Teaching All Students: universal

Showing posts with label universal. Show all posts

Friday, January 3, 2014

Space Team

SpaceTeam is an interesting cooperative game 2- 4 people on mobile devices. The object of the game is to turn on and off various buttons, knobs and switches. Nothing complicated, but there is a time limit to each command. If you don't complete an action in time your panel starts to fall apart and you have to fix it. There is one more component, the commands you get are not for your panel, but for one of the people playing with you, so you have to complete actions based on what someone else tells you, and also tell the other players what to do at the same time.

I can see this type of game being an excellent way to build a classroom community, as well as communication skills. There is an amount of literacy skills involved, as the names of the components on the panels are mostly technically sounding nonsense words, but I do think most students could be successful at it. It would be a fun way to have students to learn how to work cooperatively. You can give it a try here for free!

Space Team (iOS)

Space Team (Android)

Patrick

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Monday, November 18, 2013

#AppMondayTAS - BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week

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.

BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Android - FREE)

Reviewer Comments

BrainPop Jr. is an independent learning animated video library hosted by Annie and Moby now available in both the Android and Apple market. Brainpop Jr. videos cover a variety topics and subjects from math to social issues available on an easy to navigate mobile app with full access being available to those with subscription.

BrainPop Jr. is a simplified version of the secondary version Brain Pop, following the same format of videos and features with the addition of bigger colorful typeface and simplified concepts for children at elementary level and below. Every video is followed with two quiz options of easy or hard, a comic strip, and joke all related to the topic, while keeping score within the app.

This app is a wonderful tool for young students to independently seek the answers to their burning questions or further expand on difficult to understand concepts. When used in a group it promotes proper social etiquette of taking turns, patience, and improves listening.

BrainPOP Jr. is also an effective tool in differentiation to meet the needs of all students. BrainPop Jr. allows each student to learn at his/her own pace with a handy stop, play, pause, and close caption feature. Students are presented with material in a fun and non-intimidating way. It's fun for the classroom and the whole family!

Possible IEP Goals:

When presented with a reading task assignment and provided with the use of a computer/laptop, _________will review/listen to video or audio book to answer comprehension questions with 70% accuracy in 5/7 trials.

When instructed on the steps of the scientific method and provided with the use of a computer/laptop, _____________ will review/listen to the steps and complete a scientific experiment with 75% accuracy in 3/5 trials.

After a story is read from a picture book, the student will retell the story in sequential order.

The student will listen to a teacher presented story and will answer __ number of comprehension questions related to the read story.

Common Core Standards:

English Language Arts- Speaking and Listening

Comprehension and Collaboration

Mobile Devices

iPhone

Android

iPad

Embedded Skills

name recognition

picture recognition

increase listening skills

Explore app on iPad

promoting independence

Independent Traits

Assistive/Independent

Independent

iTunes Categories

Education

Entertainment

Android Market Categories

education

BridgingApps Categories

Social Skills

Reference

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Communication

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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Monday, November 11, 2013

#AppMondayTAS - HandySpeech

HandySpeech (Universal, $29.99)

Reviewer Comments

This is a unique and useful communication app. It allows the user to use handwriting or the onscreen keyboard to generate speech. Unlike traditional apps designed for communication for someone who may be unable to use oral speech, it is not only "text-to-speech," but it is "handwriting-to-speech".

Over time, the app "learns" the user's handwriting as the app is used. The app recognizes a variety of handwriting types. There is also a page for frequently used phrases that can be customized by the user. The user can then go to this page and quickly select the desired phrase.

Handy Speech supports 13 different languages available through in-app purchases. As the user writes or types, the app will autocorrect and suggest possible words. Gestures can be used within the handwriting area for spacing and commands.

Handy Speech does rely on internet access for the speech function, so a potential drawback of the app is that it cannot be used in situations where Wifi is not available.

This app is great for children and adults who are able to write, but unable to communicate with oral speech. It is a quick and easy AAC app to begin using. It is ideal as an addition to a full AAC device or for a temporary communication solution for someone who is trached and/or on a vent for a period of time. It could also be beneficial for those who are recovering from a stroke or injury where they have temporarily lost the ability to speak, but can write or type words. We also see the value in this app for children and adults who can write quickly and fairly accurately.

The developer has created a helpful series of videos to assist users in getting started, customizing the settings, and view all of the possible features.

http://www.youtube.com/user/HandySpeech

Mobile Devices

iPad

iPhone

Embedded Skills

Assistive Traits

Assistive Communication

Assistive/Independent

Assistive

iTunes Categories

Medical

Productivity

BridgingApps Categories

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Communication

Disclaimer:

Patrick

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Monday, September 16, 2013

#AppMondayTAS - My Choice Board

My Choice Board - $9.99 (Universal)

Reviewer Comments

My Choice Board is a great app to use to assist those with limited communication skills. We have used this app with students who are on the autism spectrum, have basic to profound learning differences and students with communication delays. This application has allowed students to independently express their own specific needs and wants. Although we have trialed this application with students between the ages of 4-10, it could be used with all ages through adulthood.

There are many features in this application that separate this assistive communication apps from the many others available. Images used in this application are chosen by the user and his or her preferences. Images can be uploaded from iPhones, personal camera, Google images, or personal computer. Text can be added, if desired.

A helpful feature of this application is the ability to have multiple choice boards. Boards can be themed and organized however the user would like. Sensory activities, play time activities, food choices, are just some examples of how the choices could be organized. As the user creates different boards, there is an option to add sound to the images if he or she so chooses. Adding sound to corresponding images helps reinforce receptive communication and encourage expressive language.

Many assistive communication applications only allow a certain number of choices on each page or category. My Choice Board allows users to select more than six options by simply adding pages to that specific category already created, allowing for multiple pages in a category. If too many choices seems to be overwhelming for the user, the settings can easily be changed to show fewer option by just editing the images as “unavailable.” The images will always be in the file however, that person can’t see them until they are made “available” again.

My Choice Board is a wonderful app that allows users to easily find exactly what they want without becoming overwhelmed by too many options. It is easy to use and can be used with a wide range of ages because of the ability to change the number of options a child or adult can choose, depending their ability.

Mobile Devices

iPhone

iPad

Embedded Skills

communication

expressive language

expressive receptive language

social interaction

social skills practice

Independent Traits

Education

Assistive Traits

Assistive Communication

Assistive/Independent

Independent

Assistive

iTunes Categories

Medical

Education

BridgingApps Categories

Communication

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Life Skills

Needs Tag

Disclaimer:

Patrick

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Monday, August 26, 2013

#AppMondayTAS - About a Picture

About a Picture - $2.99 (Universal)

Reviewer Comments

This is a super cool app that every, parent, teacher and speech pathologist who is working on expressive vocabulary/communication needs to have!

With this app, you create "photo albums" with the pictures of your choice. Then the user gets to look at the pictures and verbally say what they see. They get to tell "about the picture". The cool part about this app is that it has the option to record what the user says with each picture. At the bottom of each picture is a microphone symbol, when you hit that symbol it begins to record, and not only does it record what the user says, it saves it. You can then go into the settings and change to "parent mode". When you are in this mode, when you touch the microphone symbol all the recordings that have been made on that picture appear. They are displayed by date and you can pick whichever one you want to hear.

What we love most about this is that it gives you a way to "hear" the progress that the user is making. When you work with the user day in and day out you sometimes don't see or hear the progress because it is just gradually occurring. But with this app you can go back to the first time the user did it and compare to where they are now. As a teacher or speech therapist this would be a great thing to be able to share with parents during a conference time.

We also love that this app allows/requires you to use your own photos. This makes it so much more personal for the user and much more motivating too. Kids love to talk about things that they like or personal photos. This app also has a detailed user manual which makes it very easy to set up and use!

Mobile Devices

iPhone

iPad

Embedded Skills

increase vocabulary

vocabulary development

speech sound practice

expressive identification of pictures

expressive language

multiple languages

Independent Traits

Education