The final app I looked at this week is called "Grace." This app costs users $24.99 and is a picture exchange program for non-verbal people. The user will select pictures to from a sentence. Users can attempt to vocalize the word or sentence after hearing a prompt. This app allows non-verbal people to take some control of what they want to say, giving them more independent social interaction.
As with the other apps, "Grace," comes with a basic vocabulary of pictures but users can take their own pictures with camera or add pictures from the Internet to expand vocabulary.
The look of this app is much more like a traditional PEC system where square white cards are stuck to a black strip or background. With this app the user chooses a picture and drags it to the strip. The user can then tip the screen sideways to show an enlarged version of the strip to the other conversation partner.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Tap to Talk
Tap to Talk is a free app for the iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. The main idea is to tap a picture and the device will speak for you. Similar to Proloquo2go, Tap to Talk allows the user to create individualized picture boards. It also come with pre-made boards, over 2000 pictures and allows users add pictures through the camera or Internet, record sounds and voices. This app doesn't seem as involved as Proloquo2go, however, as it is free, it may be one to check out.
Universal Social Stories and Simple PECS Tool
This app is perfect for someone with Autism, Down Syndrome or special need where social situations are hard. This app provides social stories that give examples of where to stand in a conversation, how to end a conversation, how to greet someone, asking someone to play, etc.
After the story is listened to, the user can find speech buttons that will play specific parts of the conversation over again. There are four story options with bright colourful illustrations. Check it out!
http://www.appshots.net/app_directory/view_app/485658095
After the story is listened to, the user can find speech buttons that will play specific parts of the conversation over again. There are four story options with bright colourful illustrations. Check it out!
http://www.appshots.net/app_directory/view_app/485658095
My Voice
When researching the app called "My Voice," I came across a wonderful interview on CTV News with the CEO of "My Voice." You can find this interview at the following address: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110406/myvoice-speech-app-110406/
"My Voice" is a fantastic app for people of all ages who may have a disability or have suffered a stroke. This app allows people to speak in sentences by selecting options on the device. This app is free to download but will charge for location aware software.
The best feature of this app is the location aware piece. What the iPhone or iPad will do is search for a GPS location. The user will select their location and the device will search location aware words and sentences. These are already on the system and do not require the user to type sentences in with variety of choices. For example, if the GPS detects the user is at Tim Horton's, menu items such as, "Can I have a large double double pleas?" will appear. This allows user to quickly find situational appropriate words and sentences without the cumbersome task of searching through pages of options.
"My Voice" is a fantastic app for people of all ages who may have a disability or have suffered a stroke. This app allows people to speak in sentences by selecting options on the device. This app is free to download but will charge for location aware software.
The best feature of this app is the location aware piece. What the iPhone or iPad will do is search for a GPS location. The user will select their location and the device will search location aware words and sentences. These are already on the system and do not require the user to type sentences in with variety of choices. For example, if the GPS detects the user is at Tim Horton's, menu items such as, "Can I have a large double double pleas?" will appear. This allows user to quickly find situational appropriate words and sentences without the cumbersome task of searching through pages of options.
iCommunicate
iCommunicate is communication app for $49.99 This app has many functions such as: visula schedules, storyboards, communication boards, routines, flashcards, choice boards and speech cards.
The part I like best was how it allows caregivers to create personlaized visual schedules that children can carry around on an iPod touch. I can see this being very usuable in the school setting as well as transitioning between settings. The child or caregiver can take pictures of places and people to add to the schedule.
This app also provides text to speech options with 20 differnet voices as well as an option to record your own voice. It is very customizable and has multi uses with the availability of communication boards and speech cards.
Check out this introduction video for iCommunicate:
The part I like best was how it allows caregivers to create personlaized visual schedules that children can carry around on an iPod touch. I can see this being very usuable in the school setting as well as transitioning between settings. The child or caregiver can take pictures of places and people to add to the schedule.
This app also provides text to speech options with 20 differnet voices as well as an option to record your own voice. It is very customizable and has multi uses with the availability of communication boards and speech cards.
Check out this introduction video for iCommunicate:
Proloquo2go
This week in class we took a closer look at Proloquo2go (For an introduction to this app see earlier post). I really enjoyed making a personalized set of communication pictures for our case study. The process of reading the case study and trying to figure out how this child might like to communicate was good practice.
We thought of four different environments/settings where our grade three girl would like to be able to communicate. We chose home, school, friends, and a general category called about me. Within each of these folders we placed folders of pictures that a child may like to talk about. We really considered things she would like to say but also gave her choices for replies on what she might like to say back to someone. We wanted her to not only be able to speak, but also respond. With more time we could have developed this much further.
Overall the program was very user friendly. It only took us a few minutes of playing around to figure out how to create new pictures and even cut and paste sets of pictures from other boards. The purpose of making this individualized boards is to give our student many choices that are easy to find and not complicated by too many choices the child may not use. More pictures can be added at anytime and the sets will change with the changing interests and experiences of the child.
Another great aspect of this app is how personalized you can make the pictures. Proloquo2go comes with a set of graphics that are easy to understand. However, there is also an option of searching online for more accurate representations of the word. As well, the camera on the iPad can be used to take real pictures of the student, friends, objects, building, etc. These real pictures will make the individualized set much more personalized for the child.
This app is so easy to use, I feel an older child would be able to add a new picture communication if needed on the spot. We made sure the key word was easy visible for the child when searching through the sets. However, when the child selected the picture, an entire sentence was read out. We did this to make the process of selecting pictures and having a conversation easier for the child.
Anyone, with a child struggling to communicate should give this app a try. It is very user friendly, portable and overall inexpensive.
We thought of four different environments/settings where our grade three girl would like to be able to communicate. We chose home, school, friends, and a general category called about me. Within each of these folders we placed folders of pictures that a child may like to talk about. We really considered things she would like to say but also gave her choices for replies on what she might like to say back to someone. We wanted her to not only be able to speak, but also respond. With more time we could have developed this much further.
Overall the program was very user friendly. It only took us a few minutes of playing around to figure out how to create new pictures and even cut and paste sets of pictures from other boards. The purpose of making this individualized boards is to give our student many choices that are easy to find and not complicated by too many choices the child may not use. More pictures can be added at anytime and the sets will change with the changing interests and experiences of the child.
Another great aspect of this app is how personalized you can make the pictures. Proloquo2go comes with a set of graphics that are easy to understand. However, there is also an option of searching online for more accurate representations of the word. As well, the camera on the iPad can be used to take real pictures of the student, friends, objects, building, etc. These real pictures will make the individualized set much more personalized for the child.
This app is so easy to use, I feel an older child would be able to add a new picture communication if needed on the spot. We made sure the key word was easy visible for the child when searching through the sets. However, when the child selected the picture, an entire sentence was read out. We did this to make the process of selecting pictures and having a conversation easier for the child.
Anyone, with a child struggling to communicate should give this app a try. It is very user friendly, portable and overall inexpensive.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Here is an introduction video to one of the useful Apps we looked at in class. Proloquo2go is a picture communication program for non verbal students. The great thing about this app is how easy it is to carry around and access. Teachers can help students set up their own pages of words for easy access. These pages can be categorized for sets of words needed in different situations.
iPads, iPods, iPhones
Although I am a huge advocate of Apple products, I realize they are more expensive than other electronic devises out there. I absolutely love my iPhone and plan to one day soon purchase an iPad. The ease of use and variety of Apps available make it no contest in my mind. I have talked to other device users and many say their product is great, but does not have the screen quality, size, ease of use, or App availability. So let's talk about the cost...how can we go about implementing all these wonderful Apps if the school board cannot afford to buy class sets of these gadgets?
The main idea so far is to have students bring in their own devices if they have them. It is amazing how many students already have iPods, and I know this will increase with time. What about the argument, "if students are encouraged to bring their own devices and connect to our network, how can we be sure they are staying on task?" Well, to be honest, if we think they are not on their phones and iPods all day right now, we are in the dark. Students are constantly on their phones, so if we can focus that use on interesting way to do school work and learn, we will be ahead. It is our job to teach our students appropriate use instead of ignoring the "tap-tap" texting going on under the desk.
You may be asking about Apps. Who is going to pay for all those Apps needed to assist children in learning? Many Apps are free and other are relatively cheap (.99¢). The main Apps that would cost a lot, would still be cheaper that the past forms of Assistive Technology. For example, a scanner would cost around $650 and a teacher would have to make sure the article was scanned prior to class and entered into an electronic reader. The Prizmo App, on the other hand, cost only .99¢ and the student can scan the article themselves with the handheld device, to be automatically converted to speech. Not only is that a major cost saving, but a huge time saver fore teachers and teaches students Independence.
The main idea so far is to have students bring in their own devices if they have them. It is amazing how many students already have iPods, and I know this will increase with time. What about the argument, "if students are encouraged to bring their own devices and connect to our network, how can we be sure they are staying on task?" Well, to be honest, if we think they are not on their phones and iPods all day right now, we are in the dark. Students are constantly on their phones, so if we can focus that use on interesting way to do school work and learn, we will be ahead. It is our job to teach our students appropriate use instead of ignoring the "tap-tap" texting going on under the desk.
You may be asking about Apps. Who is going to pay for all those Apps needed to assist children in learning? Many Apps are free and other are relatively cheap (.99¢). The main Apps that would cost a lot, would still be cheaper that the past forms of Assistive Technology. For example, a scanner would cost around $650 and a teacher would have to make sure the article was scanned prior to class and entered into an electronic reader. The Prizmo App, on the other hand, cost only .99¢ and the student can scan the article themselves with the handheld device, to be automatically converted to speech. Not only is that a major cost saving, but a huge time saver fore teachers and teaches students Independence.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
QR Codes
I found this great video of how one school is using QR codes to extend and enhance student learning. I particulary love the idea of recording the science labs for missing students and putting the QR code on the calendar! I think that the calendar idea could be used for all students to help with assignments by providing extra tips, video links, or supporting information. This would be great for students missing class or simply just needing a refreaser on content before finishing the assignment.
Assistive Technology - Class number one
Today we
talked about what assistive technology is. I have to admit, before taking this
class I was unsure of how different types of technology actually helped students
with learning disabilities. I was only familiar with individual laptop use at
my school. After today’s class I am starting to re-think the functionality of
laptops. In just one class I feel like my eyes have been opened.
The purpose
of Assistive Technology is to provide access to a task and improve performance
of an individual with a disability. While some students benefit from the
standard laptop technology, I now know there is so much more out there!
This blog is
a reflection of my time in class (EDUC 5173) and my research on new and
exciting forms of assistive technology. My goal is to reflect on the technology
I learn about in class and how children can benefit, as well as highlight any
new technology, Apps, and ideas I stumble across on my journey.
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