Learning Ally Audio
Learning Ally Audio gallery
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Learning Ally Audio is an app that pairs with subscription-based program for kids with visual impairments or dyslexia, and users must qualify before subscribing. Learning Ally provides access to 75,000+ audio books for $119 per year. Members must assign books to user accounts using a web browser before downloading them to the app. Learning Ally Audio has a variety of features: Text and background colors can be adjusted by preference, rate of reading can be altered, and highlighted text can be set to match a rate that best fits a kid's reading ability. Because the available books are for K-12, parents should supervise as younger kids choose and download books.What kids can learn
Learning Ally Audio has 75,000 different audiobooks available with vast subjects and interests (including new releases) which can interest any reader. The design is relatively simple and the choices for reading voices are limited, but the variety of reading choices will keep kids interested.
Learning Ally Audio promotes good reading fluency by highlighting passages of text and providing a human or computer synthesized read aloud. The audio pauses at appropriate phrases, identifies dialog, and emphasizes bold or italicized words.
With the purchase of an annual subscription in addition to qualifying for this tool, parents and kids have access to a support network specified for vision impairment or dyslexia. Learning Ally Audio provides a tone for each click or slide kids use to interact with their device(s). The built-in guide provides thorough answers to questions, but the guide is not read aloud.
What's it about?
To use LEARNING ALLY AUDIO, parents must purchase a subscription and submit documentation (such as an IEP, 504, or a document provided by the website and signed by a qualifying clinician). Audiobooks are selected from a web-browser and added to a user's bookshelf. Kids can then access and download books from their mobile device. Each book file provides a table of contents which kids can click through. Once a page is selected, the narration will start automatically. Kids can pause, skip forward, or go back using buttons at the bottom of the screen. They can also adjust the size of the text or reading rate by tapping the corresponding icon. Each click and swipe results in a tonal response for visually impaired kids. Text is highlighted as a human or computer voice reads each phrase or paragraph. Kids can insert a bookmark to hold their place, and the book will begin there when the app is opened again.
Is it any good?
Learning Ally Audio provides an opportunity for readers with visual impairments or dyslexia to gain access to all types of reading material. More than an ereader, this app highlights text as it's read to help readers develop fluency skills, and offers features that allow kids to personalize by adjusting the reading rate and text size. Learning Ally Audio provides content for all grade levels (including textbooks), so younger kids may need adult supervision before adding books to their bookshelf. There are some books that have the computerized voice and phrasing, but most books are read by a human and help reinforce good reading skills (rate, porosity, phonics, etc).
Families can talk about...
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Families can talk about the books kids have been reading: What character do you most identify with? Does this character overcome a challenge or stick with something that they find most challenging? What happens as a result?
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Parents can encourage reading with their kids by listening to the books with them. Then, exchange ideas about what you think should have happened, or how you might re-write the ending. Tell kids which scene you could most vividly see and why, and then ask them about one they remember.
App details
| Devices: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Price: | Free |
| Pricing structure: | Free to Try, Paid |
| Subscription price: | $119 per year |
| Release date: | April 9, 2014 |
| Category: | Education |
| Size: | 8.10 MB |
| Publisher: | Learning Ally, Inc. |
| Version: | 3.2.0 |
| Minimum software requirements: | 5.0 or later |
