Web 2.0 Wednesday! hooeey webprint

We all bookmark pages in our web browser, right? Then we end up with a long list of web page titles that we need to search through for information. Do you want to keep a library of web pages you have visited on your computer along with the ability to search the text on those pages?

Well then - try hooeey webprint!

Just download the FREE desktop application and, according to the website:

"Every web page you visit is captured in real time as a screenshot and as searchable full text and archived on your own computer. You can easily store, search, tag and share web pages that you have visited. Even if you delete or erase your browsing history, you will not lose these web pages."

Try it out and leave a comment below

Great K-12 Resources- Florida

There are some great resources out there. Florida has 5 regional centers providing support to districts (training, technical assistance, equipment loan), as well as creating print and web resources such as their "ENT" booklet. Here is their description:

"Exploring New Territories" (ENT) is a free resource from the Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS). The ENT booklet provides a comprehensive overview of technology for students with disabilities, including assistive technology, instructional technology, universal design for learning, accessible instructional materials, and virtual/online learning environments. Teachers and therapist will find a wealth of information, resources, and classroom activities to use."

The digital version is available at http://www.fdlrs.com/docs/ent2010web.pdf

Assistive Technology Consideration

What does the term "AT Consideration" mean? I tell you what it doesn't mean. It doesn't mean checking a box on a student's IEP that asks, "Has AT been considered for this student?" when the team has not gone through the Consideration Process.

There are 16 performance areas to be considered in this process. Performance Areas are categories, established through best practices,in which measurable tasks can be identified AND which may require some form of accommodation, modification and/or AT to enable the student to perform at their highest level.

The categories are:
Spelling
Communication
Compose Written Material
Hearing
Mechanics of Writing
Computer Access
Seating, Positioning and Mobility
Listening/Attending
Calculation
Recreation and Leisure
Reading
Activities of Daily Living
Reading
Transition to Adult Life
Student and Organization Skills
Behavior

The Resource Tool for Considering Assistive Technology or RTACT(since everything we do has to have an acronym) is an EXTREMELY useful tool developed by the New Jersey Department of Education Office of Special Education to guide teams through the consideration process.
This tool examines each Performance Area. It details sample tasks that may be difficult for a student. It lists potentional modifications or accomidations that could be implemented to support the student in completing a task that they have difficulty completing. Then it lists potential AT solutions to trial if the previous modifications were unsuccessful.

Take a look at this tool and share it with collegues. For additional information on the AT Consideration Process, please check out the State Parent Advocacy Network's website.

If you have used the RTCAT in the Consideration Process, please leave a comment and tell us how it has supported you and your team. We love comments.....

APP Throwdown! Reminders

Are you looking for the best reminder app for either your DROID or iPhone smartphone? Check out the links below from Gizmodo.

Best Android APPS for Reminders
The winner: MyReminders - $1.00


Best iOS APPS for Reminders

The winner: 2Do, $7.00, APP Store


Have you used these? Do you have a personal favorite? Leave a comment and let us know.

TLC Spotlight - Switch adapted toys

Look who's here, just in time for Thanksgiving. 

Trudie the Turkey!!

Trudie is a switch adapted toy that is so much fun to play with. Press the switch to make Trudie play the "Chicken Dance". Her feet move in and out and she bobs her head in time with the music. Use any standard 3.5mm switch (not included). Pressing her wing also turns her on and off. Height: 25 cm. Have lots of fun with Trudie, Gobble Gobble...

Check out Trudie in action..



Trudy is just one of the special toys we have in the TLC.

What do you think? Do you want to TRY IT before you BUY IT? Then join our Technology Lending Center. Click here to join today!

Web 2.0 Wednesday! OCRconvert

Are you having a hard time converting electronic documents (pdf, jpg, etc.) into editable text?? Why not try OCRconvert ?

According to the website,"OCRconvert.com is a free online OCR service that allows you to convert PDF to Word, JPEG to Word and scanned images into editable documents. Simply upload your file and our server side program will process your file for any editable text and will send the results back to you, which you can either download the processed text in for of word document or copy & past online."

I tried it out with a pdf file and it worked very well! I was surprised at the accuracy. Give it a try and leave a comment below to let us know how it goes.

Podcast: Accessing Web 2.0 Tools with Assistive Technology: Providing Opportunities for All Learners

This is one in a series of podcasts recorded live at the Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN) Statewide conference this past June. These podcasts feature nationally known speakers talking about a wide range of topics related to assistive technology.

This episode features Dave Hohulin and the title of the podcast is "Accessing Web 2.0 Tools with Assistive Technology: Providing Opportunities for All Learners.

Click HERE to listen to the audio podcast.

Click HERE for the interview transcription.

Do YOU have an idea for a future podcast? Leave a comment with your suggestion for either a speaker or a topic. We will work to honor those requests in future podcasts.

Happy Listening!

iPad in the NY Times

This article has been going around and I wanted to post it here. It is a great story about a student with a disability using the iPad. Feel free to forward it if you would like. Oh the possibilities with the iPad. Enjoy.

Web 2.0 Wednesday: You Tube Droid!

Have you found something on You Tube that would be beneficial for your students? Would you like to have just the audio part of the video so students could listen on their mp3 player?

Check out You Tube Droid!


Simply find the video on You Tube that you would like the audio from and copy the URL.

Now go to You Tube Droid and paste the URL into the conversion box. Select the quality of mp3 you would like (Standard Quality or High Quality) and click CONVERT.

The conversion happens right on the webpage and you are provided a link to your file. Simply right click on the file and save to a location on your computer.

Try it out and let us know what you think. Leave a comment below.

FREE Clicker Presentation! November 16, 2010

FREE Training session – Clicker from Crick Software


When: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Where: Advancing Opportunities, 1005 Whitehead Rd Ext, Ewing, NJ 08638 (For directions, visit our website)
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Presenter: Deborah Yergeau

SPACE IS LIMITED – email today to reserve your spot.
mmarotta@advopps.org


The use of technology can encourage even the most reluctant readers and writers in your classroom, but some students need more than encouragement to achieve literacy success. This session will focus on how Clicker creates more independent and engaged readers and writers.

Participants will explore Clicker’s multimedia features, which enable teachers and students to create and use interactive teaching and learning materials such as animated sentence building activities, electronic books, and ‘hot spot’ environments. These resources can include text, images, sounds, and video, and the use of pop-up grids allows all users to add their own recorded sounds and narrations. Students can build sentences through word sequencing, or use more complex writing frames to scaffold extended writing. At all levels, students are supported by realistic speech, enabling them not only to hear what they have written, but also to listen to words before they select them.

As well as the highly detailed educational picture collection that comes with Clicker, teachers and students can use their own pictures or other ready-made picture libraries. Words can also be brought to life with the Clicker Animations library. The animated pictures greatly enhance reading comprehension activities for struggling students and English language learners.

From basic word order and sentence structure to extended writing, session participants will discover how Clicker addresses Universal Design for Learning principles to provide reading and writing support for all students. Clicker activities support a variety of learning styles, particularly benefiting audio/visual learners, and are also highly motivating for students with a range of differing educational needs. This session will demonstrate how easy it is to create activities that develop strong literacy skills across the curriculum for the diverse learners in today’s inclusive classrooms.

Podcast: It’s All About Independent Functioning! Using Technology to Develop Critical Life-Skills for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This is one in a series of podcasts recorded live at the Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN) Statewide conference this past June. These podcasts feature nationally known speakers talking about a wide range of topics related to assistive technology.

This episode features Susan Stokes and the title of the podcast is "It’s All About Independent Functioning! Using Technology to Develop Critical Life-Skills for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder".

Click HERE to listen to the audio podcast.

Click HERE for the interview transcription.

Do YOU have an idea for a future podcast? Leave a comment with your suggestion for either a speaker or a topic. We will work to honor those requests in future podcasts.

Happy Listening!

TLC Spotlight - Helloset Amplifier w/ ultralight single headset

Helloset Amplifier w/ ultralight single headset

With both hands free, now you can take notes, check files, even access your computer while you’re on the phone -– without getting neck and shoulder cramps from scrunching your handset between your ear and shoulder. Because your HelloSet simply replaces your handset, not the entire phone, you’ll continue to place and receive calls using your telephone without the need for you to lift the handset. Simply press a button to start and end your calls, or to answer them.

HelloSet is compatible with over 99% of all telephones.

What do you think? Do you want to TRY IT before you BUY IT? Then join our Technology Lending Center. Click here to join today!

Web 2.0 Wednesday: PDFUnlock!

Have you ever gotten a PDF file from someone and when you opened it, you realized it was locked and you were unable to manipulate any of the information?

Well.. check out PDFUnlock!

According to the website:

PDF files can have restrictions that prevent you from for example copying text from them or editing, printing or merging them. PDFUnlock! can remove these restrictions (a.k.a "owner password").

Simply visit their website and select the BROWSE button to locate the file on your system.

The website will analyze your file and unlock any restrictions. The maximum file size is 10MB.

Try it and let us know what you think - leave a comment below.

Podcast: Be a Mr. Wizard: Assistive Technology Supports in Science

This is one in a series of podcasts recorded live at the Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN) Statewide conference this past June. These podcasts feature nationally known speakers talking about a wide range of topics related to assistive technology.

This episode features Kelly Fonner and the title of the podcast is "Be a Mr. Wizard: Assistive Technology Supports in Science".

Click HERE to listen to the audio podcast.

Click HERE for the interview transcription.

Do YOU have an idea for a future podcast? Leave a comment with your suggestion for either a speaker or a topic. We will work to honor those requests in future podcasts.

Happy Listening!