Core Vocabulary Learning

Core Vocabulary is fast becoming a the best way to teach students to communicate.  While I still feel like I have a lot to learn in this area, Kate Ahern at Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs has done an amazing job sharing ideas.  Her latest is a great way to share Core Vocabulary and even includes visuals from Symbol Stix, Boardmaker and Araasaac (which I believe is from the Tobii Communicator) symbol sets.  Check out the whole post here:  Core Vocabulary Learning.

Patrick

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RJ Cooper Apps - Spell-A-Word & Point to Pictures

RJ Cooper & Associates have a ton of great accessibility devices for all learners.  RJ was the first to develop a Bluetooth Switch interface to use with the iPad and has a great app for learning to unlock iOS devices-Slide to Unlock.  Recently he announced 2 new apps.  Take a look at the press release below

I am happy to *finally* announce the availability of my latest 2 apps that have been 'ported' over to iPad! I had promised these by end of summer, but programming for the iPad is just not that easy. And I try to make my apps very 'rich' in features.
Spell-A-Word - LARGE print, spelling app, where you can make your own WordLists, or use those that we've made for you (complete with pictures and recorded words). When searching for this app, make sure you use the dashes.  To view in iTunes click below:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spell-a-word/id480176452?ls=1&mt=8
Point To Pictures - The only AAC *training* app in the world. I believe this app is a *necessary* prerequisite for successful AAC on the iPad for anyone that doesn't immediately 'get' an actual AAC app!  To view in iTunes click below.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/point-to-pictures/id479371604?ls=1&mt=8
My apps are free for the first 2 weeks of release so go get 'em! After that they will be $29.95 each (each cost me over $10K to create!)
Soon to follow are switch versions, Scan-A-Word, and Scan to Pictures.

This email is a little old, so you probably have about a week left to download these apps for free!  They both look like very interesting apps for helping learners with communication difficulties become more proficient!


Patrick


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Edublog Award Nominees 2011

It's that time again, time for the Edublog Awards 2011 (#eddies11).  This yearly event allows edubloggers the chance to share their favorite blogs and resources with the greater community.  And it's a great way to find out about other blogs!!  Here are my nominations!

Best individual blog - Zenodotus - Jim Gubbins

I've known Jim for about a year now, but I'll have to be honest I've just started reading his blog.  I have to say I've been missing out.  He's got great ideas on technology integration and web2.0 tools.  Some of my favorite posts have been about the Kindle Fire & Timetoast.

Best ed tech / resource sharing blog - Free Tech for Teachers - Richard Byrne

So many things to say about Richard's blog, but at the same time I don't know where to start.  As I write this he put up his very first post from 4 years ago.  It seems like I've been reading it forever.  Everyday there are a ton of new things to try and all for free!!

Best teacher blog - From the Desk of Mr. Foteah - Matthew Ray

I've started following Matthew's blog after a very good SpedChat on Twitter!  He's been moderating the chats, and I thought it would be a good time to check out his blog.  Check out his Letter's with a teacher and new mother!

Best twitter hashtag - #spedchat

Spedchat had a few bumps this spring and summer, lost a few moderators, and is now back and better than ever with MrMatthewRay leading the charge (see previous nomination).  Check out this great chat every Tuesday at 8:30 pm EST

Best free web tool - Tarheelreader.org

Have I ever mentioned how much I love TarHeelReader? (Tarheelreader or WebApps) It is one of the first web2.0 tools I ever mention to other teachers and colleagues.  Free books, free text to speech, accessible by switch or Intellikeys, accessible on mobile platforms (iOS, Android, Blackberry, TouchPad, etc...) - what more could you ask for in a website!

Best educational use of audio / video / visual / podcast - ATTipscast - Christopher Bugaj

Looking for a strategy to use with a student in a classroom, then this is the podcast to listen to!  So many great tips packed into short 10 minute segments.  And you can even download them, burn to CD and create free professional development packets!

Best educational wiki - UDL tech Toolkit

Karen Janowski & Joyce Kazman Valenza have put together an impressive amount of information regarding UDL on this wiki.  Check out all the tools, ideas, and websites to help you implement UDL in your classroom.

Lifetime achievement - SpeEd Change - Ira Socol

Ira is a product of the special education system, ex-New York police officer person with reading difficulties and physical impairments.  That being said, he writes some of the most interesting thoughtful posts on education, and what needs to be changed.  He has re-imagined schools to make them more accessible-both for physical and learning needs, and constantly challenges our thoughts on the status quo.  A great inspiration!

Make sure to check out the Edublog Awards page so you know when to vote!

Patrick

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App of Approval

The founder of the iEAR site for education app reviews, Scott Meech (@smeech), is starting a new company for app development, App Of Approval.  This company will be focused on creating apps that focus on creation and offers a company that will listen to educational consumers and create products for them.  In addition, they will be looking for app ideas from educators, they will be posting a framework to allow educators to submit and work on ideas for these apps.

Scott is currently looking for 3 app codes and a graphic designer to help with the apps.  You can find more information here.  You can find App Of Approval on Twitter @appofapproval, on Facebook at App of Approval or at the website - http://appofapproval.us

Follow all the news from App of Approval by subscribing to their Newsletter.

Patrick

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Weekly Diigo Links (weekly)

• BBC - CBeebies - Play Games: Play games featuring all your favourite CBeebies characters by Switch and Special Needs

  tags: bbc characters special needs switch accessible switch education free easy adapted

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

2011 Gift Giving Guide for Individuals Living with Paralysis

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation have posted a gift guide for persons living with paraysis.  This guide has tons of ideas to look at when thinking of purchasing a gift for anyone who is living with limited mobility or even cognitive disabilities.  I like the Gamer's Section which includes the Wii (a great gift already adapted), and would also include an XBox 360 with Kinect.  So if you're looking for something to share with family or friends with ideas, check out this list:

2011 Gift Guide for Individuals Living with Paralysis

Patrick

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Weekly Diigo Links (weekly)

• App of Approval

  tags: iear edapp AT assistive technology education ipad tools web2.0 iOS ipodtouch classroom

• Jen's Gems Primary Apps

  tags: apps education ipad iTeach iOS ipodtouch mobile

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Weekly Diigo Links (weekly)

• Home

  tags: scanning disabilities IWB switch SPED assistive technology education free web2.0 tools switch accessible switchadapted

• BalancEdTech - iPad Exploration

  tags: education ios ipad iphone ipodtouch explore training selfled wiki

• I Education Apps Review - I Education Apps Review - iPad 2 / Apple TV Document Camera Setup

  from I Education Apps Review http://www.iear.org/iear/

  tags: ifttt googlereader I Education Apps Review

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

test post

This is a test, please ignore.

Patrick

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Omnidazzle

Heard about a really interesting tool from @smeech on Twitter.  He posted a great screencast (from @kolsen4) about Omnidazzle.  Omnidazzle is a free plugin for Macs that allows you to highlight and change a screen temporarily on a smartboard or projector.  Check out the Screencast here.

Some of cool tools in this product are:
Sonar - turn your screen into a sonar monitor
Waves - create ripples on your screen
Comic - click around and comic book pow & kapow's appear

Some of the useful tools are:

Cutout - it dims the screen, then you can select parts to highlight.  You can choose from circle, oval or rectangle cutouts

Flashlight - it dims most of the screen, except for the immediate are around your mouse cursor.  You can adjust how big or small the flashlight is in settings

This tool could be extremely useful when doing a lesson with a projector or SMARTBoard to help students focus on the correct part of the screen.  Download Ominidazzle for Mac from here.

Patrick

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Weekly Diigo Links (weekly)

• APPitic - 1,300+ EDUapps

  tags: app iOS ipad iphone ipodtouch education ADE appitic teachers

• App Store - TurboScan: quickly scan multipage documents into high-quality PDFs

  interesting idea to use as a way to save student work, use in with conjunction with iAnnotate and you can mark it up.

  tags: app store documents pdfs assistive technology tools ipad iOS education

• QRhacker.com - Pimp your code!

  tags: QR qrcode qrcodes tools qr_codes generator QR codes education free easy

• Book Liberator Blog | Unpulp your data

  tags: assistive technology education tools web2.0 blog bookliberator liberator

• Five Free Everyday Mathematics Apps

  from The Education Technology Blog http://educationtechnologyblog.com

  tags: ifttt googlereader The Education Technology Blog

• SENICT - Special Educational Needs ICT: "Press the switch"

  from SENICT - Special Educational Needs ICT http://senict.blogspot.com/

  tags: ifttt googlereader SENICT - Special Educational Needs ICT

• ATIASmackdownSeriesChi2011 - home

  tags: education atia11 apps smackdown ideas audio googledoc free assistivetechnology

• MOREDAYS, Inc.

  tags: education calendar organization planner journal task schedule agenda assistive technology free ipad

• SeroTalk | A podcast and interactive blog on the accessible digital lifestyle, produced by Serotek, the Accessibility Anywhere people

  tags: software podcast free education accessibility ideas

• That Android Show

  tags: software android podcast free education accessibility howto ideas

• GoTalk Now for iPad on the iTunes App Store

  tags: software ipad itunes app store mobile communication aac education gotalk attainment

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Free Vendor Hall Pass - ATIA 2011

Completely forgot to mention that you can get a free pass to the Vendor hall for today, tomorrow or Saturday.  The Vendor hall has tons of great information, vendor presentations and demos going on all day long!  If  you are in the area and can stop by I highly recommend doing so!

Thursday - 10:15 - 6:00 (closed from 1-2)
Friday - 10:15 - 5:00 (closed from 1-2)
Saturday - 9:00 - 12:00

Vendor Hall Pass

Patrick

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ATIA Chicago - 2011

Today, tomorrow and Saturday I'll be spending some quality time at the ATIA (Assistive Technology Industry Association) Conference at the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel.  Today I started off the day by presenting - Independence for All - you can see the Prezi by clicking the link.  Also, additional information is available on my wiki - Teachntech Wiki.

Tomorrow, the EdCeptional crew will be talking, and between all that I'll be attending sessions and checking out the vendor hall.  You can find my notes from various sessions here - ATIA 2011 Chicago Notes, which include a very cool App Smackdown done this morning!  I'll post some of my favorite products from the vendor hall in the next few days.

If you are at ATIA, please stop by and introduce yourself!  You can find me at @teachntech00 on Twitter.

Patrick

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