It’s all the latest buzz… Ipads and Special Education.  Everyone is talking about.  Everyone is thrilled by it capabilities as a tool for students.  Awhile back I borrowed my daughter’s Ipod Touch and loaded it with applications (apps) that I thought may be useful for the student’s I work with.  I can certainly verify that my daughter had a good time exploring them.  When searching for apps, I had several criteria in mind.

1. How can a student with a visual impairment access this? Does it have speech output?  Can it be enlarged?  Does it have the no touch hoovering capability?

2.  Will using this app. improve organization? Allow the student to participate in daily living and community activities?

3. Does this app support the curriculum?

4.  Does this app. provide sensory input?

5.  Is this app. fun and more importantly really cool??

Here is a list of our favorite apps.  These were all loaded in the Early Fall.

Ben Color Capture, Bloom, Bubble Wrap, Bumps- A Braille Guide, Dictionary.com, Drum Kit, Flashlight, Glow Doodle, (animator, jump and hockey)  Kinetic Balls, Koi Pond, Letter Tracer Preschool, A Mood Pad, Old MacDonald, Sign Smith ASL, Speak It! Text to Speech, Tap Tap Revenge, Toddler Flash Cards, Touch Hockey, Wheels on the Bus.

Check out  Eric Sailers over at Speechlanguagepathologysharing.blogspot.com has done several presentations and even shares an

Ipod Touch Apps for Special Needs document.

I really want to get my hands on one of these to explore all of it functions and capabilities.

I am so lucky to be surrounded by such a caring network of colleagues.  Even luckier for me,  my good friend Patti Koski  lives right down the street.  Patti is a Speech Language Pathologist and Author/Illustrator of the Matt and Molly series for students with Autism & PDD.  You can find this series along with her other publications @ Linquisystems.com .

Patti recently fulfilled a dream by creating a camp for children with Autism and PDD.  My daughter was fortunate to be one of the counselors.  Patti wanted to create a camp environment for the children that welcomed  peer interaction and encourage the campers to create friendships with the counselors. She has definitely fulfilled her dream.  So much so that halfway through her inaugural year the campers are in need of more space so they can continue to learn, grow and have fun into the winter months.

Check out one creative Camper’s idea on how to raise funds for an observation tower.  And another clever idea “Buttons for Barns”  It is extremely touching to watch all of the campers and counselors say their goodbyes on that last day. Scroll through the CampKoski.com website by clicking on the photo below,  to learn more about the program.

We will be attending the Spooky event tomorrow night… it is always a Treat to spend time at Camp Koski!

Share the “Treats” happening in your community.

Glogster is a really, really cool tool for students, educators and parents.  Teachers can assign interactive lessons in a safe online environment.  Students can create interactive posters, write research papers etc.. For students that have difficulty with the writing process, Glogster evens the playing field by allowing digital media, audio, and video to be embedded into the poster.  The cursor acts as a magnifying tool and will enlarge any item that it lingers on.

Check out my Glogster on “The Adapted Computer Worstation”  it was too wide to post on this page so you will have to follow the link.  I used my Glogster to engage my Adult Learners in sharing the components of an adapted workstation.  Sign up and try one today.. again.. it’s FREE!

The Adapted Computer Workstation

While virtual conferences, web casts , pod-casts are nothing new, participating free is!   On October 24,2009 I attended a 7 hour conference with thousands participants from around the world… in my pajamas.  I received so many valuable tips for digital technology that it has taken me a week to digest all the information.   ( I will create an entire post to list the resources shared for Student’s with Visual Impairments)

The Discovery Educators Network (DEN) stated:

“Thousands of educators online and in-person congregated together, as the DEN team went house to ‘house to house’ to explore the many digital treats available to educators today.  During this unique professional development event, attendees had the flexibility to attend online or in-person at one of many regional events hosted by the DEN Leadership Councils.”

The conference was taped and can be viewed here:

Not the most flattering picture, and yes I was in my p.j.'s !

Well, she’s gone and done it again.  Kate Ahern, author of Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs, had launched another blog “Kate’s Class Video of the Day.”

This site was created to enrich the curriculum by providing different genres of music to Student’s with Multiple Special Needs.  These video will correlate to the curriculum, a current event, a new item or holiday/seasonal themes.

Where does she get the energy?

http://katesclassvod.blogspot.com/

Here is a sample of one of this weeks videos.  Other videos include Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Ghostbusters, Boris the Spider.. Very Spooky!

About 10 years ago I wrote a grant for the creation of a Multi-Sensory room. I am very lucky to say that the Multi-Sensory room has been revised once already in those years and now termed “The Multi-Sensory Studio” We were able to create an environment that meets the needs of all learners.We became a “Studio”  with the additions of vibro-aucoustic mats where students can feel the music and a theatrical lighting system.  Just as technology changes day to day, the sensory environment changes as well. While the Multi-sensory room in my work environment has always centered around educational and sensory needs of the students it was time to take a look once again to search for experiences to engage the students. I discovered a great resource in Richard Hirstwood.  Through viewing his video how-to’s on You Tube and listening to his podcasts I have that “wow” feeling  and feel confident that I can upgrade the sensory environment yet again.  Check out all the amazing resources he has to share.  So many low-tech and free ideas that you will be ready to jump out of you seat and start creating.

Richard lives in the UK and many of his ideas such as the Sensory “Brollies” as in umbrellas are very clever.  Check out the  Information Exchange Newsletter (download)  that is packed with ideas.  Literacy, Math, Social Studies, Self-Awarness are curricular topics addressed.  I was also inspired by the thought of using the sensory environment for Yoga/Meditation Class, Speech Sensory and Smelly Foods workshop, Creative Dance Class.

Richard shares ideas for mobile Sensory Carts.  This would be ideal for home, or residential settings.  I myself would really like to get my hands on the Pico Projector.

Browse through this site, but I am warning you.. there is so much information you will want to stay for days.

click on the following

Bubble Columns from  Multi-Sensory Studio.

Fiber Optic Waterfall and Vibro Acoustic Mat

Using Voicethread to create tutorials

more about “VoiceThread – Group conversations aro…“, posted with vodpod

 

This is a video tutorial for recording on a multi-level voice output device. Strategies are shared for adding textured communication symbols.

more about “Tutorial on How to record on a Multi …“, posted with vodpod

 

more about “Creating Picture/Texture Communicatio…“, posted with vodpod

 

more about “Jing Tutorial on How to use the Class…“, posted with vodpod