Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.freetech4teachers.com
Speaking of note taking, Richard Byrne blogger of Free Technology for Teachers shares an interesting tool that connects with Google Drive allowing viewing a view source (Coursea, YouTube, Khan, etc.) while type notes on a document using VideoNot.es, an open source tool. Check out this tools on Free Technology for Teachers or directly at VideoNot.es.
More note taking options!
Carol
See on Scoop.it – OT mTool Kit
Note taking is a subject frequently addressed during AT assessment of students. Along with peer note taking accommodations, as eligible through a college’s students with disability center, or special education department there are many electronic tools available to support note taking using mobile devices, recording devices or software choices. As with many tools these days, choices are many and requires research on the features of each of these tools.
Along with researching the type of note taking tools, the question of the best method of note taking should be identified. Review of the literature on note taking yields differing opinions on the best tools. When considering handwriting, typing, recording information as frequent methods of note taking, a Scientific American article (May, 2014)suggests handwriting is a better method of note taking as it is slower and requires individuals to summary information in their own words. Typing, a faster method of producing written information resulted in reduced retention by students of lecture information.
Another article (Friedman, M. N.D.) identifies typing which is a faster method of written production, allows greater availability of cognitive resources for understanding lecture content. Individual factors of speed and proficiency with typing or writing require consideration when choosing a method of note taking.
Many students identify maintaining pace when note taking, spelling and the multi-tasking demands of listening, processing, writing and summarizing a challenge. Note taking is a multi-faceted task with many demands on the note taking simultaneously which can break down at any one of the task components.
There are many include standard paper and pencil, word processing on a computer as cited above or use of handheld digital recorders. Other hybrid tools, using electronic devices use multiple features often including taking or importing images, digital recording, handwriting or typing using software, apps or smart pens. Consideration of learning preferences, electronic resources or device platforms, costs, sensory and motor skills should be considered when considering a note taking tool. Using a feature matrix to compare individual components of note taking tools, can be a helpful tool when considering preferred note taking tools.
Evaluating the features of the tools considered takes the guessing out of selecting appropriate tools. I love feature matrixes, too many times I have searched for similar apps and unable to recall the slight differences and features of one versus another. Feature matrixes I find, provide a systematic method of comparing all those features needed for an individual client.
The following Note Taking Feature Matrix created by ATR’s AT specialists , Rick Ziller MOTR/L and myself help compare note taking features of a few of the major note taking apps, software, hardware and services available:
The following list includes links to the software and devices above mentioned available online :
The following list contain a few select digital recording apps by platform for consideration:
Basic Voice Recorder App List¹
Chrome:
Windows:
iOS
Many features can be considered when choosing a note taking tool for a student along with the other supports available from special education services or students with disabilities or tutors. The above note taking feature matrix compares features of some of the major devices, apps and software considered for the task. The above list of apps is limited, however recommended for ease of use.
What is your favorite note taking tool? What are your students with special needs using to support note taking?
References:
May, C. 2014. Retrieved on 4/24/2016 from: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/
Friedman, Michael. ND. Retrieved on 4/24/2016 from: http://hilt.harvard.edu/files/hilt/files/notetaking_0.pdf
¹Created by C.Leynse Harpold, 4-2016
Carol – OT’s with Apps
Ready to Print App
Ready to Print App, available for iOS, Android and Kindle is currently on sale this weekend (April 22-24, 2016) for 50% off. Occupational therapist and developer Diane Reid, OTR/L provides this sale in honor of OT Month.
Ready to Print app is an outstanding app providing pre-writing and handwriting activities for pre-school and elementary aged children. The app offers creation of multiple users, grades the level of difficulty within activities and collects data by user for pre and post evaluation of user skills.
Ready to Print app is a staple for school based OT’s in my opinion. I use this regularly with my students and find the data collection and variety of activities and options valuable and motivating in therapy. Ready to Print now provides downloadable companion worksheets on their new website .
Thank you Diane and Scott for your continued development of Ready to Print app and honoring OT month with the great price for Ready to Print apps:
Ready to Print for Android (on sale 3.49)
Ready to Print for iOS (iPad only) – (on sale 4.99)
Ready to Print for Kindle – (on sale 3.49)
Enjoy! More for your OT eTool Kit!
Carol
Thanks to the The Assistive Technology Daily blog for offers the latest tech resources for individuals with disability. One of their recent posts features The Arc’s Tech Toolbox™ , an online resource to find, share, rate and review technology for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). This is a welcome addition to other online technology websites or apps dedicated to searching the myriad of apps or software available to support the specific needs of an individual! Searching for the right app is overwhelming due to magnitude of numbers of apps on each platform!
The search format of the Tech Toolbox™ is easy to use with multiple advanced search features specific to the needs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Here an image of the basic search features which provides additional options in each of the drop down boxes:
Results of the search provide a rating, description, cost and identifies if it is from a website, software or hardware. Results features “More”I like the features of newest to oldest, providing a method to keep up with recently created software that have emerged on the market and reviewed.
Not only are apps, but software and devices featured in the Tech Toolbox. Users can add additional reviews as well as offer a device, software/app or hardware for review.
This new Tech Toolkit is a welcome addition to the other technology search tools available on the web! Share your expertise with apps, software, websites or devices that support individuals with intellectual disabilities with Arc’s Tech Toolkit to aid others decision-making for assistive tools!
H/T to The Assistive Technology Daily for their curation of great AT tools!
More for your OT eTool Kit!
Carol – otswithapps.com
For OT’s who are involved with assistive technology service, two popular AAC apps from AssistiveWare, Proloquo2Go and Proloquo4Text are on sale for Autism Acceptance Month (limited time – April 2, 3, 4, 2016) at 50% off, a significant savings!
Proloquo2Go app (iPad, iPhone; originally 249.99 now 124.99). A symbol based AAC app.
Proloquo4Text app (iPad, iPhone; originally 119.99 , now 59.99). A text based AAC app.
Share the word!
Carol
Today is the 8th annual Autism Acceptance Day, so Light it up Blue with your clothing, lighting or sharing information about autism. Autism Speaks.org has great information including tool kits, research and resources about autism to learn or share.
In a recent update from the CDC , statistics show that the incidence of autism has remained stable, with 1 in every 68 children diagnosed with autism. The incidence of boys with autism continues to remain higher than that of girls. While that is good news there is still much more to be done to ensure children with autism are being identified and receiving needed services. Here are five facts identified by the CDC regarding current statistics (as gathered from http://www.cdc.gov/features/new-autism-data/index.html ):
1. The estimated percentage of children with ASD remains high.
About 1 in 68 or 1.5% of children were identified with ASD based on tracking in 11 communities across the United States in 2012.
2. It is too soon to tell if the percentage of children identified with ASD is still increasing or has stabilized.
Here are two reasons why it is too soon to tell:
CDC will continue to track ASD over time so as to better understand if the percentage of children identified with ASD is staying the same or continuing to increase.
3. Children identified with ASD are not receiving comprehensive developmental evaluations1 as early as they could be.
Most children identified with ASD had concerns about their development noted in their health and/or special education records by age 3 years. Yet, less than half of children with ASD received a comprehensive developmental evaluation by this same age. A lag between first concern and first comprehensive developmental evaluation may affect when children are being diagnosed and connected to the services they need.
4. Black and Hispanic children are less likely to be identified with ASD. Those that are identified with ASD receive comprehensive developmental evaluations later than white children who are identified with ASD.
Previous research has not shown that black or Hispanic children have a lower risk than white children to develop ASD. However, since ADDM data showed that black and Hispanic children were less likely to be identified with ASD, it is possible that these children face socioeconomic or other barriers resulting in a lack of or delayed access to evaluation, diagnosis, and services.
5. Schools play a vital role in evaluating and serving children with ASD.
The percentage of children identified with ASD was highest in all communities combined where both health and special education records were reviewed compared to all communities combined where only health records were reviewed.
Awareness, education, and intervention are important at early ages. Many resources are available to assist with awareness and education:
So Light It Up Blue! – create an awareness and acceptance of autism today!
Carol – OT’s with Apps and Technology
It may look like a typical book bag, but a backpack designed by a group of college students to meet the sensory needs of kids with autism is far from ordinary.
Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.disabilityscoop.com
Not high tech, but this low tech adaptive pack is a great idea generated by business students…
The Disability Scoop.com shared a new backpack design for students on the spectrum. The Nestle Pack provides sensory input as well as attachment of oral and tactile fidgets. Read on about the innovative pack.
HT to Disability Scoop for sharing this post.
Hmm, I wonder if an optional belly strap would also help???
Carol
Thanks to Jacqui Murray for her quick answer to a question asked often about setting default fonts in MS Word. As an OT and ATP working with a variety of individuals with disabilities on the computer often requires addressing and exploring font types, sizes as well as contrast when using the computer. Many individuals continue to use MS Word and for those with presbyopia , dyslexia or low vision / visual impairment conditions, modifying the font size and type and spacing may improve visual comfort and access.
Jacqui provides this quick solution to setting a default in MS Word…
Dear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have a question, please contact me at askatechteacher at gmail dot com and I’ll answe…
Source: Dear Otto: How do I set the default font on MS Word
HT to Jacqui Murray at Ask a Tech Teacher for her helpful blog posts! Check out her website for more great solutions and resources.
Carol
Want to learn more? Check out our additional article with five more facts on the Open eBooks app!
Do you remember how it felt when you first read what would eventually become your favorite book? For many students, that’s a feeling that’s hard to come by—books aren’t always cheap or easily accessib
Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.edsurge.com
See on Scoop.it – OT mTool Kit
Hearing Loss Quick Facts
As an Assistive Technology Practitioner, referrals for evaluation can include pediatric to geriatric clients. Their unique disability needs can be focused or multi-faceted, especially when age is a factor. When multiple disabilities exist, referring individuals to other specialists is important for expert advise. One of those areas of expertise often referred or seeking consultation are those with hearing loss.
Reviewing statistics on the prevalence of hearing impairment, here are a few basic facts about hearing loss¹:
Did you know the incidence of hearing impairment in adults over 65 years was this high? One in three adults over the age of 65 have a hearing impairment. For OT’s or ATP’s working with older adults (LTC, Home Health, Acute Care, Veterans, etc.) that could mean a third of your clients have difficulty hearing and using good disability etiquette for hearing impairment would be employed during every work day most likely! Certainly, as OT’s we are good at evaluating our clients needs and adapting to their needs by positioning of ourselves, talking to them so they can see our face and lips, speaking slowly and concisely with adequate volume. Below, however, are tips from the Hearing Loss.org to remind us of good communication when working with individuals with hearing loss. Checking to see if they have hearing aids and are turned on may be need to be explored.
Basic Communication Tips
Set Your Stage
Get the Point Across
Establish Empathy with Your Audience
Assistive Technology for Hearing (HAT)
What other tools or assistive technology might be considered when working with individuals with hearing loss?
More HAT Tools to Consider
As OT’s, we don’t always readily have immediate access to equipment or tools for individual with hearing impairment. Certainly paper and pencil is a low tech method for clients that can write. If you have access to a mobile device here are a few other basic tools that can help with communicating with individuals with hearing loss:
Summary
If working with older adults, their is a 1 in 3 chance that the individual may have a hearing impairment. Accommodating them with use of their dedicated listening devices, environmental modifications and tips for communication can support communication. A variety of assistive technology devices also exist for individuals with a hearing loss. In some situations, apps on a mobile device can aid communication when a more significant hearing loss is present.
Many web based resources on hearing loss are available. One excellent website with information and many resources is the Hearing Loss Association of America, a helpful resource if you want to learn more about HAT or other supports for individuals with hearing loss.
More for your OT eTool Kit!
Carol
References:
¹Retrieved on 3/13/2016 from: http://www.hearingloss.org/content/basic-facts-about-hearing-loss
²Retrieved on 3/13/2016 from: http://www.hearingloss.org/content/living-hearing-loss
The OT eTool Kit resource - review of apps and other technologies for OT's working with children and adults.
The OT eTool Kit resource - review of apps and other technologies for OT's working with children and adults.
powered by ARRM Technology Resource Center
Indiana's leader in assistive technology and the home of the INDATA Project
Assistive technology to help infants and toddlers communicate, move, play, and grow
The Stories of an Occupational Therapist with Retinopathy of Prematurity
The OT eTool Kit resource - review of apps and other technologies for OT's working with children and adults.
The OT eTool Kit resource - review of apps and other technologies for OT's working with children and adults.
Tech Integration for Busy Teachers
Just another WordPress.com site
Technology support for all dyslexic people
Re-train the Visual Brain…Advancing awareness, understanding and best practices
Literacy, AAC & Assistive Technology
Supporting Accessibility with the iPad
OT's with Apps & Technology 