Using Audiobooks
Using Equipment
Implementing a Program
Using Audiobooks
Q: Where does someone use a Learning Ally audiobook?
A: An individual that has been certified by an education professional as having a print disability can use Learning Ally audiobooks just about anywhere. We offer several options for listening to audiobooks including downloadable books, desktop devices, portable players and computer software programs for PCs and Macs. Visit Learning Ally's online catalog to learn more about the playback devices.
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Q: I have students with learning disabilities using Learning Ally textbooks in my regular education classroom. How can I help them keep up with the rest of the students in my class?
A: Keep in mind that your student's learning disabilities, which may affect their ability to read well, do not necessarily interfere with their ability to listen and comprehend.
- Encourage them to use the recorded books while following along in the text—the same text that the rest of the class is using.
- Make sure they understand how to locate pages and chapters in the audiobook. Learning Ally has available complimentary training guides for most of the playback equipment and software. Call Member Services at 800-221-4792, or send an e-mail to Custserv@LearningAlly.org.
If you are at all uncomfortable yourself using the equipment, they'll feel uncomfortable too. Call Learning Ally immediately for assistance and technical support so that you—and then your students—will become comfortable using the audiobooks and playback equipment. Once they see that they are able to keep up, participate in class discussions and talk about the readings with their friends, they won't see listening to the audiobooks as such a chore. Learning Ally offers free web-based teacher training.
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Q: How can I keep the rest of my students from feeling that the students using audiobooks have an unfair advantage over everyone else?
A: Students in your class who don't have learning disabilities are not eligible to use Learning Ally's audio textbooks, however, you can introduce the concept of audiobooks to all of the students in your class. When the whole class understands that some people require tools to accommodate special needs, those who don't need to use the audiobooks won't feel distracted or at a disadvantage when the recorded books are used.
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Q: I have a student who is so frustrated with books and reading that he refuses to do anything that has to do with reading at all. How can I get him to use audio textbooks if that means having to look at the book at the same time?
A: The first step of active listening is just listening. Perhaps you could find the student an audio book in a subject that he is interested in, such as sports, a hobby, or a piece of literature that he may enjoy, and just have him listen to it without following along in the book. When he is done, show him the actual book that he just completed. This will give the student the opportunity to experience finishing a book without any anxiety and will also promote a feeling of accomplishment when he sees how much of the book he was able to complete. Eventually, you can slowly phase in the printed version of the book along with the audio version. Our teacher resource website, Learning Through Listening, offers lesson plans that directly tie in with using Learning Ally's audiobooks.
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Using Equipment
Q: Do you have accessible instructions for the audiobook players?
A: Learning Ally offers instructions and training in a number of formats to meet the varying needs of our members.
- Audiobook players come with recorded instructions and audiobook software readers work with screen readers for voiced instructions.
- Product and equipment support files are available on this website.
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Q: How do I navigate a book with lettered pages?
A: Classic Plus
The "Go To Page" function cannot be used on books that contain lettered pages. The instructions below will guide you on how to best navigate these books.
Power up the Classic Plus and select your level navigation using the number 2 or 8 key. You will repeatedly press this button until it says the level navigation you want. On one book, Level 1 may mean the player will navigate chapter by chapter, on another book it may mean Unit and not chapter.
The first thing to do is figure out what each level means for the book you are reading. You want to choose level 1 using the 2 or 8 buttons, and then use the 4 or 6 buttons to move forward or back by that level. Once you figure out how to navigate your specific book and you know what level 1, 2, 3 and so on means, the next step is pretty easy.
After you reach the part of the book you need, you would then go back to the 2 or 8 key and set the level navigation to say "PAGE." Once you do this, you will then be able to navigate page by page using the 4 or 6 within the section you choose.
Example:
If you wish to go to page D45:
- Set level navigation to navigate section by section so you can jump section/unit A, then B, then C, then D.
- After setting the level navigation, use the 6 key to jump forward to section/unit D.
- Once you reach section/unit D, you then press the 2 or 8 buttons until the player says "page."
- After setting the navigation to Page, you then would use the 6 key to move forward page by page in section/unit D, until you reach page D45.
Vibe
The "Go To Page" function cannot be used on books that contain lettered pages. The instructions below will guide you on how to best navigate these books.
Power up the Vibe and select your level navigation using the number 9 key. You will repeatedly press this button until it says the level navigation you want. On one book, Level 1 may mean the player will navigate chapter by chapter, on another book it may mean Unit and not chapter.
The first thing to do is figure out what each level means for the book you are reading. You want to choose level 1 using the 9 button, and then use the 0 or # button to move forward or back by that level. Once you figure out how to navigate your specific book and you know what level 1, 2, 3 and so on means for you, the next step is pretty easy.
After you reach the part of the book you need, you would then use the 9 key and set the level navigation to say "PAGE." Once you do this, you will then be able to navigate page by page using the 0 or # within the section you choose.
Example:
If you wish to go to page D45:
- Set level navigation to navigate section by section so you can jump section/Unit A, then B, then C, then D.
- After setting the level navigation, use the # key to jump forward to section/unit D.
- Once you reach section/unit D, you then press the 9 button until the player says "page."
- After setting the navigation to Page, you then would use the # key to move forward page by page in section/unit D, until you reach page D45.
Wave
The "Go To Page" function cannot be used on books that contain lettered pages. The instructions below will guide you on how to best navigate these books.
Power up the Wave and select your level navigation using the number 2 or 8 key. You will repeatedly press this button until it says the level navigation you want. On one book, Level 1 may mean the player will navigate chapter by chapter, on another book it may mean Unit and not chapter.
The first thing to do is figure out what each level means for the book you are reading. You want to choose level 1 using the 2 or 8 buttons, and then use the 4 or 6 buttons to move forward or back by that level. Once you figure out how to navigate your specific book and you know what level 1, 2, 3 and so on means, the next step is pretty easy.
After you reach the part of the book you need, you would then go back to the 2 or 8 key and set the level navigation to say "PAGE". Once you do this you will then be able to navigate page by page using the 4 or 6 within the section you choose.
Example:
If you wish to go to page D45:
- Set level navigation to navigate section by section so you can jump section/unit A, then B, then C, then D.
- After setting the level navigation, use the 6 key to jump forward to section/unit D.
- Once you reach section/unit D, you then press the 2 or 8 buttons until the player says "page."
- After setting the navigation to Page, you then would use the 6 key to move forward page by page in section/unit D, until you reach page D45.
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Implementing a Program
Q: How can I learn more about teaching students with disabilities?
A: Please visit our Educator Support page for more information about how to use Learning Ally audiobooks and equipment in the classroom, and to learn how to effectively use our books.
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Q: What are some techniques teachers can implement to help students with print disabilities?
A: There are countless strategies that help students with print disabilities, but there is not one strategy that will work on every single person. Below are some ideas that may benefit students with print disabilities:
- Divide tasks and directions into small, manageable chunks
- Provide direct instruction
- Give students feedback on their work and progress on a regular basis
- Use visuals to enhance lessons including graphs, charts, gestures and diagrams
- Provide students with graphic organizers
- Know your students' learning styles in order to determine how they learn best and discover what they are interested in
- Be organized. Tell students the schedule at the beginning of the day and maintain consistency when possible.
- State lesson goals and objectives at the beginning of the lesson so that students know what is expected of them
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