Is it true?

1. Is it true?

2. Technology in the Special Education Classroom Julie Lasserre Deanna Voelker SLOCOE Staff Development August 18, 2009

3. The wonder of it all…

4. Technology is everywhere!

5. Overview • A blend of educational technology and assistive technology • Demonstrations of our favorite Internet links and some new technology • Lots of resources… no handouts as it’s all available online... www.slocoe.wikispaces.com • The “Wiki” includes our growing collection of Internet links for teachers and students AND this PowerPoint

6. 1963 “The times, they are a-changing.” 2009 “The times, they have a-changed.”

7. TEACHER TOOLS • Your Own Computer!!! • Website: SEN Teacher • Website: Hearing Journey • Website: Make Beliefs Comix • Website: Earobics

8. MORE TEACHER TOOLS • Website: Story Nory • Website: Polyxo for Data Forms • Website: ASL Guide & Courses • Twitter • Wikispaces

9. Shop your own computer… • Internet links from colleagues – make folders to find them easily by category • Microsoft Office Templates – you don’t need to be a designer to make it look good • PowerPoint – make talking books & class photo albums • PhotoStory – free download from Microsoft • Boardmaker – much more than visuals

10. Make PECS without Boardmaker • Quickly create visuals for a picture exchange communication system (PECS) • The site uses Google and searches for selected words or topics • Resizes pictures into standard size for PECS • http://www.senteacher.org/Worksheet/6/PECS.xhtml

11. Deanna’s Favorite – Hearing Journey • Written for parents/teachers of children with cochlear implants • Loaded with language activities, resources, parent information • http://www.hearingjourney.com • Select “The Listening Room” • Then choose “Kids”

12. Make Cartoons Stories • Need to make social stories? • Create one easily by making your very own comic strip • Lots of fun • Other writing activities included • http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix

13. Earobics • Interactive language/reading games in a format that is appealing to children • http://www.earobics.com/gamegoo/gooeylo.html

14. Story Nory • Interesting and fun stories that can be downloaded to your iPod or computer • Can “burn” stories to CDs. • Free weekly email with new stories • http://storynory.com/2009/08/10/the-witch-who-lost-her-spells/

15. Data Collection • Need a quick data form for tracking student progress? • http://www.polyxo.com/documents/#data

16. Sign Language • Quick reference guide for ASL • Signing courses for people at different levels • http://www.lifeprint.com

17. Do you “tweet” on Twitter? • What? Communication venue • Why? Share information • How? http://www.twitter.com • “Follow” and “Following” • Don’t know how to start? Look for JulieOT

18. The “Wiki” we ALL know…

19. A Wiki for ME? • What? Website software that allows users to freely create and edit content • Why? Easy to create new pages and links to other Wiki pages or Internet addresses • Who? Whoever you allow – no need to email files back and forth with a project partner • How? Use any web browser and make your own • http://www.slocoe.wikispaces.com was our choice.

20. No Wiki? How about Moodle? • Need ETC Portal membership to create a Moodle “course” • Primarily a way to share and receive information, but there are provisions for having a very simple Wiki within Moodle • Learn the basics in a beginning Moodle course sponsored by SLOCOE • The course remains yours if working anywhere in SLO County

21. STUDENT TOOLS • Assistive Technology – “Related Service” and Low or High-Tech Tools • PixWriter • Proloquo2Go & More with iPod Touch • Tango AAC • Point Scribe • Zac Browser • Bookshare & RFB&D

22. PixWriter • Teachers make the word banks • Students select words to make a sentence. • For emerging writers the teacher can write a complete sentence for one picture • Student puts sentences in preferred order • It speaks the words and sentences!

23. In your pocket…

24. Proloquo2Go

25. Tango by Blink Twice • Recently acquired by DynaVox • Like other AAC devices, possibly funded by MediCal or private insurance if determined medically necessary • Videos and PDF downloads http://www.blink-twice.com/ • Tango emulator http://emulator.blink-twice.com//tryit/

26. AAC - Other Devices • DynaVox “V”, “V-Max” & Eye Gaze addition • DynaVox “X-Press” - smallest • Go-Talk • Springboard – ASC • Eyegaze Edge • Listen to Me: The Making of 1 Voice – Teenage Project in the UK • http://lightspeed.slocoe.org/safevideos/Video.aspx?id=KV3tvaeUVmw

27. Point Scribe - Handwriting • Use a touch screen or tablet PC notebook with a stylus • Change size and width of track • Motivational cues – visual and auditory – choose a preferred theme • Program keeps detailed data about skill improvement

28. Cursive with Point Scribehttp://lightspeed.slocoe.org/safevideos/Video.aspx?id=cfxFHqWeo8o

29. Zac Browser • Designed for children with autism • Highly visual, but simple interface • Limits choices while browsing the Internet • Child unable to go outside selected sites • Full download or web-based use • http://www.zacbrowser.com

30. Free Digital Books • http://www.bookshare.org • Grant funded for U.S. students through the U.S. Department of Education OSEP • Student must have a qualifying “print disability” • More than 50,000 digital books, textbooks, teacher-recommended reading, periodicals and assistive technology tools. • Susanne Murphy – SLOCOE Coordinator

31. Readings for the Blind and Dyslexic • Often used by our teachers for students with visual impairment • Books available for students with a print disability • Paid membership for organizations • Free membership for qualified individuals • http://www.rfbd.org/

32. Exciting Times Ahead… Stay Current!

33. Extra Time??? • http://www.wordle.net • http://www.monarchteachtech.com/ • http://www.storylineonline.net/ • http://www.internet4classrooms.com/prek.htm • http://www.bry-backmanor.org/picturerecipes.html

34. Wrap-Up • Hands-on: Internet links www.slocoe.wikispaces.com • Hands-on: PixWriter - on selected lab computers • Hands-on: AT devices Tango iPod Touch

35. And… • Browse literature and catalogs on table for assistive technology resources • Sample Materials on Display

36. To Do!!!! • Sign up for additional learning opportunities on the legal sized sheets going around the room • Raffle drawing for instructional unit (ocean) and more at break. Write your name on a bright green paper and put it in the basket! • Evaluation of this presentation!