Learners can use technology to create a checklist of tasks to accomplish and put them in order based on what needs to get done first. Checklists provide a visual reminder of what needs to be accomplished. Checkboxes can be used to indicate when something has been completed. Digital checklists can often be shared with educators to provide guidance and feedback. Digital checklists are also often flexible, allowing items to be re-ordered, read aloud with text to speech, and edited. The following are a list of potential tools that could be used to create digital checklists.
Author Archives: chris.bugaj
Managing Time with Alerts and Alarms
When diligently working on a task it can be easy to lose track of time. An alarm or alert helps learners know that something is coming up that needs attention. Learners can set an alarm to go off at a specific time. Educators might need to provide guidance with regard to how much time might be needed to prepare for the transition to the next experience. The following website provide free, programmable alarms.
Managing Time with Timers
Knowing how much time one has left before a transition takes place helps learners understand when the task they are working to complete will come to an end. Educators can guide learners to set their own timers to help them learn self-management skills. Learners can also challenge themselves to complete tasks accurately within the given time frame. Timers can have both visual and auditory components as a cue to the learner about how much time is left like the Candle Timer.
Managing Time with Google Calendar
Learners can use their Google accounts to create and manage multiple calendars. It has color coding, collaboration, and reminder features to help individuals never miss another event. Different views allow the learner to see a schedule for the day, week, month, or even more customized options. At first, educators might need to provide guidance about what types of events should go on the calendar. Over time, using the calendar becomes habitual and part of one’s daily routine.
The video below titled Google Calendar: 8 Little-Known Google Cal Tips shares ideas about how to use Google Calendar.
Defining Executive Functioning
Executive functioning skills are a set of cognitive abilities that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control used daily to learn, work, and manage everyday life. People can use technology to help learn how to manage and develop these abilities. This blog often shares specific strategies to people learn how to use technology to build executive functioning skills all of which can be accessed by using the Executive Functioning category on the right.
The video titled “What is Executive Function?” further explains executive functioning.
The Difference Between Click-Accessible and Hover-Accessible Content
When navigating the Web, some content is displayed when you click on it, often taking the user to a new browser tab. This is known as click-accessible content. Sometimes content is displayed by hovering the cursor over it. This is known as hover-accessible content. Hovering over content provides information without having to click. Sometimes hover-accessible content can present problems for screen magnification users. If a person is magnifying a portion of the screen and a pop-up is displayed outside of the magnified portion, the user might never know the content was even there.
Experience the video titled Click vs. Hover to learn more about how to consider content thinking about the needs of someone who uses screen magnification.
Screen Magnification on a Chromebook
Screen magnification is a function of some technologies which allow for viewing items at larger sizes, which can make digital material easier to see. In Google Chrome, screen magnification can take many forms. A user can usually zoom in by stretching two fingers across a touchscreen, but there are other ways too including the following:
- Simultaneously press Ctrl and the + key (or – key to reduce the zoom level) to magnify within the browser. Press the + key repeatedly to increase the magnification
- Simultaneously press Ctrl + Shift + the + key to magnify everything, including the controls of the browser itself.
- Enable Full Screen Magnifier in Chromebook Accessibility Features
- Enable Docked Screen Magnifier in the Chromebook Accessibility Features.
The video below titled How to Use Screen Magnification on Your Chromebook provides additional demonstration and explanation of these accessibility features.
Customizing Subtitles/Closed Captions Readability in YouTube
The subtitles/closed captions settings in YouTube can be adjusted and customized based on user need or preference. Sometimes the default font size of the subtitles or closed captions in a video on YouTube is too small to read by certain users. Some users may want to add a background to the text so the contrast suits their needs. Many customizations are available such as language, font type, size, color, background color, and much more. The video below titled How to Adjust Your Caption Settings on YouTube provides additional details.
Live Captions Google Chrome Accessibility Feature
Google Chrome has a Live Captions accessibility feature that follows the user from tab to tab and provides overlying captions. This feature is available on most LCPS Chromebooks and staff laptops. Access this feature by following these directions:
- Click on the three little dots in the top right of their Google Chrome browser;
- Select “Settings”;
- Select “Advanced” on the left of the screen;
- Select “Accessibility” in the pull-down menu;
- Toggle the “Live Captions” feature on or off from here.
The video below titled Google Live Captions further demonstrates how to access the feature.
Using the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office tools have a built-in accessibility checker. Under the Review tab is a Check Accessibility button. 
Selecting the button checks the document for accessibility errors and considerations displaying suggestions about how to rectify or resolve the concerns. Consider checking every document for accessibility before publication.
Example of suggestions from the Accessibility Checker