Windows XP Ease of Access: Narrator

In my future high school Spanish classroom, my students will be completing various reading assignments ranging from topics covering new grammar concepts to new culture knowledge. Readings will be extracted from the course text book as well as other sources, such as online sources. For students who have learning disabilities (LDs) or vision impairments (VIs), these reading tasks could be especially difficult; with the help of technology, however, my students will be able to keep up with and excel in course materials.

By searching “Ease of Access Center” from the Start menu on Windows XP, a window will pop up that displays various ways in which to “Make your computer easier to use.” From this main page, select “Use the computer without a display.” This selection will minimize distractions for LD students; it will also lead you to the following page:

From this page, you can turn on Narrator and/or Audio Description. You may also choose to “Set up Text to Speech.” This action allows you to select a voice and voice speed. By configuring the voice options, you will ensure that students are listening to a voice with which they are comfortable and that they understand well.

Not only will these voices help to ensure that students with different abilities are actively engaged in learning, but also further engage other members of the classroom. Listening to native speakers is key to helping students develop proper accents and annunciation. All students could really benefit from this form of Assistive Technology which is even more beneficial to the students who actually need the technology because it does not set them apart from their classmates. Using Narrator keeps everyone on the same page and further encourages a positive classroom environment.