UDL and Web 2.0 tools

This entry is a class activity creating a use within a fictitious classroom for web 2.0 tools with UDL type teaching.

I am familiar several of the Web 2.0 tools as a teacher aide in a school as well as some that I have used as a mom in my daily life.  Zac Browser is a great game type site for young kids and works well as a motivation tool.  I have seen and used some pre-made quizzes on Quia as well as used Kurzwell with a student who benefited from having text read to  her.  The tool that I found most interesting and wanted to learn more about was Natural Reader, which is a free download but has option to purchase an upgrade with additional features.

    My student, Joe Smoe, a 12 year old sixth grader in a Multi-Age Middle School Self-Contained classroom, has great difficulty reading especially decoding words.  However, he retains knowledge and understands spoken instruction as well, if not better than, his peers. Since Social Studies is his favorite subject I opted to give Natural Reader a try with a Revolutionary War activity.  My goal with this tool is to provide options for perception (UDL Goal 1).  The student will work in a small group with 2 others.  They will be using Natural Reader to read a PDF file online about the Revolutionary War.  I will get the students started by opening the PDF file and Natural Reader.  Using the mini-clip board option allows the students to read along on the screen while listening to the program read.  With the upgraded options the students can change the voice as well as the speed.  I will give the students stopping points where I will ask them to discuss what they have read so far.  One student will be responsible for typing notes to present the information to the rest of the class.  Their notes can also be read back to them using Natural Reader to check for accuracy and help them practice what they want to say before presenting to the class.  The students working together generates discussion and gives them an opportunity to teach what they learned to the rest of the class.  One way students learn is by teaching others.  With Natural Reader the students can highlight only the section they need to read.  It gives them the option to make a recording to play back at a later time for review or playback with their presentation.  
    Natural Reader will help me reach my UDL goal of providing options for perception.  I have chosen this tool for the specific decoding reading needs of one student.  However, another student needs to have enlarged print which we can do on the computer screen.  All students will be able to see the words and hear them as they are being read.  This increases the likelihood of comprehending the material instead of struggling to see and read the words.
Take a look at the website for Natural Reader.  There is a video clip that describes its many possible uses.  I've also attached a possible PDF file that could go along with my lesson.
www.naturalreaders.com/
 Here is a sample of a PDF file found on the internet that could be used with a Revolutionary War Unit using Natural Reader.
HTTA-TAR-Sampler.pdf