Frances Mary D'Andrea, Ph.D., Educational Consultant and member of the IBraille Challenge team

iBraille Challenge App

- Technology & Fun for Students Who Use Braille

In this session you will learn about the iBraille Challenge App. Frances will demonstrate the features of the app. This app will be a great tool for both teachers and parents. They can use the app in order to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses in reading and writing as well as approximate grade level. The app can also be used to miscue analysis of the students´ oral reading skills.

The Reading section of the app includes oral fluency passages that can be automatically recorded to provide teachers with the ability to perform a digital miscue analysis. Multiple choice contests assess reading comprehension; additional games help students practice braille fluency, vocabulary, and making inferences.

The Writing Section of the app includes multiple-choice contests to test proofreading skills, and a dictation contest, where students must accurately braille an audio-provided word or phrase. Writing games have also been developed. Both contest sections will capture student performance and demographic data. Activity results provide teachers with reports that highlight student strengths and needs, and activities give students an opportunity to build both braille and technology skills. The app will be available for free in the iTunes store in 2017.