Impact

When I look back I'm realizing the extent of the impact of technology on our lives. Technology in my life includes the move from a flip phone to a Blackberry (with no data time), my laptop (which is for course only), our desktop, iPods, Apple TV, the wii  and the GPS for new trips. The girls have LeapPads,  which they call their kids iPads, and other Leapfrog technologies and a dsi. 
I thought we were doing well. We've wanted an iPad. Our reasoning has never been for all of the Apps, it's always been about the convenience. Convenience around the house and especially for travel.  In reflection of the past couple of weeks, I can't wait to get one (Christmas 2012) and begin to download some Apps for the girls to use to  build on some of their skills.
Technology, not just iPads,  allows people, anyone, but especially students and  adults with disabilities to move from feeling of  exclusion to inclusion. The impact is even greater on those with disabilities. For some it offers them an avenue to finally communicate with others, for others the communication becomes clearer and more effective, maybe even a source of enjoyment. 
The power of appropriate motivation! It doesn't happen instantly, or because you want it now.There is a process and a learning curve. I can see more dramatic changes in the disability community

The Process of Writing

When I picked up the girls from Mom's today, Emma asked how was my day. I replied that it was busy and muggy. She next asked what did I learn? Talk about role reversal. I said "the writing process." Her reply was interesting. "That's easy Mom, you grab a piece of paper and a pen and write down what your thinking. Was that all you did today? Cause that was pretty easy, and Acadia is supposed to be hard." I smile and pull in the driveway.

Today had the potential to be an overwhelming day. Task analysis is stressful, but I'm feeling better about it. Handwriting in simple terms is using a some sort of pen, pencil, crayon or marker to get symbols on paper. As seen in the PowerPoint today, Kay describes it is the grapho-motor execution of sequential symbols to convey thoughts and information. 

We know that symbols represent oral language and that in order to write well you have to be a good reader. Emma prefers to write over reading. I think it has more to do with the freedom of writing. Maybe it's a decoding issue. She does come from a family with a strong construction background. I'm constantly on her about slowing down to reconstruct her sounds better. Sometimes she prints what she hears, and it's up to me to make her pronounce her words better. For instance when in primary, the "th" sound was the "d" sound until I corrected her enough on her pronunciation and then  she made the switch to "th" in both her speaking and writing.

Attending to tasks and Executive Functions run deep in this analysis, in all task analysis'. Only here we have lower and higher skill levels, content and mechanical. It's just so  much more complicated! 

   As a primary teacher, I really like the Handwriting Without Tears program. Emily informed me later today, that although the PD I received just over a year ago from an OT from the IWK and someone else is no longer recommended by the HRSB. I wonder why. It certainly isn't the be all and end all, but it is a great program. I try to use an abbreviated version in my classroom in September to assess and build on students fine motor skills. I din't realize that Letter formation was so involved. It not only includes attending to the task, which can be more challenging when you're 4 or 5 years old, plus all the executive functions, and spelling, Orthographic processors, letter recognition, phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, prior knowledge, retrieval, recall, experience, memory, language sound letter correspondence, auditory processing, visual processing, fine motor, organize ideas, sequential processing, conventions of print, spatial awareness, TIME, automatic letter form, accuracy, punctuation, vision, concentration, and the list foes on... who would have thought?

QR Code update

I saw this link and found it to link to our introduction to QR codes. Maybe we could take the suggestions, change the market and make millions!



5 QR CODE MARKETING MISTAKES 

The next link discusses how QR codes don't live up to consumers expectations. We want coupons and discounts from the 2-D bar-codes, companies want to give us information about their brand.

 

QR codes aren't giving customers what they want 

Monday July 16, 2012.

Another day, another adventure in technology. Today we examined Kurzweil 3000. Download it here. I have heard of the program before @ SPT meetings, but had no idea of what it was for. To start I was happy to finally know that it was for students with diagnosed LD and visual impairment. 

My mood going into the program wasn't very positive because of all of the time spent downloading the program and reading about issues my classmates had with the download. I lacked faith and was worried that because I hadn't opened the program prior to class it wouldn't work. It did and all is well. I appreciate the time spent getting familiar with the program.

I appreciate all that it is UDL, but again, I could see all students benefiting from some aspect of this program, not just the students with LDs or visual impairments. It was super easy to magnify and zoom out and I really liked that you could adjust the rate of speed as your choice voice read to you. 

Reads page to you. You can adjust speed of the reader and have a variety of voices you could choose from.  what pleases me most is the ability to have access to this program in French. I wasn't surprised that the cost for the French version was double that if the English version. Again the ability to highlight text, add stick notes and bubble notes could not only benefit students with ADHD and Aspergers. It allows the possibility of differentiation. Another noteworthy feature is ability to save the text into an MP3 format and just listen to it without the text. 

A demo video made @ Newberry Elementary Schooll Floridain their inclusion classrooms, where students with special needs learn alongside their peers. The video speaks to the strength of implementing Assistive Technology such as Kurzweil 3000 within a whole class environment.

Exploring Wikispacces :

Starfall - is a Literacy Link that my 7 year old introduced me to. Her grade 2 teacher showed the class how to navigate the website. She can navigate this site independently, and does so happily.  She's happy and motivates. the site uses kid friendly language.

Inkless Tales - is more a teacher site, than student site. Allows lower elementary teachers to find short stories (that can be heard as audio books) that reinforce particular site words. There is only one image per story but with the text, it could allow classes to visualize and create the images that go with the text. 

Popplet is a simple built for for mind mapping and organization of thoughts. It gives students the opportunity to represent their thoughts in a clear and visual way. Students can import pictures they've taken or search for pictures on the Internet to support and add visual interest to their points.

Story Jumper: Create stories from scratch or edit preexisting stories. High interest and easy to manipulate. It would take some time to figure things out. I started a story, choose my scene and began to add props. I had a hard time manipulating the font. I had to create my scene on one page and then on the opposite page add the words.

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives a great website for interactive math activities with manipulatives. I appreciated that it was divided into Math strands and grouped by grade level. 

Fine Motor Webinar

As a primary French Immersion Teacher, I more interested in the webinar on Fine Motor Skills verses the Math Webinar.  I see such a varying degree of skills entering primary that  if I could discover some OT recommended tricks and Apps, that would be great. I'm not looking forward to 29  4 and 5 year olds in just 6 weeks. Last year I attended a Handwriting Without Tears presentation and learned about pencil grip and their program. I recommend that lower elementary teachers check it out. I was also saddened that the workbooks and songs are available in English and Spanish. I spent some time over the summer translating some parts of the workbook into French for my students. I started my September focusing on fine motor coordination. I think many of my students benefited form the 15 minute lessons over the course of the month. In May, I could see the varying degree of control when students visited for orientation.

I was aware that fine motor skills are precise coordinated movements using joints and muscles of the body to manipulate pencils, crayons etc., I thought it had more to do with the arms down to the finger tips, I didn't realize before this webinar was how much of the rest of the body is involved. I was recently working on my task analysis and thought that this was yet another one we could. It could prove to be much more complicated than blowing your nose. Fine motor skills do not just involve using the muscles in your hand and arm; it involves shoulder muscles and having good trunk control, from the inside out. As I was watching I was thinking of Spencer and her fine motor development.

OT Referrals do go through our SPT, and as a member of this team I do hear of the referrals being made. Interestingly enough, there doesn't seem to be high hopes of ever seeing an OT visit our building. I wonder how many are in our board and how many schools are under each umbrella. i know our Health Nurse visits only a few times a year, on an as needed basis. 

 Here are a few I can see using in my classroom(if I had a class iPad):

Dexteria ($4.99 - Universal app)

Designed in consultation with OTs, this App provides therapeutic hand exercises for students, including dexterity, finger sequencing and individual finger isolation, and control. Tap it, pinch it, write it. I was pleased to note that it supported the Handwriting Without Tears program.  Using a stylus makes it more motivating.

Juno's Piano ($0.99 - iPad only)

A virtual piano app, it allows students to practice finger control through music. Easy to use. Bilateral hand development. Teaches child to play control finger isolation. Could be cheaper than starting Emma @ The Maritime Conservatory of Music this fall

ShapeBuilder ($0.99 - Universal app)

This app includes 146 different puzzles, where children must drag the pieces into the correct position. Gain strength, visual motor, control, learning letters, fruits and many other themes.The placement is quite precise, requiring steady placement and thus promoting fine motor development.

Cars 2 AppMates (Free, although you are required to purchase of physical toys to use with app available @ Amazon, iPad only)

Students will love this!This is a highly engaging App linked to Disney's "Cars" characters. The App does the user to  purchased special cars toys separately in order to play. These miniature "Cars" cars are placed on the iPad screen and are used to play on the screen. The fine motor link is the physical manipulation and grasp of the cars themselves, especially through the three-finger grasp.

Inspiration

I feel like I could tinker and work on this for hours. to be honest I'm not sure I understand all of the steps. It seems to easy to me. I am thankful that we were e-mailed a starting point. I'm not sure if I had much to add to it. I was really trying to attend to the task and understand, but had a moment in class where I felt completely overwhelmed. Hopefully my image makes sense to you all. Mary

FYI - When unsure of how to save your inspiration document to be able to import into your blog...Saving Inspiration for your blog post

Itunes Shopping Day!!

Inspiration takes skill, not a tonne, but some skill, practice and patience. Today Emily and I had the chance to also work with the iPad version as well. Blowing your nose, like reading is a complicated process! When you start doing a task analysus, there's  lot of thinking, decisions and steps involved. This morning we worked hard to create a task analysis for the process involved for the body and brain in order to blow your nose. I think the possibilities are endless. It also depends on the level of language you use in the process. I have learned that it  involves much more than getting a Kleenex , blowing your nose, putting the tissue in the garbage and washing your hands.


Blowing your nose requires much attention to the task, kinesthetic functions, auditory processing, working memory, visual processing, balance, gross motor skills, fine motor skills and the list goes on and on. There are so many steps and cooperation that have to attend to the task in order for it to be completed.


A short video of how "easy" it is to use Inspiration Maps on your iPad.

PBS The Secret Life of the Brain

This film contains five different episodes: The Baby's Brain, The Child's Brain, The Teenage Brain, The Adult Brain and the Aging Brain. If you're curious, below is a link to the PBS website with more information about the episodes on The Secret Life of the Brain. 
The Secret Life of the Brain

It was a fun day in class, much more relaxed that before. I hadn't really spent much time exploring itunes, let alone downloading an App and playing on it. The possibilities are really endless. 
How does one know if the app is worth it or not? You have to try it, or rely on word of mouth. You can investigate reviews on google, but those opintions are all relative. 
There's an app for that   

Presentation Day

Today was another adventure in technology! 
So many great Apps presented today. I felt completely disadvantaged that I (and my group) didn't have access to iPads or a MAC to explore the apps prior to our presentation. We had to rely solely on what we could find on the web. There was no way for us to explore the ins and outs of the apps, nor could we show our peers the "how to" during the presentation. 
I found the iRewards app most interesting. I thought about Fran, a colleague,  and the 4 students in her class that are on behavior plans. They each carry around a 1 inch binder with their currency inside. This year instead of smiley faces or poker chips they are using pennies. Twenty-five Velcro pennies to trade in for a quarter. We (she) spent plenty of time cutting Velcro to fit on those pennies. This App would make things so much simpler, although she'd need 4 mobile devices. Each student would want their own for sure.  

There are too many to choose a favorite. All are interesting and can be used in our classrooms. I am curious to know if any of the story or reading apps are available in French? Again, I'd have to have some time on an iPad to so some searching.  The ABC Pocket Phonics  app might be good for Spencer. Nanny University/The School of Nanny may need to make an investment for her this fall. Although something similar to the letter practice and sounds are available on her "Kids iPad" (LeapPad)

             VS








Strip Designer - presented by Mandy reminded me of Comic Life that is loaded on each desktop in my school. Comic Life is available for the iPad at a cost of $4.99 verses the $2.99 cost for Strip Designer



Things we can learn off GOOGLE...
How to add a Power Point Presentations to Blogger

New Apps for Students with Learning Disabilities

View more presentations from marmacdo.

Rural verses Urban

Conference Day 2012 


Today both Karen Dyke, Principal at Aldershot Elementary School and Dr Shaughney Aston spoke of rural life in Nova Scotia.. Karen Dyke presented  "What's Home Got To Do With It?" while Dr. Shaughney Aston spoke of "Rural Women with Addictions: Authority, Where Is It, Who Has It, and What Does It Do?" In each of the presentations the presenters each spoke of the disadvantages of living in a rural setting. 
For Karen Dyke, her school is located in rural Annapolis Valley told the story of moving her entire school of children to a different location on the other side of town while repairs were made to the school. At the original site, there was huge parent involvement in the school community. There was an  assumption that the parent involvement  would follow to the new community. Although the new school was only a short distance (2-3 km) away from the original site, it proved to be too far for many community members to travel. Parent involvement in the new school community was hardly there. The familiar faces that once graced the school doors didn't make the trek across to the new school.  Teachers and Administrators couldn't understand why the parents stopped coming by. After time and reflection they realized that the move proved to be too far and inconvenient for many parents.
Shaughney Aston spoke of women with addictions in a rural setting. The paper plate activity was meaningful. Just to see how these women describe themselves and their addictions. Are we being to hard on ourselves? Some of the descriptors also spoke of resources, and lack there of. Either the programs they need don't exist in their area or they don't have the means to access the resources.  
On the flip side I realize that living in the city I have access to many more resources in the the medical field because many of the services I may need to access are centralized in Halifax. When my parents considered moving away from the city after they retire they didn't want to be to far from the hospital in case of an emergency. Location can limit access!


Food for thought...
Schools in the SSRSB, who are far from the urban centre (Halifax) of Nova Scotia seem to be far more advanced with technology in their schools compared to the HRSB. The access to AT in the schools seem to be more available to students compared to our schools. I can't imagine what it would be like to have access to a class set of iPads and AppleTV! Imagine the possibilities. I wish and hope that my girls have the opportunity to use and engage with iPads in her classroom. At this point I don't see that happening. We can provide her with this opportunity at home, but wouldn't it be great if she could do this with her classmates? At present time only Resource students and Learning Centre students have access to the school's iPad.

A not AT related list of why schools should have iPods/iPads

An interesting argument of why schools should have iPods and/or iPads instead of desktops. Although his argument has noting to do with the AT possibilities. He lists and describes 6 points in favor of moving towards the mobile device era in schools.


Click on the link for the complete article published in May of 2011.


Why ipad Should be used in the classroom?  by Michael Kaufman

A BBC video I found on MSN homepage today that speaks of the power of AT and the mobile device. I think that Gary had mentioned something similar in the fall. He had a student receive and Ipad to bring Boardmaker to life.

Exploring Apple

I was playing around on the Apple website today. Exploring more specifically their Special Education link. They state that "OS X Lion" is providing new doors to be open in terms of accessibility for students of all abilities. I question that if every Mac comes equipped with dozens of assistive technologies, why isn't the HRSB or DOE mandating that Macs become the computer for all schools. We have a Dell desktop, and I've looked around on it to see what exists for assistive technology. I didn't find anything, although it could also be a result of my lack of computer skills.  
Apple goes on further to break it's assistive technology into 4 sub categories:

1. Literacy and Learning
2. Vision
3. Hearing
4. Physical and Motor Skills

Apple Special Education Link




How can ans iPad help with Autism

QR Code

I finally learned what the square codes I see all around town are called. QR CODE. If only I could figure out how to scan them with my phone.  You have to have a QR scanning app on your mobile device. I wonder if it costs "data" to read them We noticed one on the drive down Main Street today, it was on the window of the dentists office.

Once you start to look around, QR codes are everywhere! Movie tickets, airline tickets, apartment rentals and in advertisements in magazines. 

Conference Day - July 6th

It's Conference Day, sunny, warm and Friday. Despite the downpour as we exited the truck, things are looking up. 


I appreciated that the presenters made their presentations interactive. Last year we were in the theater across the street and we literally sat all day and listened. Not nearly as interesting as being able to chat with a neighbor. Today, especially this morning, it was much more interactive. Phil and Dian Ferguson set the bar high.


How do we describe parents of students with disabilities? Check out the wordle...

Loved that we moved to the Irving Centre for the 1st session. What a lovely facility, with A/C too!

An interesting look at where we were and where we are going in terms of technology in our classroom.

Technology to do list

• Get an Ipad or Ipod touch for my own personal use
• Wireless for my classroom so I can plug into the portable LCD and project onto the wall 
• Start a technology fundraising campaign for Ecole St Catherine's School
• Class set of Apple portable devices with covers and protective cases
• Presentation to SAC/PTA on the value in supporting the purchase of such devices.
• Get help to apply for grants to help raise money
• Look for local businesses that can support our technology initiative.Parents also need to know the value in moving ahead with technology in the classroom.
• cords and power bars to charge everything
• Make sure we can plug things in without popping a breaker in the basement.

DAY 2 in Assistive Technology

Off to another day where I regret we don't own an Ipad, yet. Christmas is coming. They are far more then just a mobile way to surf the net. 

Wondering how we (staff) can convince our PTA to make an investment into technology to buy a set, or half class set of Ipod Touches for our school. I'm sure some of the parents will see them as a poor investment, but they need to recognize the POTENTIAL of these devices. I'm sure there is a security fear. Where can we store them, how can we assure their safety (meaning not getting stolen or dropped). Proper training of the students. I need to figure out where we can money. 
In my school community I wouldn't feel comfortable asking parents to send in mobile devices such as Ipads or Ipod touches. I also couldn't count on students having these devices at home. Apple may make products that are UDL, but are they truly accessible for all? 


I find class moves very quickly. We could spend an infinite amount of time tinkering with our blogs or learning the ins and outs of Inspiration, learning about QR Codes and Prizmo was quite the paper saver. 


Prizmo  - I wonder what my primary teaching partner would think of all this. Imagine the THOUSANDS of sheets of paper it could save!

EDUC 5163

DAY 1

DISRUPTIVE Technology 

Thanks Steve Jobs!

·     

      What did we do before ipads, ipods and Apps? My children win't know a world without them. It is amazing to watch the control Spencer (my 3 year old) has with her fingers thanks to the Ipads @ Nanny and Grampas house. I knew that ipads and ipods were a great thing. I just didn't realize until today how great they are. I don't own an Ipad, yet. My parents each have one, but I don't think they realize it's true potential. Mom uses hers for surfing the net and playing Solitaire. Dad does use it for some of the Apps, maps and the GPS. I think neither one of them leave home without it. Dad even went as far as to get a SIM card to he can always be connected.  It must just be killing him in Labrador this week, nothing but a Satellite Phone for emergencies. The possabilities could be endless and inclusive.

I     Can be useful to students of all ages and abilities. What would be nice, would be to have a class set, or even half a set of Ipads. 

• 1. Sequencing of a story
• 2.  Journals
• 3.  Draw pics and take pictures of them
• 4.  Creating collages
• 5.  My favorite
• 6.  A Biography of historical figures
• 7.  All about me/Star Student
• 8.  Visual schedule
• 9.  Social stories
• 10.Create a comic  
• 11. Make the collage into a puzzle
• 12. Research a person,  place or thing and present their findings
• 13. Show and tell
• 14. Make a card
• 15. Make a list

Here is the PICCOLLAGE  Emily and I had the opportunity to collaborate on. It was easy yo use. it reminded me of scrap booking, but less expensive! The possibilities are endless.

Simple how to Pic Collage video.

UDL – Universal Design for Learning.  Accessible by all and now even more affordable.  I was quite surprised by the difference in cost from laptops, notebooks, etc and Ipads or Ipods. A dream, and maybe it will become a reality sooner, rather than later is for the DOE to make text more accessible for UDL by providing texts books and text in a digital form. The demand is there, but we should be looking at information/text that will provide texts so all students can access. trying to level the playing field for all students.

ASSITTIVE TECHNOLOGY is about providing ACCESS to a task and improving performance of an individual with a disability. It's about matching the needs and skills of the user (student) with the appropriate technology to help them better communicate and participate.