Quick Key on Kickstater

Recently, an interesting app crossed my Twitter feed, and the creator is looking for a little help.  Quick Key is a simple app that can help you quickly and easily collect and grade formative assessments.  Think scantron for your phone!

I saw the demo that Walter posted and was instantly enthralled by it.  I immediately saw implications for tracking behavior as well as what it was originally created for.  It also connects with Learning Management Software (like PowerSchool and others), so you data is automatically uploaded and available in your grade book.

Walter is getting very close to releasing this app, but needs a little more help.  Take a moment and check out his Kickstarter campaign, to raise $20,000.  He's over halfway to his goal, and still 41 days to go!

http://tinyurl.com/QK-Kickstart

Patrick

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EdCeptional Minute - #41.5 - Chrome Apps for All

Interested in learning more about Chrome App/Extension and how you can use them in your classroom?  Join Deb Truskey (@slpdeb) and I as we discuss it on this week's EdCeptional Minute.

EdCeptional Minute #43.5 - Chrome Apps for All

Patrick

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Voiceover in Kindle App

Kindle released an update to their app on both the iPhone and iPad.  This update makes the kindle App compatible with Voiceover.  What does this mean?  It means that all books that you purchase with your Kindle app can be read using Voiceover, a feature that has been long asked for!  To me what's even more amazing is that Amazon has long had the ability to read some books out loud on their Kindle Reader device, but have been hampered by publishers (see my post from 2009).  Using Voiceover, an accessibility feature, seems like a way to get around limitations imposed by publishers.

Make sure to update your app and start listening!

Patrick

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#AppMondayTAS - Toca Boca Birthday Party

Each week I will be featuring an app from BridgingApps.org.  These apps are features in the Bridging Apps newsletter each week and are reviewed by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers.  Come back each week for a new review.  If you’d like more information on how to use the BridgingApps.org website, or to find more app reviews, please click here.

Toca Boca Birthday Party - (Universal, $2.99)

Reviewer Comments

Toca Birthday Party is a fun app that address pretend play and language skills.

The app begins with a choice of party themes. When the theme is chosen, the child then sets the table, chooses a gift and invites guests. The lights go out and the candles are lit. The app plays a song and the child and play partner can sing "Happy Birthday". The cake is then cut and the players can eat their cake, pour juice, pop the poppers and open the gift.

The app gives the child plenty of opportunities to communicate with the other players as well as pretend play. The adult play partner can request more juice or cake from the child encouraging receptive language by following commands and identifying objects receptively. The graphics are clear, crisp and engaging. The sound is unobtrusive and encourages more language from the players.

We have used this app with children from 2 years to 9 years with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder, expressive and receptive language delay, Down syndrome, articulation disorder and pragmatic language disorder. The app is great for addressing pragmatic/social language goals, expressive labeling, sentence usage, asking and answering questions and following commands.

Mobile Devices

iPad

iPhone

Embedded Skills

"wh" questions

able to discriminate between pictures

able to follow simple directions

attention span

auditory comprehension

expressive identification of pictures

expressive language

expressive receptive language

follows 1-2 step commands

formulating questions and answers

increase creative play

listening skills

receptive identification of pictures

receptive language

social interaction

social skills practice

turn-taking in conversation

Independent Traits

Creative

Early Learning

Education

Listening Skills

Preschool Games

School-age Games

Creative

Early Learning

Education

Listening Skills

Preschool Games

School-age Games

Social Skills

Assistive/Independent

Independent

iTunes Categories

Games

Family

Kids

Entertainment

BridgingApps Categories

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Communication

Fun

Language Arts

Life Skills

Social Play

Social Skills

Speaking and Listening

Disclaimer:

You may copy, modify format, distribute and perform the work(s), including app reviews and

any data even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission provided that you: a)

cite our research project and publications as follows: BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals

Greater Houston; b) agree that we make no warranties about the work(s) or data, and disclaim

liability for all uses of the work(s) or data, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; c)

when using or citing the work(s) or data, you should not imply endorsement by us; and d) do not

misrepresent the work or its content, or any part thereof, or present it any manner which would

have the effect of disparaging BridgingApps, Easter Seals Greater Houston or any affiliated

entity or person.

Patrick

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#AppMondayTAS - Teaching Table

I've been trying an interesting app called Teaching Table (iPad Only|$2.99) with my students.  Teaching Table is a set of virtual interactive math manipulatives.  The manipulatives are contained in widgets, including base 10 blocks, money, dice, polygons, fractions and counting areas.

I'm impressed with the different widgets.  They are easy to set up and interact with each other very well.  Setup of the different widgets is easy and I was able to do it "on the fly" while working with a student.  One thing I did have to remember was to start each lesson so that the editing features disappeared and the widgets worked as they were designed.

I was impressed especially with the counting widget.  Once placed on the screen it interacts with any of the other manipulatives.  It will count blocks, money or fractions.  You can even place different items in the same counting area and it will count them up.  Mixing fractions and money might give you something that looks a little strange, but it is correct!

The ability to add text to any page allows you to create word problems that include materials for solving the problem.  You can even create multiple choice or open ended answers.  There are also options for self-grading questions.

Once in the presentation mode, students cannot change the widgets (add coins or more blocks), but can move them around the pages, etc...  One thing I did notice is that it is very easy to exit the presentation mode and change the problems, and I think have a passcode option might be good for some students.

They've shared an excellent video that highlights some of these features.

Teaching Table Video

Overall, I'm impressed with the app and intend on adding it to my classroom options when setting up my math lessons.  Make sure you check out Teaching Table for the iPad on the App Store!

Patrick

**The reviewer was provided a copy of this app for free**

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ClassDojo App

ClassDojo has released an iOS app for use in the classroom.  The free app (ClassDojo App) is even easier to use than their mobile site.  It works seamlessly across all platforms and give you some great options like assigning points to multiple students at the same time, and picking a random student!  You can even have multiple devices giving points at the same time (great way to include aides in supporting large group activities).

Along with the iOS app launch, they have recently upgraded the site to fix some small bugs and make the interface cleaner.  It now allows you to download individual reports as a group.  As well as make it easier to get student codes so they can create their own login.

ClassDojo has quickly replaced my classroom behavior system (a token system), in almost all cases.  There are still a few features I would like to see implemented that would make it just soar for a special education classroom.  I would like more specific feedback about the occurrence of behaviors, specifically when they occur.  Along with that, the ability to create multiple classes and track the same student over the course of the day would be hugely beneficial, if this was included I could use it to track any behavior plan data I might need!

I continue to find ClassDojo extremely useful, and can't wait to see where it goes in the next year!

Patrick

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Toca Boca - Toca Store - Free April 2

Tomorrow is World Autism Awareness Day and to celebrate Toca Boca is offering a free app.  Tomorrow, April 2, Toca Boca is offering Toca Store (Universal) for free in the iTunes App Store.  Make sure you download your copy!

Patrick

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iPad Shutter Button

Apple released an update to iOS and I decided to take the time to do it recently.  Most of the bug fixes in 5.1 were under the hood and really nothing to talk about, although I've heard some people's battery life is much improved.

One small change that I noticed took me by surprise.  Apple move the location of the shutter button on the iPad Camera App.  Previously (as illustrated in the photo above), if you were holding the ipad in landscape mode to take a picture the shutter button was at the bottom, middle of the screen.  In order to use it you'd have to hold the ipad with one hand and carefully tap the shutter button to take the picture.  This typically caused the ipad to shake slightly and have a more blurry picture.  By moving the button to the side (near the home button), it's in a more natural place to tap when holding the iPad with 2 hands in landscape mode.

Probably not something that affects a lot of people, but it's nice to see Apple improving their software and responding to consumer complaints.  I'm sure it also has to do with the fact that the "New" iPad has a much better picture and they are expecting more people to use the camera app.

Patrick

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MeeGenius App

I previously posted about MeeGenius last year - #AppMondayTAS - Webapps.  While I mentioned that they had a iOS app, I was not overly impressed by it, and it seemed redundant with the webapp available. Also, most of the books required you to pay for them.

I'm happy to say that things have changed with MeeGenius!  Recently while listening to the Mobile Reach podcast on the Edreach Network they had an interview with the creator of the MeeGenius website.  They have really expanded the book offerings, and have started giving out free Schools & School Library licenses!!  You can request a free account using the form here - Schools & Library Request.  This gets you access to over 40 books 70 books now (Thanks to Chris from MeeGenius for correcting me!).  Each book includes narration, word highlighting and access on mobile devices (iOS & Android), the web and even Google TV.  There are lots of fun titles to try out.  Just a word of warning you will need to have internet access to download a title the first time.

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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