Livescribe

This assistive technology literally puts a student’s learning in their own hands.  This pen does much more than just write: it records, plays back and transfers writing into digital form instantly.  With some creativity, this pen can be used to enhance and deepen learning at any level of education.

Having the ability to record audio into the pen allows for many different applications for a variety of different learners.  For instance, for students who are learning to read or who are struggling with pronunciation or particular sounds, the pen can be programmed by the educator or speech therapist to help learners break down and combine sounds.  This is helpful for the learner because it gives them the opportunity to revisit areas of difficulty as much as they need and it allows them to develop some independence when working on these concepts.

Click here to watch a video of how this can be used to help with speech and learning to read.

As their learning progresses into reading sentences, the pen can be used in a variety of ways.  For instance, the pen can offer specific cues to help students with vocabulary they might be struggling or can deliver content that might not be clearly understood by the reader.  This will allow the reader constant access assistance whenever needed throughout the reading process.

For many learners who struggle with decoding, it can be difficult to gain an understanding of their knowledge in a particular area.  However, because this pen has the ability to read information from a page and the ability to record their answers orally, the learner now has the ability to complete assignments with more independence.  For instance, whether it is a test or a reading comprehension activity, the pen could be used help them understand the text or the questions presented to them, and they could record their answers directly into the pen.  For some learners who struggle to effectively get their ideas down on paper, it is becomes a powerful tool help educators assess their understanding. 

Click here to watch a video of how the Livescribe can be use to create a 'Talking Test'.

Even for students who are fluent readers and writers, this tool can be used in a variety of different ways to help them prepare for various different types of assessments.  For instance, the Livescribe pen can be use to create auditory flash cards to help with memorization of definitions, diagrams, maps, ect…  It is even promoted as a tool to help students prepare for major assessments such as SATs.  These students can record tutoring session and lessons, or use it to give prompts and reminders that will help guide their understanding.  In addition, all of this information can be transferred onto their technology of choice and organized into digital notebooks that could be accessed from anywhere.

Click here to see how the Livescribe can be use to create audio flash cards.

There are countless ways that Livescribe pens can be used in education and beyond.  This enhances student learning because it give the learner more independence and control over their learning.  They will have more opportunities to demonstrate their abilities in a manner that best suits their strengths.  Because this pen will allow students to bypass obstacles that stand in their way of success, they will be able to learn at a deeper level and at their own pace.  The versatility of the pen makes it usable for everyone, not just those who struggle with learning issues.  Overall, the Livescrive pen is a very impressive tool that should be used more in education.  

Click here to watch more tutorials on how Livescribe pens can be used in education.