Sadly this was our last class... There were more presentations tonight by Crystal, Kathryn, Vida, Cathy, Lydia and I also did mine. Once again, I thought they were all really well done. No one did the same thing- which goes to show how many awesome assistive technologies there truly are.
The presentation that stood out for me tonight was Lydia's. It was interesting to see how AT can make a difference across the life span. I think because I am a teacher, I only really thought about it for children entering school, children in school and then off to post secondary school. I have never really given much thought to those who would need it or begin to use well after that.
With the end of this class comes a whole new world to me. I have learned so much am am looking forward to being able to use so much of it within my practice as a teacher. Assistive technologies are invaluable tools for many people. They can make a world of difference in the quality of someone's life- as we definitely saw during this course.
Thanks so much Barb for such a useful course!
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Class Eleven
PRESENTATION DAY!!!
Dave, Heather, Connie and Stacy, Ann, Cindy and Bill all presented tonight. Lots of great things being tried out with our teachers and administrators. It was neat to see a principal's perspective when working with their students and their reasoning for choosing the students they did.
Dave presented on HyperStudio 5. He worked with two students who were frequent flyers to the office. I liked how he used this project to change the dynamic in which these students were coming to see him.
I had not ever seen HyperStudio 5 before. I am definitely going to check it out!
All the presentations tonight were well done. I will be taking something from them all. Well done classmates!
Dave, Heather, Connie and Stacy, Ann, Cindy and Bill all presented tonight. Lots of great things being tried out with our teachers and administrators. It was neat to see a principal's perspective when working with their students and their reasoning for choosing the students they did.
Dave presented on HyperStudio 5. He worked with two students who were frequent flyers to the office. I liked how he used this project to change the dynamic in which these students were coming to see him.
I had not ever seen HyperStudio 5 before. I am definitely going to check it out!
All the presentations tonight were well done. I will be taking something from them all. Well done classmates!
Class Ten
Tonight we continued to watch videos from the Misunderstood Minds Series.Video 4 was on ADD, Organization and Social Impact.
After watching this video we were asked to write five (yup, that's a tonne) sentences with our non-dominant hand. I HATE doing this. It makes me a very cranky person. In the midst of my crank, a lightbulb went on... Wow!! This must be how many of students feel when they are doing this everyday. No wonder so many of them want to scream and yell and hang from our ceilings. I certainly wanted to do all that and I am a mature (hhh-hmmm) adult... This truly was painful for me.
Next we did a scribe activity. I do have to admit, before tonight's class, I didn't think of "scribe" as a bad word, but I must now say that I have seen the light (again). There was much discussion to follow this activity as to why scribing isn't such a great idea. Many of us changed what our partner said when we were scribing. We weren't always able to keep up and had to ask them to slow down- impeding their thought process.
After all this we watched another video. It was about Expressive Language. We looked at issues with expressive language and did a little research so we could speak on the topic. We used the iPod Touch and voice memo to record our thoughts about Expressive Langugae disorders. At this point I diagnosed myself with this disorder. :) Thankfully we could do it again after using an organizational system. Much better the second time!
Another laugh-filled class!
After watching this video we were asked to write five (yup, that's a tonne) sentences with our non-dominant hand. I HATE doing this. It makes me a very cranky person. In the midst of my crank, a lightbulb went on... Wow!! This must be how many of students feel when they are doing this everyday. No wonder so many of them want to scream and yell and hang from our ceilings. I certainly wanted to do all that and I am a mature (hhh-hmmm) adult... This truly was painful for me.
Next we did a scribe activity. I do have to admit, before tonight's class, I didn't think of "scribe" as a bad word, but I must now say that I have seen the light (again). There was much discussion to follow this activity as to why scribing isn't such a great idea. Many of us changed what our partner said when we were scribing. We weren't always able to keep up and had to ask them to slow down- impeding their thought process.
After all this we watched another video. It was about Expressive Language. We looked at issues with expressive language and did a little research so we could speak on the topic. We used the iPod Touch and voice memo to record our thoughts about Expressive Langugae disorders. At this point I diagnosed myself with this disorder. :) Thankfully we could do it again after using an organizational system. Much better the second time!
Another laugh-filled class!
Class Nine
Tonight we watched a series of videos from Misunderstood Minds for Learning Disabilities- put out by PBS.
The videos can be found on their blog at
http://www.misunderstoodmindsld.blogspot.com/
While watching the first video we were asked to think about what was happening and to think about the writing process. Video one was an introduction to learning disabilities. Some of the highlights from this video were:
1. Pay attention to the video
2. Listen to the directions
3. Collected in short term memory and tap into long term memory
4. Taking visual and converting into language
5. Predicting what you are going to say
6. Think about the posture, core stability, hands in proper location, etc.
7. Pencil grip
8. Think about where the words go on the page, on the line, proper spacing, etc.
9. Then you must know how to spell
10. Must be able to filter out the background noise
Next we watched an OT video about Pencil Control. It was put out by Kid Sense Media.
We then watched the second video in the Misunderstood Minds Series. It was about Decoding.
When students spend all their energy and time on decoding the words their comprehension often struggles.
After watching this video, we were asked to use our computers to type up a summary of what we had watched and think of the writing process when using a keyboard. The process is, not surprisingly, very similiar. Although there is not a pencil involved, a student must still have some fine motor ability to be able to access the keyboard. He/she must also be seated properly. An important thing to remember is that a student must, still, have the entry level skills including the knowledge base, vocabulary, and be able to formulate the ideas before writing.
One big idea that came from class tonight was: What is written language?
It is a graphomotor execuation of sequential symbols to convey thoughts and information. Yup, that's a mouthful... Here are some of the steps to writing~
Initiating Idea (formulating and organizing the idea)
Use of pen/pencil as a tool for writing (letter formation, punctuation, spelling)
Grammar
Semantics (clear and appropriate word usage)
Speed of motor performances
Writing using different writing styles
Being flexible in the writing process
Understanding the viewpoint of the reader
Writing with enthusiasm
Making an AT Match for the Writing Process
For students who have difficulty formulating ideas and initiating ideas then students might be recommended to use DraftBuilder.
For the students that have all the ideas but don't know where to start or what to do with those ideas might benefit from Inspiration.
For students that have difficulty with formulating ideas and need symbols or visual supports to write might benefit from Clicker 5, Writing with Symbols, etc.
Students that need support with text to speech could benefit from Write Out Loud.
Students that need word prediction to help with spelling can benefit from Co-Writer. You must be able to know how the word starts.
Lots of great stuff learned tonight! I can't wait to try to put it into practice!
The videos can be found on their blog at
http://www.misunderstoodmindsld.blogspot.com/
While watching the first video we were asked to think about what was happening and to think about the writing process. Video one was an introduction to learning disabilities. Some of the highlights from this video were:
- Each of us think and learn differently. I mean, this is so obvious that I think it is often overlooked. When I heard him say this I was reminded why we differentiate our lessons to include the multiple intelligences. We try to create many pathways in the brain to learn a certain idea so that a child has more to draw on when they are trying to understand/apply what they have been taught. Hopefully one of these pathways is a path to each child's way of learning.
- The child knows he or she is 'different' and they become increasingly frustrated with the multiple unsuccessful attempts at learning in the more traditional ways.
- Students can often mask an LD with a superior memory. We have a few students that this would be the case. I also find they can mask an LD with a strong group of peers. We, as teachers, have to be able to pick up on this early on and help those children learn in ways that they are actually understanding what we are asking them to do.
1. Pay attention to the video
2. Listen to the directions
3. Collected in short term memory and tap into long term memory
4. Taking visual and converting into language
5. Predicting what you are going to say
6. Think about the posture, core stability, hands in proper location, etc.
7. Pencil grip
8. Think about where the words go on the page, on the line, proper spacing, etc.
9. Then you must know how to spell
10. Must be able to filter out the background noise
Next we watched an OT video about Pencil Control. It was put out by Kid Sense Media.
We then watched the second video in the Misunderstood Minds Series. It was about Decoding.
When students spend all their energy and time on decoding the words their comprehension often struggles.
After watching this video, we were asked to use our computers to type up a summary of what we had watched and think of the writing process when using a keyboard. The process is, not surprisingly, very similiar. Although there is not a pencil involved, a student must still have some fine motor ability to be able to access the keyboard. He/she must also be seated properly. An important thing to remember is that a student must, still, have the entry level skills including the knowledge base, vocabulary, and be able to formulate the ideas before writing.
One big idea that came from class tonight was: What is written language?
It is a graphomotor execuation of sequential symbols to convey thoughts and information. Yup, that's a mouthful... Here are some of the steps to writing~
Initiating Idea (formulating and organizing the idea)
Use of pen/pencil as a tool for writing (letter formation, punctuation, spelling)
Grammar
Semantics (clear and appropriate word usage)
Speed of motor performances
Writing using different writing styles
Being flexible in the writing process
Understanding the viewpoint of the reader
Writing with enthusiasm
Making an AT Match for the Writing Process
For students who have difficulty formulating ideas and initiating ideas then students might be recommended to use DraftBuilder.
For the students that have all the ideas but don't know where to start or what to do with those ideas might benefit from Inspiration.
For students that have difficulty with formulating ideas and need symbols or visual supports to write might benefit from Clicker 5, Writing with Symbols, etc.
Students that need support with text to speech could benefit from Write Out Loud.
Students that need word prediction to help with spelling can benefit from Co-Writer. You must be able to know how the word starts.
Lots of great stuff learned tonight! I can't wait to try to put it into practice!
Class Eight
Tonight Barb was gracious enough to give us time to work with our groups on the compensatory strategy we are looking at for Reading. My group was checking out the amazing Kurzweil. We broke it up into it's components and each looked at a different piece of what Kurzweil can do.
Check out our blog about Krazy Kurzweil at
http://lizcorkum1.blogspot.com/
Hope you enjoy it!
Check out our blog about Krazy Kurzweil at
http://lizcorkum1.blogspot.com/
Hope you enjoy it!
Class Six
Tonight we were to be in a virtual classroom- which I didn't make it to. I have taken a whole course using Illuminate Live!, which I didn't find overly exciting. The way it was used was not anywhere near to what I have been told Barb uses for her Virtual classes. I was really looking forward to seeing all the applications of Illuminate Live.
We were also to look at two 'classes' of the Apps in Action Series that Barb also puts on: Apps in Action for Reluctant Readers and Apps in Action for Reluctant Writers. I could also not get into these recorded sessions. So, my contribution to this class was minimal... well, really, it was non-existent... Sorry.
We were also to look at two 'classes' of the Apps in Action Series that Barb also puts on: Apps in Action for Reluctant Readers and Apps in Action for Reluctant Writers. I could also not get into these recorded sessions. So, my contribution to this class was minimal... well, really, it was non-existent... Sorry.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Class Seven
Our task for tonight was to teach ourselves how to use Kurzweil 300. Below is a video that explains what Kurzweil is and can do. It also tells who the program would be good for.
There are many great features to the program, but what intrigued me on this evening was the translator. I have several students who are entering back into core French after being out for several years and this feature could be well used for these students. I am very excited about this! There are lots of great applications for Kurzweil 3000. Who knew!!...
There are many great features to the program, but what intrigued me on this evening was the translator. I have several students who are entering back into core French after being out for several years and this feature could be well used for these students. I am very excited about this! There are lots of great applications for Kurzweil 3000. Who knew!!...
Class Five
Whoot!! Whoot!! Another cool thing learned tonight. The iPod/iPad has this upgrade callled IOS5 built into it that will read anything from the internet. To use this, you have to sync and upgrade to IOS5. Then you go into your settings on the iPod/iPad. From there go into the General setting, accesibility, speak selection and turn this on. You can also adjust the rate at which it is being read.
Using Reel Director we created a commercial for an assistive technology... check ours out on You Tube!
This was fun! I believe I'll be singing our jingle for a while to come.
Using Reel Director we created a commercial for an assistive technology... check ours out on You Tube!
This was fun! I believe I'll be singing our jingle for a while to come.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Class Four
At the start of the evening we worked at posting our app search. This was a very frustrating process... it took forever for the internet to load and when it did I tried to copy my search from a word document, but the pictures wouldn't copy. The table got all mixed up and would not copy properly either. Finally, my partner, Ann, came up with an idea of copying directly from her blog and then pasting it into mine... YAY! This worked. I can now breathe.
Some of my classmates favorites were:
Pocket Whiteboard
No Fear Shakespeare
Audiobooks
iScroll
Flashcards Delux Lite
Model Me Going Places
Speech Tutor
Overdrive Media Console
Shakespeare in Bits
School Blackboard Lite
Cookie Doodle
A brainstorm of list of things we can do with Pictello in our classrooms:
I learn that you can turn off the slide show mode so that the student can choose what they want or need and not go in order of the story.
This was SOOOOOO easy!! It took us less than 10 minutes to create our story. I did have an expert (Ann)to work with, but feel as though I could have done this very easily myself. Finally, something I can do on my own. Maybe this class is paying off. :)
Pictello- You Tube has a tutorial on how to use this program. Check this out!
Some of my classmates favorites were:
Pocket Whiteboard
No Fear Shakespeare
Audiobooks
iScroll
Flashcards Delux Lite
Model Me Going Places
Speech Tutor
Overdrive Media Console
Shakespeare in Bits
School Blackboard Lite
Cookie Doodle
A brainstorm of list of things we can do with Pictello in our classrooms:
- Science- a step by step approach to the lab
- Social Stories
- Math- steps on how to do a problem
- Video Modeling
- Communication
- Photo album
- Talking books
- Visual Schedules
- Projects
- Teaching Narrative Skills
- Word Wall with pictures
- Portable writing tool
I learn that you can turn off the slide show mode so that the student can choose what they want or need and not go in order of the story.
This was SOOOOOO easy!! It took us less than 10 minutes to create our story. I did have an expert (Ann)to work with, but feel as though I could have done this very easily myself. Finally, something I can do on my own. Maybe this class is paying off. :)
Pictello- You Tube has a tutorial on how to use this program. Check this out!
Apps, apps everywhere...
1. Pictello ($18.99)
The Pictello app is easy to use and is great from creating books and social stories. Each page can contain a picture and up to five lines of text. This app is great for students that are non-verbal or ASD students that require social stories or video modeling stories. I use this app with a student and it is awesome as its so easy to use.
2. First Then ($9.99)
This First Then app is used to provide positive behavior suuport for students who have communication needs, developmental delays, and ASD students that benefit from a visual schedule. It will also enable a student to become more independent and you can submit your own photos if you wish. This app is easy to use and when used on the I-Pod it can be taken anywhere.
3. Montessori Crossword ($2.99)
This Montessori crossword app allows us to access a 300 word-image-audio-phonics combinations to help students to develop their reading, writing, and spelling skills.
4. Tap Speak ($14.99)
The TapSpeak app gives a switch that can play and record messages. It is easy to use and allows you to add your own picture if you wish. It can be used for basic communication skills and its portable to use. You record numerous messages and change colors, symbol, or add a picture for each message.
5. Injini Lite (FREE)
This app allows offers child development games that are suited for students with cognitive, language, and fine motor delays. It is interactive, easy to use, stimulating, and engages the student. There are lots of puzzles, tracing hand games, etc. All the games focus on cause/effect, spatial awareness, and visual processing.
6. My Word Wall ($0.99)
My Word Wall is an innovative app that aims to teach your children, ages 4+, the skills needed to read and write. Through numerous activities, children are able to take advantage of spatial, visual, tactile, language-oriented, logical, or rhythmic learning styles. This app also suggests that it would be of benefit to ESL/EFL students by improving their reading and writing skills as well.
7. Shmoop (FREE)
Shmoop is like a version of Cole’s Notes. It has many different books that are used in Junior and Senior high classrooms. Like Cole’s Notes, it provides story overviews and chapter summaries as well as study questions and quizzes. It also provides an analysis of plot and character.
10. Starfall ABC's ($2.99)
Starfall ABC’s activities motivate through positive reinforcement and play. Children delight as they see, hear, and interact with letters and sounds in words, sentences, and games. They learn to recognize letters and develop phonics skills that will ensure they become confident readers. All children, and especially English language learners, benefit.
It was so much fun working with my partner, Ann, and searching for these apps. I can't wait to do it again on my own!
The Pictello app is easy to use and is great from creating books and social stories. Each page can contain a picture and up to five lines of text. This app is great for students that are non-verbal or ASD students that require social stories or video modeling stories. I use this app with a student and it is awesome as its so easy to use.
2. First Then ($9.99)
This First Then app is used to provide positive behavior suuport for students who have communication needs, developmental delays, and ASD students that benefit from a visual schedule. It will also enable a student to become more independent and you can submit your own photos if you wish. This app is easy to use and when used on the I-Pod it can be taken anywhere.
3. Montessori Crossword ($2.99)
This Montessori crossword app allows us to access a 300 word-image-audio-phonics combinations to help students to develop their reading, writing, and spelling skills.
4. Tap Speak ($14.99)
The TapSpeak app gives a switch that can play and record messages. It is easy to use and allows you to add your own picture if you wish. It can be used for basic communication skills and its portable to use. You record numerous messages and change colors, symbol, or add a picture for each message.
5. Injini Lite (FREE)
This app allows offers child development games that are suited for students with cognitive, language, and fine motor delays. It is interactive, easy to use, stimulating, and engages the student. There are lots of puzzles, tracing hand games, etc. All the games focus on cause/effect, spatial awareness, and visual processing.
6. My Word Wall ($0.99)
Shmoop is like a version of Cole’s Notes. It has many different books that are used in Junior and Senior high classrooms. Like Cole’s Notes, it provides story overviews and chapter summaries as well as study questions and quizzes. It also provides an analysis of plot and character.
8. Prizmo ($9.99)
Prizmo combines OCR (Optical Character Recognition), text to speech, and translation all in one place. It can scan business cards, books, and even white boards. It can output the text to the clipboard or email. There are 35 voices you can choose from, in ten different languages.
9. Wurdle ($1.99)
Wurdle is a Boggle-like game that can be used by early and skilled spellers to make words.
10. Starfall ABC's ($2.99)
Starfall ABC’s activities motivate through positive reinforcement and play. Children delight as they see, hear, and interact with letters and sounds in words, sentences, and games. They learn to recognize letters and develop phonics skills that will ensure they become confident readers. All children, and especially English language learners, benefit.
It was so much fun working with my partner, Ann, and searching for these apps. I can't wait to do it again on my own!
Class 3
Tonight we had a little time to finish up our reading web. I don't think we will ever be finished, but it's done for now. We presented it to the class (this is where I admitted how much I did not like the program Inspiration...) and the rest of our classmates presented theirs. Many of us had ideas in common, but to no surprise, no one's was anywhere near the same.
When we finished up our webs, we moved on to looking at a variety of apps for the iPod, iPhone, iPad that could be used to support reading and writing. Then, the best part of the night... SHOPPING!! We searched and purchased apps that we felt would be usable within our classrooms.
We did talk about using this type of technology and using specific apps for specific students. This is where my favorite quote of the night came from: "It's all about making the appropriate match." ~B. Welsford
When the quote was spoken, it re-iterated the importance of having those who know make the recommendations for which type of Assistive Technology to use with which student and which programs would be appropriate for those students.
I was really excited to learn about some of the many different apps that are available to assist students who struggle with literacy. Can't wait until next week to see everyone's top 10 list!
When we finished up our webs, we moved on to looking at a variety of apps for the iPod, iPhone, iPad that could be used to support reading and writing. Then, the best part of the night... SHOPPING!! We searched and purchased apps that we felt would be usable within our classrooms.
We did talk about using this type of technology and using specific apps for specific students. This is where my favorite quote of the night came from: "It's all about making the appropriate match." ~B. Welsford
When the quote was spoken, it re-iterated the importance of having those who know make the recommendations for which type of Assistive Technology to use with which student and which programs would be appropriate for those students.
I was really excited to learn about some of the many different apps that are available to assist students who struggle with literacy. Can't wait until next week to see everyone's top 10 list!
Monday, 10 October 2011
Class Two
Tonight we spent most of the night trying to map out the reading process- I say trying because this is definitely something that I struggled with. Thankfully we were able to work with a partner~ thanks a bunch Ann!! After reading a little bit and conferring with classmates, I think we have a good start. Below is what we completed to date.
After looking at this process, and all that it entails, it is not surprising why so many students struggle with this. What is surprising is that many of us don't.
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