Paths to Literacy: Introducing an Online Hub

Presented by Charlotte Cushman

Welcome and Introductions

Charlotte Cushman, M.L.S., M.Ed. Project Manager Training and Educational Resources Program Perkins School for the Blind Watertown, MA

This presentation is also available as a webinar on the Perkins website: http://www.perkins.org/resources/webinars/ You can earn 1.5 ACVREP credits for watching it and taking a short multiple choice test.

In memory of Jim Durkel, whose vision, dedication, and creativityhelped to make this website possible.

Today’s Objectives• Explore the literacy website hosted by Perkins School for

the Blind and Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

• Become familiar with the range of content available on the site

• Identify ways in which the site can be of assistance to individuals working in the field of blindness

• Learn how to get Continuing Education Credits

for students who are blind or visually impaired

www.pathstoliteracy.org

This website is designed to be an interactive resource for educators and family members of children who are blind or

visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities.

Project BackgroundJoint venture between Perkins School for the Blind and Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

• Discussions started in 2010• Wanted to capture resources that were disappearing from

the web• Interest in using more social media and interactive tools• Initial site development sponsored by a grant from the

Verizon Foundation

What’s on the home page?

Site Overview• Content areas

• 12 content areas with an overview and instructional strategies, as well as specialized topics

• Types of content• Strategies• Resources• Research• Technology

• Interactive features• Forum• Comments• Sharing content using social media tools• Posting new content

Content AreasThe site is divided into 12 content areas:

• General Literacy• Learning Media Assessment• Emergent Literacy• Multiple Disabilities• Braille• Struggling Readers• Print• Writing• Dual Media• English Language Learners• Auditory Strategies• Math Literacy

General Literacy• What is Literacy?• Instructional Strategies for Students Who

Are Blind or Visually Impaired• Overview of Assistive Technology• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

Learning Media Assessment• Learning Media Assessment Educational Module• LMA Forms• Sample LMAs• Deciding Between Print and Braille• Special Considerations in the LMA if the Child

Has a Hearing Loss• Strategies• Resources• Research• Forum

Emergent Literacy• Helping Young Children to Develop Emergent Literacy

Skills• Early Literacy and Students with Multiple Disabilities• Developing Routines• Story Boxes• Tactile Experience Books• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

Multiple Disabilities• Instructional Strategies for Students with Multiple Disabilities• Curriculum and Assessment• Story Boxes and Story Boards• Types of Books and Modifications

• Language Experience Books• Object Books• Predictable Books• Accessible Books• Power Point E-Books• Modifying books• Adapted Adapted Literacy

• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

Braille• Pre-Braille• Instructional Strategies for

Teaching Braille• Tactile Graphics• Production of Braille• Brailler Repair• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

Struggling Readers• Instructional Strategies for Struggling Readers• Indicators for Possible Learning Disabilities• Determining the Impact of the Particular Eye

Condition• Wilson Reading System for Struggling Readers• Case Study of Braille Student Using the Wilson

Reading System• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

Print• Instructional Strategies for Students with

Low Vision• Magnification• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

Writing• Instructional Strategies for Writing• Emergent Writing• Writing Process• Oral Strategies• Writing for Students with Multiple Disabilities or Deafblindness• Tools for Writing Braille• Tools for Handwriting and Print• Spelling• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

Dual Media• Overview of Dual Media• Instructional Strategies

for Dual Media Learners• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

English Language Learners• Overview of Literacy for

English Language Learners• Instructional Strategies for

English Language Learners• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

Auditory Strategies• Instructional Strategies for

Auditory Readers• Developing Listening Skills• Assessment and the

Importance of Hearing• Teaching the Use of a Reader• Play with Sound!• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

Math Literacy• Overview of Mathematical Literacy• Instructional Strategies for

Mathematical Literacy• Strategies• Resources• Technology• Research• Forum

Strategies

The strategies in each section are intended to be activities or practical ideas that can be used with students. These can be searched through the individual content areas (for example “Writing – Strategies” or as a whole, displaying all strategies).

Resources

As with strategies, you can find resources in each of the content areas, as well as in a list showing all of the different areas.

Technology

These posts include tips and news related to technology in various content areas.

Research

View research by content area (as shown in left sidebar) or view all research.

BlogsWe currently have 10 regular bloggers, covering a range of topics, from technology to ideas for preschoolers, from parenting young children to braille

Accessibility FeaturesChoose the view that you prefer, selecting the color and size of the font, as well as the color of the background.

For people using a screen reader or screen magnifier, we have included a link to "Main Menu" in the tabs across the top, so that you will be able to find the information quickly and efficiently.

What’s New?New posts of strategies, technology, resources, and research display on the home page from each of the content areas.

Stay Connected!Follow us on Facebook, Twitter,

and Pinterest

Upcoming Events

See what is happening in the world of literacy and post new events.

Registering with the site

Anyone can browse the site or post comments, but in order to post content or participate in a forum, you must be a registered user.

You will automatically be subscribed to our blogs once you register.

Forum As readers pose questions to a forum in any content area, the new questions and responses will be posted in this block on the home page.

Participate in discussions related to any of the content areas.

SubscriptionsUsers can subscribe to receive automatic email notifications whenever new posts are made for content areas they select.

Posting ContentIn addition to an overview, each of the different content areas includes the following sections:

• Strategies (Stay tuned to learn how you can get credit for this!)

• Resources• Research• Technology

You can also post upcoming events and comments, and participate in the forum.

Getting Credit for Submitting a StrategyTwo credits may be awarded for the successful submission of a strategy or activity to Paths to Literacy http://www.pathstoliteracy.org/strategies.  

We encourage you to submit ideas that you have developed or materials that you have modified for literacy activities for students who are blind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities.

How to earn creditsStep-by-Step Instructions are available with screenshots and detailed guidelines of how to post.

Rubric for Earning Credit Criteria

 Unsatisfactory

 Satisfactory

 Exemplary 

 Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice

 Post does not demonstrate knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice(e.g. not clearly related to literacy and students who are blind or visually impaired) 

 Post demonstrates some evidence of knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice

 Post demonstrates clear evidence of knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice 

 Demonstrates creative solutions or ideas through original activities, materials, or comments 

 Post does not demonstrate creative solutions or ideas through original activities, materials, or comments (e.g. duplicates existing content) 

 Post demonstrates some creative solutions or ideas through original activities, materials, or comments 

 Post demonstrates clear creative solutions or ideas through original activities, materials, or comments 

 Completes all fields of the template and successfully upload to site

 Not all fields are completed or uploaded to the site

 All fields are completed and uploaded

 All fields are completed and uploaded, with optional fields as well (URL and/or video)

Posting a comment

You don’t need to be a registered user to post comments, although you do have to fill out the accessible Captcha.

Featured Media• Featured videos and audio files or podcasts are

embedded in the various Content Areas

Featured Questions

This block shows a different popular or significant question in various content areas. We invite you to respond and participate in the discussions! 

Site map

At the bottom of each page is a link to the site map, which shows the contents of the full site.

Searching the siteSearch for information across the whole site by using the search bar

Search within a content area for Resources, Research, Strategies, Technology

How can the site be used?• Resource• Online arena for discussions• Keeping up with current research • Vehicle for earning Continuing Education

Credits

How can you contact us?Pathsto.literacy@perkins.org is the email address for the site.

We welcome your ideas and comments!