IntelliKeys

I have copied and pasted a list of resources available on the internet explaining IntelliKeys. I hope to use this technology in my classroom within the next week.

Michael Hewett
Resource File: IntelliKeys

I. Purpose of IntelliKeys

IntelliKeys is an alternative keyboard which is used primarily by students with physical, cognitive, or visual disabiltities. IntelliKeys may also be used by ESL students and students who may not have disabilities but may benefit from its use in the classroom. IntelliKeys is an enlarged keyboard, with the keys spaced out and varying in size and color. It is rectangle-shaped and is light in weight and easy to transport. The appearance and functionality of the keyboard are flexible. Overlays, which are the keys on the keyboard, are printed on paper and may be customized and interchanged by the teacher. Thus, IntelliKeys is flexible to the learning needs of individual students. Furthermore, IntelliKeys may be used to navigate the internet, as a communication device for nonverbal students, as a teaching tool for any type of curriculum, and as an assessment tool. The downside to IntelliKeys is that it is expensive to purchase.

II. IntelliKeys and my Classroom

I teach students who are low-functioning with dual disabilities in a small group environment. There are currently three students in my classroom, and one of them is unable to manipulate a standard keyboard. He has a wide range motion but does not have the coordination and cognitive abilities to independently press the correct keys. I have met with my lead teacher about his situation, and we are currently in the process of ordering him an IntelliKeys as an alternative keyboard in the classroom. We believe that the overlays of an IntelliKeys will support him in navigating the internet and accessing computer software.

This student primarily uses an AlphaSmart to type, and when he uses a computer, he requires modeling and verbal and physical prompts. Computer use is necessary in my class. It is a life skill that I am required to teach, and instruction of the core curriculum is enhanced by computer use. Additionally, many of the other two students' leisure activities include internet use, and the struggling student has expressed repeated interest in exploring the internet as a leisure activity. My hope is that once he begins using IntelliKeys, his learning will be enhanced and his classroom experience will be more enjoyable.

The following is a list of resources found on the internet which highlight the purpose and advantages of using IntelliKeys. The information supports my theory that IntelliKeys will enrich the learning of my student. The resources also indicate that he could possibly use IntelliKeys as a communication tool. He is nonverbal and often communicates by pointing at pictures. The resources are divided into websites, peer-reviewed articles, and videos. A brief description of each resource accompanies its title.

III. Websites Describing IntelliKeys

1. Better Living Through Technology: IntelliKeys
http://www.bltt.org/hardware/intellikeys.htm

This website provides an extensive description of the overlays which are used with IntelliKeys. The overlays are images of keyboards which are printed on sheets of paper and may be interchanged on the face of the IntelliKeys. The overlays are created using Overlay Maker, and the design of the overlays are intended to meet the needs of individual students.

2. IntelliKeys
http://www.rjcooper.com/intellikeys/index.html

RJ Cooper & Associates, a provider of hardware and software for children with disabilities, explains that IntelliKeys is compatible with Spell-a-Word and Point-to-Pictures. Spell-a-Word, when used with IntelliKeys, allows student to use a keyboard to practice reading, spelling, and letter recognition. Point-to-Pictures, when used with IntelliKeys, allows nonverbal students to use a keyboard to communicate by pointing at images.

3. IntelliKeys: Effective, Powerful, and Affordable
http://www.paec.org/david/ese/catelogs/intelli/intelkys.pdf

The information in this website is presented through PowerPoint and provides a list, including price, of parts which enhance the use of IntelliKeys. Overlay Maker is included on this list. Also, keyguards, which are essentially the protective coverings of overlays, are listed in detail. Keyguards cost $50 each and are varied to meet the individual needs of the students.

4. Intellikeys Keyboard
http://www.infogrip.com/product_view.asp?RecordNumber=886

A brief history of IntelliKeys is provided on this website. It was created by Intellitools in the early 1990s and is now one of the leading alternate keyboard devices in the world. What makes IntelliKeys unique is that its overlays allow flexibility in meeting the learning needs of students. Options for purchasing IntelliKeys are included on this website. Prices for IntelliKeys range from $395 to $510.

5. IntelliKeys Keyboard by Intellitools
http://www.nanopac.com/IntelliKeys.htm

NanoPac, Inc. claims that IntelliKeys is an ideal solution for students who have difficulty using a standard keyboard. The keys on an IntelliKeys keyboard are large and well-spaced. The color of the keys vary to enable users to easily identify each key on an overlay.

6. IntelliKeys Tutorial
http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/Tutorials/intellikeys/index.php

Included in this website is a brief description of the physical appearance of IntelliKeys and its major components. Also included is a tutorial which explains how to install IntelliKeys and how to use it in a classroom setting. Finally, a link is included which directs the reader to other websites which have IntelliKeys tutorials.

7. Intellitools: IntelliKeys
http://www.intellitools.com/ProgramPage.aspx?parentId=074003405&functionID=009000008&site=itc

Intellitools, the creator of IntelliKeys, claims that IntelliKeys allows anyone with cognitive, physical, or visual disabilities to access a computer using a keyboard. It also claims that IntelliKeys is the most flexible alternative keyboard available and may be individualized for ESL students. IntelliKeys is not, however, compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7.

8. Synapse Adaptive: Access and Productivity Tools
http://www.synapseadaptive.com/intellitools/IntelliKeys.html

This website is the homepage for Intellikeys. The product is described as an effective and affordable alternate keyboard for children with physical, cognitive, or visual disabilities. It works with Macintosh and Windows computers and may be ordered online through the website.

IV. Peer-Reviewed Articles Describing IntelliKeys

1. Besden, C. (2007). Design and implementation of an orientation and mobility program for a young woman with multiple disabilities. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 101(10), 625-627. Retrieved from www.ebscohost.com

This article describes a case study of a student who is learning through a transition program based on teaching life skills and making choices. The student has visual disabilities and cognitive delays, but IntelliKeys allows her to write on the computer. She enjoys writing, and she chose to write a summary as an assessment about a class trip.

2. Clayton, J., Brudge, M., Denham, A., Kleinert, H. L., & Kearns, J. (2006). A four-step processfor accessing the general classroom for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Teaching Exceptional Children, 38(5), 20-27. Retrieved from www.ebscohost.com

This article provides a four step process for linking IntelliKeys to standards and using it to teach curriculum. The process begins with identifying the standard, then moves to defining the outcomes of learning and developing appropriate instructional activities, and ends with connecting the standard to specific IEP objectives. The student used as a case study in this article was nonverbal and was able to learn about folktales by using a customized overlay.

3. Wepner, S. B., & Bowes, K. A. (2004). Issues in technology: Using assistive technology for literacy development. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 20(2), 219-223. doi: 10.1080/10573560490272694

The authors of this article describe in detail the assistive technologies which are available for literacy development. One of these technologies is IntelliKeys. Along with briefly describing the basic functions of IntelliKeys, the authors explain how round buttons called switches may be attached to IntelliKeys to provide students a simpler alternative for accessing and navigating the internet and learning software.

V. Videos Describing IntelliKeys

1. Adult With Cerebral Palsy Using IntelliKeys USB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiJR5rHsO58

A Thirty year old man with a Doctorate degree uses IntelliKeys to assist him in his independent living. He has created a support group for people with disabilities, and he spends most of his day using IntelliKeys to type information for them. He claims that since he began using IntelliKeys, his ability to type has increased greatly.

2. How to Make Custom Overlays for IntelliKeys USB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-D-g7J-XJA

Overlays are easy to create and may include text, pictures, automated voices, and music. They are created using computer software and are printed on legal paper in a typical computer printer. Before placing an overlay on the face of an IntelliKey, an inch of the legal paper must be cut from it to fit.

3. IntelliKeys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cX9OFJN5q4

Not only is IntelliKeys used as an alternative keyboard, but it is also may be used as a mouse and calculator. Furthermore, the overlay may be changed to provide an alphabet oriented keyboard. Last, its use is not limited to ESL students and students with disabilities. It may be used by any student who may need additional learning support.

4. Keyboards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OfcrvbUlgc

IntelliKeys are most helpful for students who have a wide range of motion but have trouble pressing the correct keys. One of the six standard overlays which come with the purchase of an Intellikeys is designed to increase internet access. Keys on this overlay include combinations of letters which are commonly typed on the internet, such as “www.” and “.com.”

5. Using an Adapted Keyboard to Access the Web
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkWfGNfNd_Y

The man in this video demonstrates how to access the web using IntelliKeys. Arrows may be placed on an overlay to signify the direction a mouse may be moved, and these arrows allow the user to scroll through web pages with relative ease. Also, additional assistive technologies such as a large mouse with its ball facing up may be used in conjunction with IntelliKeys.

6. Young Student Using IntelliKeys USB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9hdMJmAZ5Q&feature=related

This video shows a student with Cerebral Palsy using IntelliKeys to surf the internet for information on Hannah Montana. Her teacher created an overlay specifically for using search engines on the internet. Once the information was found, the student was able to use the same overlay to write a brief letter to Hannah Montana.