Read & Write for GoogleAn emerging technology!

by: Jessica MormanITEC 7445 Summer 2015

TCSS Technology Mission The technology mission of the Troup

County School System is to utilize the power of emerging technologies to transform education, changing the way we teach, learn, communicate and perform the business functions of our system.  

What is RWG? A tool to give curriculum access to:

Struggling readers/writers (IEP or RtI) ELL students

Chrome extension

Works with Chrome Web browser Google Docs and PDFs

RWG features overview

What do I need? Computer or chromebook

Google Docs Chrome browser

iPad or Android tablet

TEACHER PERK ALERT!

How do I get it? School system buys

Information Technology Department pushes to all computers/chromebooks

Assistive Technology Specialist assigns to students Students MUST be signed in to CHROME for

the extension to work

What about training? Teachers and

students can be trained in less than 30 minutes by the AT Specialist or via the TextHelp website videos

Click on the link NO COST to call

tech support!

How does it support instruction?

What does the research say? TextHelp has summarized research here:

Bottom line: Text to speech = improved reading comprehension

Funding! DOMAIN license

$1.50 per year per student 12,500 students = $18,750 for every

student

Leveraging departmental money IDEA – fund for 200 students = $3,000 Any other department can add on at any

time

Planning for implementation After purchasing:

AT and IT meet and create timeline IT pushes to student logins AT schedules training with all

teachers/students (most likely in webinar format)

Resources TCSS vision statement - https://

docs.google.com/document/d/17mmmSycBBTfnuICQc6XYdYjVhJ_AXw8GFqQt0GvompQ/edit?usp=sharing

TextHelp – https://www.texthelp.com

Jessica’s reflection on this activity for ITEC 7445

I personally have the RWG extension and have used it with students on a trial basis from the company this past Spring. I love it and our county rolling this out next Fall. I will say that I did not have to create a presentation when I asked for us to purchase this extension. In doing this assignment, I realize it would have helped me a lot because it would have helped guide me in an orderly fashion as to what to say next. It’s also something that administration could look at later as they process it when making a decision. Another thing I learned while doing this activity was how much research some companies do to test their product. I will be making sure I take that into account when I look at products to purchase in the future. Overall, this was a good activity that enhanced my knowledge of the product and how to present it to an audience.