VoiceThread

Lately several people on Twitter and other blogs have been talking about Voicethread.com. Voicethread is a simple slideshow viewer, but at the same time it's so much more than that. Voicethread allows you to upload your photos, rearrange them, and create a great looking slideshow. The added feature is you can add comments to each of the slides. Once you share your Voicethread you can invite people to view it, then they can make comments on the show too. Voicethreads are completely secure, unless you make them public.


I recently used Voicethread to share photos and comments for a community based instruction trip my class took. It was such a simple thing to do (took less than 10 min. to complete it), and the parents were so excited to see their children. I think this would be a wonderful tool to share curriculum materials with parents, create online social stories, or just a fun way for kids to share what they've learned.


You can sign up for a free account, educators can pay a one time fee of $10 for a K-12 account. They also have class & school accounts for a very reasonable price. Take a look a the K-12 pricing here. While the free account is great for most people, the Educator account allows you to export 3 movies per month for offline viewing. Check it out!




Patrick


Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons - username: clappstar


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Listserv's

One of my comments recently was from fellow blogger, Ricky Buchanan, at ATMac, and she asked:

I'd love to see a post about what AT-related listserves you're a member of - I'm not on any of them and I'm not sure where to start!

It's been a while since I've shared so here we go. I am Co-Moderator with several people at the Yahoo Boardmaker Group. This group was started by a professional and includes parents, teachers, OT's, AT specialists, and any other kind of person who might use the Boardmaker Software. There is a limited file area where we can share files, and also a place to share links. The main purpose of the group is to share ideas, and ask questions to problems. Questions about special education and many other items are discussed.

I also belong to the QIAT Listserv. QIAT stands for Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology and was developed by Joy Zabala from the University of Kentucky. QIAT is a philosophy of how to provide Assistive Technology appropriately. It's also a listserv to share ideas, ask questions, and just talk about AT. A great place to get ideas.

Last I recently started sharing bookmarks on Diigo.com. This is a social bookmarking site like Delicious.com (which I've talked about here). One feature of Diigo is the ability to join and share links with groups. I've started a group called AT in SPED. Anyone who joins the group (which is public) can share and see links that other people have shared. There's a great toolbar available here. It gives you offline access to your bookmarks, and will store your "unread" bookmarks for later viewing. So feel free to join the group and get some new links!

Patrick


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A.T.TipsCast

Recently I stumbled upon a really good podcast for Assistive Technology. A.T.TipsCast is a blog, but is also a great podcast available on Cyberears and iTunes. This podcast is short and to the point. Most episodes are around 6 minutes, and none are over 10 minutes. Chris Bugaj (pronounced /boo gay/) is a entertaining and engaging host, and the topics are a great mix of new information and interesting ways to use stuff you already have.

Take a minute and check out the A.T.TipsCast. You won't be sorry.

Patrick

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No Limits to Learning

I'd like to share a blog I've been reading for a while now. It's written by Lon Thornburg and it's called No Limits to Learning. Lon is a special educator and assistive technology specialist and writes about his experiences, his passion as he calls it. One of his most recent and posts was very inspiring all about a sandwich.

Check out No Limits to Learning

Patrick

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ASL Resources

Many students with significant cognitive disabilities learn with many different modalities. American Sign Language is one that is used most often. Here are some resources for finding signs across the internet. Many of them use video and pictures to help teach the signs.

One of the first I ever used was the ASL Browser from Michigan State University. It's easy to navigate, and includes a description of the sign.

Lifeprint.com is another great site for finding signs. You can navigate just like the ASL Browser, just using the alphabet. It also offers a University to teach you sign. The university is free, unless you want course credit for high school or college. You can even download a free ASL font for you computer.

The last resource I'd like to share is ASL Pro. This site uses video to model signs, it also includes phrases and religious sign specific to ASL.

Hope these resources will be useful. Use them well.

Patrick

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Proloquo2Go - AAC in your pocket

Recently I shared that Sam Sennott teamed with Assistiveware to develop AAC software for the iPod and iTouch, called Proloquo2Go.

Proloquo2Go looks to be a very portable, customizable platform for AAC users. It includes over 6000 symbols and more can be added (possibly using the built in iPhone camera?) Also includes multiple voices and text-to-speech options. The platform will be available in late March 2009. Head over to the website to sign up to receive news about it's release - Proloquo2Go.

Patrick

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RSS Feed issues

This weekend I was forced to change my RSS feed over to Google. There is some indication that there might be issues with this change over. If you are currently subscribed and have not received new posts in a few days (I posted everyday this weekend) please let me know and I will see what we can do to fix it. Hopefully this will not be a big issue.

Patrick

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A-Z Meme

Kate over at TLWMSN posted this meme and invited anyone to do it. I didn't have a plan for today's post, so here's my answers.

Accent: Mid-Western

Breakfast or no breakfast: Breakfast, everyday!

Chore I don’t care for: really don't like any of them

Dog or cat: Either, I currently have 2 cats

Essential electronics: my laptop

Favorite cologne: Escape

Gold or silver: silver

Handbag I carry most often: Swiss Army Knife Laptop Bag

Insomnia: not usually

Job Title: S.O.A.R. Teacher (Structured Opportunities for Academics & Responsibility)

Kids: Can't wait to have them!

Living arrangements: Robyn and I live in a nice 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse

Most admirable trait: kind

Naughtiest childhood behavior: naughty? I was a perfect child

Overnight hospital stay: I believe when I was 2, but I don't remember

Phobias: heights, glass elevators are awful

Quote: (can't think of one)

Reason to smile: crazy cats, my students, my lovely wife

Siblings: one brother

Time I wake up: 5:00, usually 7:00 on weekends

Unusual skill or talent: I can light a fire (that's what you learn when you become an Eagle Scout)

Vegetable I refuse to eat: peppers

Worst habit: figeting (with everything according to my wife)

X-rays: Once, I broke my wrist sledding

Yummy stuff: I'm a foodie, but I especially love things that are fried, Italian Beef, desert (lots and lots of desert), really anything (as long as it's not spicy).

Zoo animal I like most: Otters, they are adorable, so cute

Patrick

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Shahi - A Visual Dictionary

Larry Ferlazzo at Website of the Day recently posted about a very exciting site for all students, Shahi.   Shahi is a visual dictionary. It provided a definition for the word you type in, but also pictures.  The pictures are pulled from Flickr, and they are high quality. It's really a very simple, easy to use site.  It would be a great resource for students to help them see multiple pictoral examples of the same word.   Check it out!




-  Patrick


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Proloquo2Go - AAC for iPod Touch & iPhone

ON the QIAT listserve Samuel Sennott just announced that AssistiveWare is ready to announce the release of Proloquo2Go AAC software. The software is designed to be used on iPod Touch & iPhones! This exciting new software was developed for those AAC users who are resistant to use more typical AAC devices, possibly due to social feelings or other such issues. The software is based off the Proloquo - a text to speech engine for the Mac OS (slight edit - Sam informed me that the Proloquo2go is entirely new, not based off the Proloquo software). Take a look at it here: Proloquo. Here's what Samuel had to say about Proloquo2Go on the Qiat Listserv:

With tears in my eyes and great hope in my heart I write to you to tell you that we, David Niemeijer and I, are releasing an augmentative communication app for the iPhone and iPod touch, Proloquo2Go. I am very pleased to be the AAC advisor on this project.

This project is about so many people and their families. The stories we are hearing out of our testing group are of children and adults not only having a powerful portable AAC device, but experiencing that coolness factor, which has delightfully become such a big presence in our field. Thank you very much to those testers. You know who you are.

Proloquo2Go is the name of the application and it is pronounced:

* Pro as in program.
* lo as in low.
* quo as in quote.
* 2 as in two
* Go as in go to the store.
* It is Latin for speak out.

Proloquo2Go: Communication on the Go

It has been quite hard keeping P2G a secret, for as you know I like to share! We are in the second beta testing version and are looking forward to our late first quarter release. Look for the full press release shortly.

To me it represents what is going to happen this year and beyond in AAC and AT, where we see the viability of touch coming to the mainstream. Working together, I believe we will see some miraculous results with the new platforms coming available to all of us. Much thanks goes out to OLPC as a whole and Mary Lou Jepson for paving the way....

Sam has been a tireless ally and advocate for AAC users and this is no exception. The obvious uses for Proloquo2Go will be a great boon to many users! Thanks Sam!

Patrick

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Literactive

I came across a great literacy site recently called Literactive. I've been meaning to write about it, but have not had too much time. Here's a great review and idea of the what the site is about from iLearn Technology.

Patrick

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Kido'z Browser

There's another interesting browser that just release for kids, it's called Kido'z.  The browser was created and is moderated by a group of parents and professionals.  The browser displays a picture of a website and allows the students to access the website, they have created scripts that keeps kids from leaving a site and heading to something else.  Since the browser is controlled, there is no way to add your own bookmarks, but most of the common kids websites are included.   It would be a great browser for a classroom or home.   The information and site are updated on a regular basis, in fact they have just added video support from YouTube and games from other sites.

Take a look at the browser here: Kido'z Browser


Patrick

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Mrs. Riley

A new site just coming online is Mrs. Riley.  Mrs. Riley is still in beta but the features already online are great.  The basic use of the site is to create word cards.  There are at least 8 different templates that you can use.  They have several different styles and sizes available.  The pictures/photos are all high quality, and look great.  There are only a limited number of pictures at this time, but you can search Flickr, your computer, and Yahoo for other images.

The site runs quickly and is easy to navigate.   You can share boards with the public or keep them private.  This site is in public beta, so once it goes live it will have a cost, but as an alternative to boardmaker it might be worth it for some.

Patrick

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Vote...

One of my favorite blogs Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs has been nominated for a weblog award.   She was one of 40 education blogs nominated and is now in the top ten.  Please head here to vote for her blog.  You can vote once every 24 hours up to Jan 13.  Please take a moment to vote.

Patrick

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Change.org

I was extremely excited this year by the election and was really glad when Barack Obama won. Recently a member of the QIAT list posted a link to Change.org. One of the ideas of Change.org is to present the new president on Inauguration day with 10 ideas to change the country. The above graphic displays the idea that I've voted for, Medicaid Waivers for the Developmentally Disabled. While I have not dealt with Medicaid in the capacity, I can imagine how difficult it might be. Especially after reading some of the comments on the website. At this time this idea has not reached the top ten ideas to pass along to Mr. Obama, but hopefully we can push it up on the list.












Patrick


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30 days hath September...

So I'm an NPR junkie, it's on in my car almost all the time (I need my Car Talk and Wait Wait...Don't tell me! on Saturday's), and today was no exception. Today I was listening and they were talking to an author about his new book called Thirty Days Has September. It's a book about pneumonic devices, all those fun things we teach kids to remembers stuff - HOMES, Every Good Boy Does Fine, etc..., but it was the reason why he wrote the book that was interesting to me. The author described his son who has Autism and has difficulty understanding spoken language as well as using spoken language. The son had difficulty transitioning activities (not that unusual) and his father felt that since he didn't understand spoken language he was unable to understand what was happening next. That's when they hit upon his strength, the son had an amazing ability to recall music. They began using his strength to help him transition. As they would transition to an activity they would sing a little song to help him understand what would be happening - even something as simple as Splish, Splash, I was taking a bath - so he knew they were heading to the bath. Using this experience it helped the author decide to write his book.

The story just struck something with me. Sometimes it's the little things we take for granted that end up being life changing. Obviously for this child his love of music was many years just considered nothing more than a fascination, but all it took was one person to recognize the power of his gift and figure out a way to use it. This child's quality of life was increased because after hearing a song 1-2 times he was able to understand what was coming next, even using the tactic to tell others what he was doing (if you listen to the story on NPR you'll understand). Hopefully using this example we can all think about the little things that might completely change the life of a student.

Patrick

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Thought on Communication

So instead of working on my lesson plans, planning for the first day back from break, I'm sitting on my couch writing a blog post. Why? I really don't know. I've been having thoughts about different things, and one of the main ones is how to integrate more communication into my classroom day. This is one of those things that took me a little while to understand as a teacher of students with significant cognitive disabilities.

In college I learned all about teaching reading to all students, theories, how to do so many things, but they never really touched on how important communication was to all of it. I can teach 10 students to recognize letters, but how will they use it if they can't communicate? This kind of realization is something that took my years to understand. I just hope that our new batch of special education teachers is able to grasp it much more quickly than I. Communication is everything to our students!

Patrick

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All Students Meme

I've been reading a blog from Christine Southard recently. She is a special education teacher in NY and a very big advocate for inclusion of all students. In fact she currently co-teaches in a classroom with both general education students and special education students. This unique setting gives her a very interesting take on teaching. She participated in a internet Meme (sort of a thought that gets passed around) and I thought it would be interesting to share my feelings on the meme:

There are 3 things I believe about all students:

1. All students can learn
2. All students deserve the opportunity to communicate
3. All students are children first

As teachers, I believe it is our responsibility to help our students achieve these 3 things EVERYDAY.

I'm going to tag a couple of people to help continue this meme:

Jeanette Van Houten
Sam Sennott
Kate Ahern
Richard Byrne
Ricky Buchanan
Yuichi Tamano

Patrick

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