The AlphaSmart Keyboard and Learning Disabilities
Monday, July 5th, 2004
© 1997 Richard Wanderman
The AlphaSmart keyboard is a small, lightweight electronic writing tool that can give people many of the benefits of a portable computer without the complexity or expense.
I like the AlphaSmart keyboard. I also like my Macintosh computers, including a PowerBook. For many of the writing tasks that I do every day, the AlphaSmart is a better choice than my PowerBook. It’s also a better choice for many of the students and adults I work with who have learning disabilities.
Simple Operating System
The most compelling reason to use an AlphaSmart keyboard is that it has a simple operating system: you turn it on, do some writing, then turn it off. There is nothing to read on the screen to open or save a file. There is nothing to memorize to operate this computer. You turn it on, use it, then turn it off.
For students and adults with learning disabilities, separating writing from the operation of a computer, even an easy one, is a good thing in that it allows for more writing and less concentration on the writing tool.
Inexpensive
The AlphaSmart is inexpensive. Because of this, more people can own one who might not be able to afford a desktop or portable computer. Expense is part of total access to computing, it’s part of the interface between computer and human.
Also, the low cost of the AlphaSmart coupled with its ease of use makes it a more casual machine to carry around and with this, can come more use.
Long Battery Life
The AlphaSmart can get up to 200 hours on two AA batteries (the new AlphaSmart 2000 can get up to 300 hours on 3 AA batteries). The better alkaline batteries will give you more life. This means that thinking about battery life as you sit down in a library to take some notes is no longer an issue.
Compatible
The AlphaSmart is compatible with most desktop computers in that it generates plain text and emulates a regular computer keyboard. This means that it could be used as a go-between between a Macintosh at home and a Windows machine at school or work. Just send the text from the Macintosh to the AlphaSmart and then send it from the AlphaSmart to the PC. Then, after you’re done working on the text on your PC you send it back to the AlphaSmart. Of course, because the Macintosh will read PC disks you might also use a disk to get the same effect. But, you can’t work on a disk on the school bus!
Access Features
AlphaSmarts have a few access features that some people will find useful:
- You can control (turn off) auto-repeating keys.
- You can turn on a sticky-keys feature that allows you to use the shift and other modifier keys without holding two or more keys down simultaneously. You can press the keys sequentially.
- You can turn on a slow-keys feature that acts as a software keyguard preventing accidental key hits for people with coordination or spasticity problems.
- The AlphaSmart key layout can be changed to Dvorak from standard QWERTY and the machine can be configured for either right or left-handed typing.
Conversational Writing
Have students start a story on an AlphaSmart and then, after two minutes tell them to stop and pass their AlphaSmart to the next person to their right. Everyone in the class now has someone else’s story. They read the story in front of them and continue where the last person left off; taking the story in a new direction or continuing along the same path. This continues until the AlphaSmart you started with is in your lap.
To keep the language clean tell the students that you will ask them to read the stories aloud when the exercise is done (it’s fun to do this anyway).
Send Study Questions or Vocabulary lists back to the AlphaSmart
Make up a series of questions or a vocabulary list on your desktop computer and then, send it to each student’s AlphaSmart so they can take it home with them, write between your lines, or open a new file to write in.
Use the AlphaSmart’s different files for different things
The AlphaSmart has 8 different files (storage places) that can be opened by pressing buttons on the keyboard. Each file is opened by a corresponding button: F1, F2, etc. Because the files are separate memory spaces, you can put different things in them.
- Put your daily schedule in one file
- Put a name and address list in another
- Put a to-do list in another
- Jot down jokes friends tell you in another
- Keep your assignment list in another
- Put course notes in another
- And you have two more to do what you like with…
If you’ve found an innovative way to use the AlphaSmart please comment on this article.
Hi Richard,
I was interestestd to read about the alphasmart keyboard as a tool for LD students. I’d like to know a bit more about it. Can they be hooked up to a printer or is it a case of transferring to disc to do this? Is it possible to view text which is input (I can see a small screen on the keyboard).
Thanks
Marie
Marie: Yes, you can print directly from the AlphaSmart and it has a small screen so you can see what you’ve typed. Think of it as a dedicated word processor that runs on batteries and has a small screen. It’s a wonderfully useful tool and very simple to use.
http://www.alphasmart.com
I second that! The Alphasmart is a wonderful and versatile writing tool that is easy and effective technology. Its power is in it’s simplicity. I will be glad to share some articles that I wrote about the Alphasmart and put them here on this site when I return from my business trip.
My son 10 y.o. was just diagnosed with some learning disabilities and we were looking at the alphsmart for the classroom unsure of which one to get him . He is just entering into the 4th grade.
The Neo is the way to go. Regular batteries are fine as they last almost a year.
I would like to know where we can get the Alphasmart in India and at what price(in rupees).
Arpana, I don’t know if you can but here’s someone who does and can help:
Dirk Foch, dfoch@renlearn.co.uk
hi my daughter who is 5 has just been diagnosed with aspergers and i was advised to get her an alpha smart keyboard for school, i live in nsw australia and would like toknow where to buy one and what the cost is, thank you very much
Cathy, check here:
http://alphasmart.com/international/apcla.html#australia
my 8 y.o. son was just diagnosed with ADD – Inattentiveness. He has trouble with writing, spelling, grammar – putting it all together on paper. Would the Alpha Smart keyboard be helpful in this situation?
Lucy
Hi,
We have an Alphasmart cart at our middle school with 30 Alphasmarts. Some really neat things happening but also some glitches with the teacher saving onto her computer -nothing that can’t be fixed with some time to do it!
One thing I find is that the spell check is not very inclusive. Lots of words it should recognize (even though they are mispelled) but doesn’t.
We did some class wide activities and teachers were amazed at the engagement from every single student -you could hear a pin drop. They love it.
Overall the pros far outway the cons!
Sharon: I agree, the spelling checker isn’t all that useful but with limited memory there’s a limit to what can be done in that area.
However, the AlphaSmart is not a substitute for a computer with it’s more sophisticated tools for editing, it’s a tool that allows one to do the writing (not the editing) anywhere, any time. If one uses it just for writing and less for editing the cons are almost none. Most of the liabilities of the AlphaSmart or it’s newer cousin the Neo are from people trying to use them as a complete replacement for a computer. Write on the AlphaSmart, edit on the computer, later.
Thanks for your comment.
My son is 9, has ADD, but is very good at school. Loves to write, spells excellantly, but his writing is TERRIBLE. His mind works way faster than his hand. So he types pretty well. Since 4th grade has so much writing we are thinking of getting him an AlphaSmart. But is the Neo more appropriate for him?Are these machines easily integrated into the classroom setting? Anything I might need to be aware of with regards to letting him use one at school?
Chris: The Neo is the newest AlphaSmart keyboard and is a wonderful tool, easily integrated into both classrooms and the rest of his life.
I’d talk with his teachers to make sure and if required, it can be added to his IEP if he has one.
I’d get the one that runs on batteries, not the rechargeable one. They run for a long time on 3 regular AA batteries.
My 8 year old has been challenged with the same issues as the 9 year old mentioned above by Chris. At his IEP meeting yesterday we talked about an AlphaSmart, but it wasn’t enforced, just suggested. I’ll try anything to help with his challenges. The questions I have are:
The school has a few different units, the AlphaSmart 2000, the Dana (sp?), and they say the Neo’s are all out. My son is comfortable on the computer, playing games and drawing/painting, and surfing child sites. But he doesn’t really know typing yet. Is it better to have him work on typing on the pc using something like Mavis Beacon first? Is there a typing learning program for the AlphaSmart? Is there a difference between an older AlphaSmart or should I insist that the school find a newer version?
Thanks for your help!
Steven: There is keyboarding software for both AlphaSmart and Neo that can be installed on either although depending on your son, it may not be as visually motivating and interesting as Mavis Beacon on a computer. Hard to say.
The AlphaSmart keyboard or Neo are both excellent writing tools: simple, light weight, and fun to use. They can be used anywhere and as long as he doesn’t try to use them for everything he uses a computer for they’ll be perfect for recording his ideas.
As far as learning how to touch type, it’s a useful thing to learn but not essential for writing. The most important thing is that a keyboard completely takes care of handwriting issues and looking at well formed letters, even on the small AlphaSmart screen makes reading one’s writing easier.
The Neo is definitely the better tool so I’d try to get him one of those. Avoid the Dana, it’s useful but more complex to use.
What are your thoughts with using this as a tool for a child (7 yrs old) with visual impairements and some fine motor delay? Is it just as useful as a stand alone tool without the teacher involved add-on’s?
I appreciate your input.
Mary, If a child has visual impairments then the Neo would be more appropriate as it has type size control and type can be made quite large.
Fine motor delay isn’t a problem unless you’re expecting the child to learn touch typing quickly or at all. While touch typing is useful, not doing it is not a deal breaker for the Neo or AlphaSmart just like it isn’t for a computer.
It’s quite useful as a stand alone tool just because it allows writing to happen anywhere: on a bus, on the couch, in the park. Very durable and runs for a year on 3 AA batteries. I would not hesitate to get one, they’re great tools.
where all can we get the product in india to be precise delhi
When the batteries go down do you lose all text? Or does it automatically save work?
Jacqui: The AlphaSmart or Neo saves all work at all times and you can remove the batteries and work is still saved.
Thanks Richard. The school my daughter attends are buying one of these for her to use as she writes painfully slowly but types ok. Reads ok spells ok verbally communicates ok understanding and reasoning ok, just slooow writing. So we are hoping this tool will be the route to success for her.
Jacqui: It will certainly help and the more she uses it the better it will become.
Looking for instrument suitable for our Learning Disability students to take their notes real-time in class
This is such an instrument: runs on batteries for months, nice keypad, simple to use, inexpensive. I highly recommend the Neo.
Hi,
I’m trying to find something like an alpa smart but instead of typing a person would talk and it would come up on the screen ,do you know of anything.
Thanks
Jocelyn: Speech to text (you talk, the computer types) is done with a computer. An AlphaSmart is a simple keyboard for typing text that runs on batteries, is light weight and inexpensive.
Maybe what you want is a tape recorder or a digital recorder?
Richard:
I have a child entering 2nd grade. He has a history of Aprxia and is challenged with fine motor tasks. His report card suggested his energy is being wasted by writting demands that drain him. They suggested an alpha smart for second grade. Which model would you suggest and why?
Julie
Julie, there is just one model these days, it’s called the Neo. It’s inexpensive, light, sturdy, easy to use, runs forever on 3 AA batteries, and is compatible with any computer.
http://alphasmart.com/Retail/
You don’t need the rechargeable model, just the basic model that runs on batteries. They last for months.
My school now has Vista on all the computers and though we can send alpha word files to any and all we are unable to use the alpha quiz manager to update or send quiz to alpha smart 300, Neo nor the Neo2.
we are desperate HELP please
Robert,
Have you visited the AlphaSmart support page?
http://www.renlearn.com/neo/downloads/
There’s a Microsoft Vista specific section, and also an AlphaQuiz download that maybe newer than the one you have.
Feel free to call the 800 number at the bottom of the page, or post here.
My son is half-way thru Grade 6 and struggles with fine motor difficulties. He has a lot of trouble printing.
I’d like more information about where to buy something like this for him (we live in Alberta, Canada) and what type of system would be best for him; I’d like something he can use right through his schooling.
Charlene: Using search you can find contact information for AlphaSmart here:
http://www.ldresources.org/2008/03/20/alphasmart/
Richard,
I just had a student of mine (Jack) get one of the new Neos. We’ll keep you posted as to how he’s doing with it.
Hi. We are an American family living in Bujumbura, Burundi (Central Africa). My daughter has fine motor problems, like many of those above, and an American support organization with which I was in contact recomended the Alpha Smart keyboard. The problem we may have is that she attends a french-speaking school and needs to produce work in French. Is there a French spell check or language options available for alpha smart? Thanks. (FYI, we are not looking for a French keyboard, that would be too confusing.)
Cristine
Cristine,
The AlphaSmart Neo keyboard has been localized in many languages and countries. You can find out more about that here:
http://www.alphasmart.eu/
Cristine – I’m afraid we have never had a French spellchecker or thesaurus on our AlphaSmart range. The best thing for you to do is to buy a cheap & light laptop and download a French dictionary onto there. Alternatively you could purchase MSOffice, French version which would give her spellchecker and thesaurus.
Best regards
Dirk