EdCeptional #043 - 2 More Mondays

The next episode of EdCeptional is up over at EdReach.us.  Deb (@slpdeb), Tricia (@tlazarro11) and I discuss some new features of Google Forms, personal #eduwins, and how Deb uses the Sunny Articulation App.

EdCeptional #043 - 2 more Mondays

Patrick

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What is your #Eduwin

I've been podcasting for the EdReach Network (yes, I promise EdCeptional will return soon!) for a while now and for the past year EdReach has been asking for EduWin's.  In an effort to change the focus of big media, and share what we are actually doing, EdReach is partnering with PBS to share these stories.  Please take a moment and head to http://whatisyoureduwin.com and sign up to hear what is coming from Eduwin and PBS!  And you can always share your Eduwin on Twitter with the hastag #eduwin

Patrick

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#Eduwin - iPad to Android

#Eduwin is an opportunity for educators to share the positive accomplishments of themselves and their students in public forum.  If you head to whatisyoureduwin.com you can share one for yourself and check out what was shared recently.  Here's one that I shared:

The story is a little longer than this tweet, so I thought I'd share it.  I have a student using a communication device and a very active family!  They shared a ton of pictures with me and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for to have the student dictate sentences and create an ePub book on the iPad.  I also knew that I wanted to share this book with parents, and happened to know they used Android phones.  Knowing very little about ePub readers for Android, I contacted the podcasters from the Mobile Reach show (@chadkafka & @taml17) and asked for recommendations.  There recommendation was Aldiko.

So using Dropbox I transferred the students pictures to my classroom iPad.  We used Creative Book Builder to put together the book.  Incorporating pictures, text and audio on every page.  The student was engaged and excited to be talking about his experiences.  Once we finished I published the book to iBooks.  It worked perfectly!  So I also saved a copy of the ePub to Dropbox.  Last I emailed the book to the parent, along with a suggestion of trying Aldiko to open it.

The next day that parent wrote back and let me know it worked seemlessly!!  I was actually quite surprised, that creating a book on an iPad that I could share it with an Android phone with no issues.  I know the pride that student felt in creating this book and I am so happy that I could share it with his parents and family.

I know this seems like a long post, and a bit of a ramble, but I just wanted to share this positive story with everyone!  I encourage you to head over to whatisyoureduwin.com and share your story today!

Patrick

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Not always technology...

I have to admit, this blog has focused a lot on technology over the few years I've written.  Partly because of my belief that it is a way to give children independence they would not have with out it, and also because I'm a geek.

On the other hand, I still have a ton of low-tech materials throughout my classroom.  As any special ed teacher will attest Velcro will save your lesson!  My instructional assistants and I are constantly laminating (and yes I consider this an adaptation!) and velcroing materials for lessons.  I mentioned one such adaptation on Twitter as part of the #eduwin campaign.

Below you'll find pictures of that adaptation.  It's really nothing special I just separated the day out into 4 parts, reducing the number of choices when checking the schedule.  A very simple adaptation for a student who liked to take from the middle of the schedule, no need for anything digital, but it was not something I thought of first.

Another point I want to make is that I had help in this adaptation.  Yes, it was a simple adaptation, but without the help of my instructional assistant (1 of 4 in my classroom), it never would have turned out this way.  I would have done is completely differently, and I'm afraid it wouldn't have been nearly as successful.  I know that having extra hands and minds in my classroom makes it a better place.

Patrick

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