DIGITAL TOOLS
TO SUPPORT
DIVERSE LEARNER NEEDS
Embedded Files
Brunswick County Schools, through the use of Chromebooks and available digital tools, offers many opportunities to support diverse learners in device and resource navigation to meet language and accessibility needs. Explore the resources below and contact your BCS Digital Learning Specialist with any specific questions or concerns.
Meeting Language Needs
Meeting Language Needs
Are you looking for resources to help support the read aloud and/or translation of digital resources in your classroom? Immersive Reader and Google Translate are available tools with distinct functions and differing availability that can be easy to implement and effective.
Google Translate
Google Translate
Google Translate is available for all students, teachers, and staff on PC laptops, desktops, and Chromebooks as a web app and extension. It can be accessed via web browser and requested as an app on iPads.
Read aloud text.
Translate an entire webpages, document, or block of text.
Work to translate directly within Google Docs.
Take photos/scan printed texts for immediate translation, which can be read aloud (iPad app works best for this practice).
Microsoft Immersive Reader
Microsoft Immersive Reader
Microsoft Immersive Reader is available within select platforms and applications available for students, teachers, and staff.
Read aloud text.
Translate highlighted or available text.
Customize contrast and text size.
View a picture dictionary and color-code parts of speech.
Our district approved applications that use Immersive Reader include Canvas, Discovery Education, Flocabulary, and Pear Deck.
If you ever experience performance issues with applications or programs, please always ensure that the latest/updated version is being utilized, restart your device, and contact your DLS.
The following document shares current district-funded resources and their built-in abilities to meet student language needs.
Contact your BCS Digital Learning Specialist, EC resource teacher, and/or ESL teacher with any specific questions or concerns about meeting the needs of exceptional and multilingual learners through digital programs and applications.
Meeting Accessibility Needs
Meeting Accessibility Needs
Chromebooks have many built-in accessibility features to meet student needs. Check out the tutorial to learn to access and enable important features.
BCS Chromebook Accessibility SettingsThe link below shares additional accessibility settings and resources for different devices including teacher laptops and student Chromebooks.
Please note that Face Control is also now available on student Chromebooks, allowing for facial expressions and gestures to control the cursor on the Chromebook screen. To access this feature, the Chromebook needs to updated to the most recent operating system.
Accessible Design Tips & Tricks
Accessible Design Tips & Tricks
When designing digital products for use in the classroom, it is important to adhere to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and/or ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards for the field of education. Teachers can start this process by checking two quick areas when producing digital products for viewing on screen or print!
Color
Color
The contrast between colors on a product is important! You may also ask yourself...
Is my background heavily patterned or have images that makes my text hard to read?
Are the colors that I selected easy to read? You can check the contrast ratio between your foreground and background colors using an online checker.
Text
Text
There are quite a few things to consider when using text in a design! You may ask yourself...
Is the font I selected easy to read for all? Sans-serif fonts are recommended. They are more block-like and less decorative than serif fonts. Serif fonts have decorative edges to the letter called "serifs" that can look like little feet.
Am I using as much typed text, and not screenshots or images, as possible in web products so tools for text read aloud can detect the text?
Want to learn more? AEM is a great resource for digital accessibility guidance. You can explore their site to review how different accessibility options can be used to meet the needs of different students.
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