical application of assistive technology for all students.
