#AppMondayTAS - Doodle Buddy

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.

Doodle Buddy - Free (Universal)

Reviewer Comments

This is a simple and fun drawing app. Because of the simple interface, most children can use this app completely independently and just have fun creating all kinds of drawings. This app can also be used as a teaching tool when encouraging someone learning how to write.

The app offers the user many choices to draw. They can choose to draw with crayons, spray paint, stamps, glitter, etc. Placing "stamps" on the blank page is as simple as using an index finger to select a stamp and the stamp appears every time the screen is touched, making it a great cause and effect exercise. There are two options for "erasing" or "clearing" a drawing - selecting to clear the screen or gently shaking the iPad.

There is a running advertisement at the top of the screen in this app. Sometimes the children would touch this and it would send them to a site on the Internet. We suggest enabling Guided Access in this app to block out the ability for the user to get out of this app and go to an advertisement.

This app was used in a Pre-K classroom with children who have Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays, as well as typically developing children. We used this app to work on drawing shapes and letters, connecting dots, finger isolation, and tracing.

The children especially loved making letters with the stamp feature. The stamps make a sound when you touch them and the children enjoyed this. They also liked using the stencils that the app offers to make perfect shapes.

Mobile Devices

iPad

iPhone

Embedded Skills

finger isolation

follows 1-2 step commands

handwriting skills

letter & number tracing

letter and number tracing

letter formation

letter tracing

tracing

Independent Traits

Fine Motor

Assistive/Independent

Independent

Assistive

Independent

the child can operate independently, with verbal prompts or dictate the response

iTunes Categories

Productivity

Lifestyle

Educational

Kids

BridgingApps Categories

Colors and Shapes

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Fine Motor skills

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 - SoundingBoard

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.

Sounding Board - Universal, Free

Reviewer Comments

SoundingBoard is a simple yet effective AAC communication board for children or adults who are non-verbal or for students who may "freeze" in an emergency and can not get their words out.

The app is preloaded with 14 boards with the option of 9 pictures per board depending on the needs of the user. AbleNet has an extensive library of pictures to change photos. There is also the option of using your own photos for certain boards. The other nice feature is the option to use your own voice when editing pictures such as your name and phone number.

Editing the board is also very user friendly. Caretakers, teachers or therapists just turn off the edit lock in the settings and simply go to the board they want to edit and either add or delete pictures. This is where you also can change the given voice and put in your own.

There is an option for in-app purchases from Able-Net to purchase boards dealing with restaurants, movies, general conversation getting dressed and mealtime. They are separated by female or male making the expressions more appropriate for a variety of users.

This app is one of the tools we use with all of our students as it helps with choice making, expressive language, receptive language and social skills. Two important boards are the Emergency Information and Emergency Help. In our classroom, we use this as one of our warm up exercises.

This is a must have tool for as it can be adjusted to the needs of the child. Our non-verbal students will use this app when they need to get information out quickly, especially for requesting help.

For those who are unable to use a touch screen, but who can operate assistive switches, the app can be used with 1 or 2 Bluetooth-connected switches.

Auditory Scanning: SoundingBoard now allows auditory scanning in addition to single and dual switch scanning. Auditory scanning works by playing a short "prompt message" during single or dual scanning actions. When the user selects the appropriate cell, the full message plays.

The app offers detailed videos and instructions at:

http://www.ablenetinc.com/Assistive-Technology/Communication/SoundingBoard

Possible IEP Goals:

Student will be able to state their address.

Student will be able to state their phone number.

Student will be able to make a choice from between two choices.

Attributes

Mobile Devices

iPhone

iPad

Embedded Skills

expressive language

increase vocabulary

language comprehension

sight word recognition

understand how to ask questions

understand how to introduce themselves

understanding expressions

expressive language

increase vocabulary

language comprehension

understand how to ask questions

understand how to introduce themselves

understanding expressions

scanning and selecting

switch use

communication board

Independent Traits

Education

Assistive Traits

Assistive Communication

Assistive/Independent

Assistive

iTunes Categories

Lifestyle

Education

BridgingApps Categories

Communication

BridgingApps Reviewed App

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 - LookTel Apps

LookTel has 2 very interesting apps, while I've not had the opportunity to try them out, I think they are worth sharing.  Both of these apps were designed with persons with limited vision in mind, but I can think of ways to use them with any person with disabilities.

LookTel Money Reader (Universal | $9.99) is exactly what it sounds like.  once you start the app, you hold your phone over the bills and it will say the denomination and type (Dollars, Euros, Australian Dollars, Pounds, etc...) out loud.  It even includes a Tone Mode so you can privately scan your bills.  Check out this great demo video.  I can see teaching students to use Money Reader to help sort their money, and to assist them at the store.

LookTel Recognizer (Universal | $9.99) looks even more useful to students with disabilities.  The basic concept is the same as Money Reader, you scan an object and it tells you what it is.  First, you have to build a library of images to scan - food, medicine, remote controls, etc... you can take a picture of anything and then you record an audio label.  It can store up to 60 seconds of audio with each picture.  Which means you could even record a short set of directions with an object - "Synthroid - take 1 at bedtime" - for example.  Although, they do note that smaller object (like medicine bottles) have a more difficult time being scanned consistently.

It has quite a few other features that are worth mentioning.  You can scan barcodes with the app and it will do it's best to find out information about the product you are holding (requires internet connection).   You can also import libraries from other app users to help increase your own library.  There are some limitations, so check out all the information on their Documentation Page.

Is anyone using these apps?  Have any suggestions for their use?  Take a moment and leave a comment if you do!

Patrick

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QR Codes in the Special Education classroom

If you are paying attention you'll start to notice these symbols appearing in a lot of places.  They are called QR Codes and have been around for a few years.  OK, so now you know what it is, what does it do?  If you happen to have a smartphone (iPhone, Android or Blackberry) and the right app (try i-nigma for iPhone or Quickmarks for Android) you can "read" this image, straight from your computer screen (go ahead try it, I'll wait)....

For those of you without smartphones...it's a link to my About.me page.  So what...why take a picture with a smartphone, what's the point?  Well, my point is that there is more to this little symbol than it seems.  Imagine being able to read this symbol using a webcam, most laptops have them these days, now imagine your class full of students going to the correct webpage without you having to help them!  Here's a screencast of what I'm talking about.  By making simple QR Code sheet, you can hold it up to the webcam and voila, instant website!




Ok, so how do you do it?  It's actually quite simple.  First find the site you want a code for, copy the site, then head to goo.gl, paste the site into the box and click shorten.  You'll see a list of the links you've shortened, click on details next to one.  On that page you'll see the your QR code in the top right corner, right click and select "save image as..."  Print it out and you're ready to use it or better yet, sync that picture to your iOS device and hold that image up to the webcam (it works really well)!

So the next think you need is a way to read the QR Codes.  The program I'm using is call QRReader - you can get the directions to download it here - QRReader Installation.  Once it's installed you can read any QR Code, just make sure it's well lit and you hold it straight.  It takes a little practice, but I'm sure most kids will get it pretty quickly!

This is one of those ideas that can be used in many different situations, but I really see it shining as a way for students who can't type to have access to their favorite websites.  Or instead of a teacher putting the link on board and then fixing the link on 5 different computers.  and I'm sure there are many more uses for them.  Good Luck!

Patrick


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iPrompts

I've been introduced to a very interesting program for the iPod Touch and iPhone called iPrompts. Let me start off this post by saying, I have received a free copy of this app. They did not contact me, they did not ask me to write this post. I saw a request for testers and decided to try it out. So here's what I think.


iPrompts is a simple, easy to use, and customizable app. At it's simplest, it has a library of images, and you can show them to a student. It also has a countdown timer, schedule creator, and choice board. The symbols are line drawings, but you can add photos from the iPhone camera to your library. At this time the ability to add your own photos using the iPod Touch is not working, it will be fixed in the next update.

It also allows you to create simple linear schedules and you can highlight the item you are doing at the moment. There do seem to be a few glitches with this part of the app, as I have to leave the schedule and go back to it to add more pictures. With the countdown timer you can set it to as long as you want, as well as put a picture of what the student should be doing during the countdown, or what will happen after the timer goes off.

So far I am impressed with the program, there are a few bugs to work out, but it's still being worked on. One of the first things I did with the iPod Touch I got from my school was to add photos from Boardmaker to make it more useful as a teaching tool. iPrompts allows me to do this in a simple, efficient form.

You can purchase iPrompts from the iTunes Store for $74.99. This is a great program!

Patrick

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Website of the Day

Larry Ferlazzo's Website of the Day has been around for quite a while. I've never looked to closely at it. Many of the posts are geared towards teachers of English Language Learners, but this post caught my eye:

The Best Online Sources for Images

I usually use Google Image search to find images for my classroom, while I realize that the use of those images may not be completely legal, but it is what I do. The nice thing about this post is that these images are completely free for education use.

PRC Pictures

For those students using a Vantage or a Vanguard communication device this is the post for you. Prentke-Romich has provided a copy of all the icons available in their picture set as a download. These photos can be loaded into your computer and be used in Boardmaker. Here's a description from PRC:

Download the current PRC icons. These icons are the same for all PRC devices. They are available in BMP, GIF, and JPEG format and contained within a single ZIP file. If you need an icon for a device or for use in a PC, then use the bitmap (bmp) file. MAC users will need to use the gif or jpeg files. The files include a page of instructions for using the PRC icons.

Here's the link to download the file:

PRC Pictures

For those of you using a Mac, the pictures can be imported into iPhoto, if you are using windows you will need to copy and paste the photos into word or Boardmaker. If you have questions doing this please feel free to e-mail and ask!