Project Math Access DVD 04 - Application of Math Skills - Part 08 Transcript Start Audio Description: Part eight; teacher interview. STICKEN: Do most of your students, when they reach this point, have the assistive technology skills to just step right into the use of a spreadsheet? TEACHER: Most of them, no. And even the teacher in the class, walks the students through putting those formulas in and to be perfectly honest with you, I don't believe most, half of the students would know how to do this again without looking up those formulas again, unless they‘re at home using spreadsheets all the time, okay, at least not at that level. STICKEN: How long does it take you, how much instructional time, typically, would it take you to teach this program to a student who uses JAWS and understands Windows, uses Windows, but has not used Excel? TEACHER: I would say a couple lessons worth, but once you're set up, then it's really fairly easy. But it does take a little time to get used to when they come to pull up the program, moving and using the arrows to get to where they want to be, Once they get used to using those arrows and locating and understanding it's “4OA" and that‘s where you're at, then they‘re really pretty independent. Now even my low vision students use JAWS on this too, just to verify what they‘ re typing. So it's used for both. STICKEN: Do you use any kind of special program or materials or a specific instructional sequence to teach spreadsheets? TEACHER: I follow what the mainstream teacher follows, alright. There is something called Windows 95 that I've had some students run through to learn a little bit about the computer and Windows. But when we're working with the spreadsheet, it's basically the teacher's directions. And here at the 7th and 8th grade level, they're expected to do other spreadsheets too. This won't be their only experience with working with a spreadsheet. The JAWS we have here, we're having some troubles with it because it's so slow. Peter gets aggravated using JAWS. Next year, this particular classroom is getting a new computer and I'm insisting on a new JAWS, updated and so that you know it's much better for Peter when he moves up into this classroom. But right now, Peter do you want to give your opinion on this? PETER: Well the only reason I don't like this JAWS is I mean it's an older one, but it's like, it's slow like you said, but I've had experience for like, about actually I really didn't even do it much last year so this is about my... TEACHER: first year? PETER: First, yeah, probably about my first year. TEACHER: I don't really have control over how much experience they come with, so you know what I'm saying? We just deal with it, you know, like when I get it. Hopefully they've had it though. KAPPERMAN: Okay, when you say it's slow you mean it talks slowly? PETER: No, no, no. I mean it responds slowly. If I'm typing and I hit a I'll hit it and then it will say it like right then. It waits about three and a half seconds and then it says the letter. So it's annoying if you want to figure out if you're going fast... KAPPERMAN: It sure is; what version of JAWS do you have on this? PETER: I don't know but Miss Allison's ordering 4.0, so it's coming in. So you know, it's cool, because I want to put it on, I have a Dell at home with Windows XP, it's perfect, it's all ready. STICKEN: Wow, Windows XP, alright. PETER: Yeah, it's awesome! STICKEN: So are you using JAWS at home now? PETER: I have it but it's even slower than the one here, so I'm waiting for 4.0 to come and she said I could take one home. STICKEN: Oh good; they've made huge improvements. PETER: Yeah, with 4.0 you can go on the internet and it'll, you can tab... It's almost like, they had a thing called Connect Out Loud but, that was pretty good too. KAPPERMAN: You're going to be better off with 4.0 and the full JAWS. PETER: Yeah, really, that's what I was thinking because... STICKEN: Good.