Tag: School

Proloquo2Go

App/Tool Overview

Proloquo2Go is an amazing communication app that has transformed the lives of many individuals and won many awards throughout its history. This app is an AAC, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication app, which means it allows its users to communicate with others in ways other than speaking. There are a variety of differently abled people who benefit from this app; the list includes, but is not limited to, individuals with autism, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities that impact an individual’s ability to speak uninhibited. One of the reasons this app is so widely lauded is that it has been created to reach out to so many different people through so many different avenues; it is available in English, Spanish, French, and Dutch and can be accessed on iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. Furthermore, the app is extremely customizable, letting its users create the ideal interface and range of abilities for their own individual preferences and needs. The app has an astounding number of features to aid its users in easy communication, but some of the most widely used features are the inclusion of ‘core word’ vocabulary lists, Text to Speech abilities in a variety of voices, dialects, and accents, use of images alongside words, and functions to help develop fine motor skills while working on fluency of language. This app, at its core, enables its users to develop language, communicate, and more freely express themselves despite difficulties or disabilities.

School Library Applications

Proloquo2Go would be extremely valuable in a school library setting because it would allow every single student, regardless of ability, to express themselves, communicate, and use the library’s resources to their fullest extent. The school library is more commonly known in many institutions now as the media center, or something of that ilk, which means that it encompasses so many important resources for students. This is an amazing feature, but it also means it can be difficult for students who lack fluid communication skills because they will have more difficulty navigating through all of these resources. Having this app available would be so valuable because students would be able to very clearly state their needs and wants to library staff, who would then be able to assist them in accomplishing their goals. The school library, or media center, exists to serve all of its students, so the staff who work there need to do all that they can to have access to and aid all of their students, regardless of ability.

The library is also a place for students to go to work independently and take a moment for themselves if desired, so having this app available for students in need to develop their communication fluency would be very helpful. It would be a wonderful idea to have this app available on some sort of device, preferably an iPad, to be available at all times for students who would like to work on their own when they have free time to do so. Having a more private and secluded spot in the library for this to happen would be very beneficial for students to feel safe and confident when using this app and developing their language skills.

Classroom Teacher Implications

Classroom teachers would be able to use Proloquo2Go in all of the same ways that a school library would. Again, the focus for this app is to help students develop their language and communication skills, so it is important for them to be able to do so in all of their school environments. It would be beneficial for a school to buy several copies of this app so that students are able to have access wherever they go in their school. Students who could greatly benefit from this app would achieve the most with continued practice and consistency, so it is important to have this app in a variety of places like the library/media center, the students’ classroom, the PT/OT classrooms, and other resource rooms where these students receive services. The more practice and time with this app that the students receive, the more confident they will feel when communicating.

Further Information

For more information about Proloquo2Go, please follow this link to access their webpage: https://www.assistiveware.com/products/proloquo2go

A second link to follow is the from the Apple App store, which provides more information: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/proloquo2go/id308368164#?platform=iphone

This app is a bit more of a financial commitment than other assistive technology apps; it costs $249.99 on the Apple App Store. While this is a bit of a steep price, it can be extremely beneficial for users who decide to purchase, so make sure to do your research before deciding on purchasing.

iWriteWords

App/Tool Overview

iWriteWords is a handwriting tool for children who need assistance when learning to write letters, numbers, and words. This app turns writing into a game by having the user follow ‘Mr.Crab’ and help him collect beach balls as he moves across the beach. The user drags her finger after the beach balls, resulting in the letter or number that is being focused on. Once all the letters of the word being studied are written, a picture of said word appears on the screen, signaling the user both that she has completed the word, as well as what the meaning of the word is. Once the user has achieved this she can slide the letters into a spinning hole, which then allows her to move on to the next level. Users can use their fingers or a stylus to help practice writing their numbers and letters. This app was designed for and is found on the Apple app store. iWriteWords can be used both on an iPhone and an iPad.

School Library Applications

This app can be used in school libraries as an enrichment tool for elementary aged school students or older students with severe learning and/or developmental disorders. Librarians can have this app available on iPads in a quieter spot in the library and allow children to use the app either as directed or at their leisure to receive more practice reading and writing letters and numbers. It could also be used as positive reinforcement; children who have behaved well and followed directions during library instruction time could be positively reinforced with iPad time featuring educational apps like this one.

Classroom Teacher Implications

This app could be used in the same ways that are described above for school libraries. However, in the classroom, where there is more opportunity for one on one instruction, it could be used more specifically with students who are struggling with reading and writing. These students could have a learning disorder, a behavioral disorder, a visual impairment, or could just need more time than their peers with honing their reading and writing skills. No matter the situation, this app provides the teacher with a great tool that allows the student to work independently or with the teacher. A teacher could sit with the student as she moves through the app and reinforce/give pointers while she accomplishes each letter, number, word, and level. Alternatively, if a teacher is not able to focus on this one student, then the app does a wonderful job guiding user through and allowing her to work on her own. Because of the easy to use interface and the simplicity of the app, even younger students will able to work independently and accomplish the goals of the app.

Further Information

For more information on iWriteWords, use the following link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/iwritewords-handwriting-game/id307025309#?platform=ipad

This app is available on the Apple app store for $2.99. Additionally, users who would like to try the iWriteWords app before purchasing can download iWriteWords Lite, which is a free version of the app.

Popplet

App/Tool Overview

Popplet is a very simple and effective tool. The main concept behind Popplet is to help individuals, both in a work and education setting, organize their thoughts in a way that is easy to view, manipulate, and share. Popplet helps the user organize a topic and its resulting pieces of information into an easy to view web. This is a great tool for brainstorming and prepping information for an upcoming in-depth project or paper. It is also an organized and efficient way to take notes in a lecture or during a discussion. Popplet allows the user to capture text and images and use them in her web. It also allows customization for color scheme and languages used. Popplet also has a number of different ways to share in the information created; users can create a log-in to collaborate online or they can export their web as a PDF or JPEG to send and share with others. Lastly, Popplet allows users to make their webs public so that they can share with others, and search through other users’ creations. Popplet can be used on either an iPhone or an iPad.

School Library Applications

Popplet could be used in a school library from both the librarian and the student perspective.

Librarians could use Popplet to create webs of information to display in the library for different themes and events that are happening. For instance, if a librarian has chosen to have an Earth Day theme for the month of April, she could create a web with information about the Earth and Earth Day and have it displayed, either on a screen or printed out from an exported file, in the library. If a librarian is hosting an event that has several different components, she could use a Popplet display to outline each of the different sub-events that make up the larger event. Or if a librarian has an activity planned for students she could have a Popplet display to show them all of the steps they will be taking throughout the activity.

Students could use Popplet in the library if they are assigned work from a classroom teacher and need more time to work on it outside of class. They could also use it during an activity during library time that requires them to organize and present their thoughts. Another use would be for students to use for their own purposes to keep information like a list of homework assignments organized and easy to view.

Classroom Teacher Implications

All of the above uses listed for a school librarian and students could be applied to a classroom situation as well.

Another way that could be more effective for a classroom teacher over a school librarian is using Popplet as a class. Teachers have more time and flexibility in their classrooms, so they could use Popplet on a big screen in front of the class and the students could work together with the teacher to fill in the information into the Popplet. This could be done for a classroom schedule, list of classroom etiquette, sharing information students know on a topic at the beginning of a unit, sharing information students have learned on a topic at the end of a unit, and so on and so forth. This Popplet could then be made public so that all students have access to it both in and outside of the classroom.

Teachers could also assign use of Popplet for classwork or assignments. It is an effective way to see what students know about a topic and makes it easy to assess what understanding students have at both an individual and class level.

Further Information

For more information about Popplet use these two links: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/popplet/id374151636#?platform=ipad The App Store Preview or http://popplet.com/app/#/public Popplet’s website.

Popplet is available for $4.99 on the Apple App Store.

Positive Penguins

App/Tool Overview

Positive Penguins is a wonderful app that was created to enable children to participate in short, guided meditation. The app’s main function is to provide a five minute mediation for students that will help them to address their emotions, take a break to check in or cool down, and aid them in having time to think problems over uninterrupted. The app offers this meditation as well as a game mode that helps children to connect with themselves and figure out their emotions in a way that is more active. It is accessible for children of varying abilities because it has text as well as sound, and the ability to either record responses audibly or type them out. These features allow students with both vision and hearing disabilities to access the app. A note on this particular app-it is only available on the Apple App store for iOS devices.

School Library Applications

This app is extremely valuable for all school professionals: librarians, teachers, counselors, lunch and recess aides; the list goes on and on. While a school’s primary function is to be a place of learning, it is also the space where children spend most of their time during the week, so there should be a focus on mental and emotional health as well. This app allows educators to bring a focus to these areas without having to lose any significant instructional time.

In terms of the library in particular, I think school librarians are able to offer special assistance in terms of mental and emotional health because they do not always have the restricted time and schedule that classroom teachers have to adhere to. Libraries could have this app available on I-Pads in a space in the library that has comfortable seating and that is out of the way of the more trafficked areas. Librarians could simply keep this app open for students and allow them to take a mental break with the assistance of Positive Penguins when they are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. This would be beneficial to students because they would know that even at their most difficult moments, they have a safe space to come to and unwind in. They will be able to take a few moments for themselves, recenter with the guided meditation, and then continue on with their days a bit more at ease.

Classroom Teacher Implications

While I think using this app in order to aid in students’ mental and emotional health is equally as important for teachers as it is librarians, I think that teachers may be able to implement it in a slightly different way. While it is easier for librarians to have the app open for use at any time, when it comes to a teacher in her classroom, I think using the app for meditation as a group would be easier. Teachers could lead the class in a guided group meditation at many points throughout the day; it could be the start to the day right after students have come into the classroom, it could be at the end of the day for students to reflect, it could be any point in the middle of the day when the class feels as if it needs to refocus. Lastly, similarly to the set up in the library, teachers could also have the app open during times such as recess or independent reading time so that students are able to have access to the app whenever they individually feel the need.

Lastly, I think that both teachers and librarians could educate their students on the app and its accessibility outside of the school day as well. Because this app is accessible on any Apple device, many students have the ability to use it at home or at the public library as well. Educators should inform their students about how to access and use the app on their own time. This is because students (and people in general!) can always benefit from a few minutes of quiet reflection, especially when in a stressful situation. Educators should strive to aid students in their well being in all places in their lives, so helping them to use this tool of meditation outside of school is just as important as it is within the school day. The healthier a student’s mental and emotional states, the more success they will find both in their education and their personal lives.

Further Information

To access Positive Penguins and find more information about it, please use the following link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/positive-penguins/id570371342

The cost of the app is $.99.

Speak it!

App/Tool Overview

Speak it! is a very simple tool that can be extremely beneficial for struggling readers or students with vision impairments and disabilities. This app is a tool that converts typed text to spoken word. Examples of typed documents this app can read from are emails, Word documents, text typed directly into the app, and other text-based documents that can be accessed on the device Speak it! is downloaded on. The app offers four different voices to choose from-an American male, an American female, a British male, and a British female. The interface of the app is customizable as well, allowing users to change elements such as font size, voice volume, and voice speed. Lastly, users can save personalized phrases that they use often for later playback.

School Library Applications

One way school libraries can use Speak it! is by offering it as a service on any device they own that has an app store and download capabilities. This would be a very useful tool for students who have a reading or visual disability or impairment, as it would aid them in reading books, school assignments, and any other textually based documents. It would be an excellent service for school libraries to offer that students could use during study halls or enrichment periods.

Another way school libraries can use Speak it! is to enhance and aid any programming they put on for their students. For example, having Speak it! would allow a wider range of differently abled students to participate in a book club, as they would be able to follow along easier with the additional support of the voice coupled with the text. Another example of a program this app could support is any sort of presentation. Differently abled students who are not able to see the presentation or who are not able to keep up with the pace of it will be able to follow along with the voice recording that Speak it! provides.

Classroom Teacher Implications

The implications and uses for a classroom teacher overlap with those of the school librarian. Classroom teachers can also use it to aid differently abled students in completing assignments and following along with presentations. Another use that is more fitting to a classroom teacher is that differently abled students will be able to more easily complete group work with classmates with the assistance of the app’s voice. This will allow these students to hear what their peers are doing if they are unable to read along with them as they work. It will also allow them to contribute to the conversation more easily as they will have multiple ways to access the information.

A second implication for classroom teachers is that differently abled students will be able to complete homework assignments more easily. Speak it! is an easily accessible app, so students will not be limited to using it solely at school, but could also use it at home on devices they have. This will make it much easier for students to complete readings and written assignments as they will be able to access the textual information through it being read aloud.

Further Information

For more information about Speak it! please use the following link for details and reviews: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/speak-it-text-to-speech

Users can buy this app for $1.99 on the Apple app store.

VideoAnt

App/Tool Overview

VideoAnt is an annotation tool that was developed by the University of Minnesota to aid educators and students in better understanding and sharing videos. This tool allows the user to add annotations to videos as she is watching them so that she may more easily share her thoughts with others about the video. The user can add in text annotations at any point during the video that will stay locked in place. There is also an option to move the annotation to a different point in the video that is more appropriate. Each annotation on the video is demarcated underneath the video at the correct point in time. Once the user has completely annotated the video, which is now called an Ant, she may share it with others so that they can watch the video with all of the annotations included. There is also a tool to help organize videos that are of similar content; a user may organize all of their Ants into what the tool calls an Ant Farm so that viewers can find all of the content in one place. Additionally, each annotation serves as a conversation thread so that continued learning can occur once the Ant has been shared with viewers. VideoAnt is a very simple tool to use and share with others.

School Library Applications

One way that school libraries can use this tool is to make a collection of annotated videos, or Ants, that aids students in understanding different elements of the library such as the Dewey Decimal System or how to conduct research. While there are many videos already available on such topics, this tool allows each individual library to input the information specific to their own facilities and policies so that students are able to have a personalized experience while still being able to use popular videos.

Another way school libraries can use this tool is the opposite of the above idea; they can have students annotate videos on different elements of the library to ensure comprehension and engagement with the material. Students will then be able to share their Ants with one another for continued learning and collaboration.

Classroom Teacher Implications

As the idea above shares, classroom teachers can use VideoAnt to ensure student comprehension by having them annotate videos about certain topics with additional information they have learned in class. This can help deepen understanding and engagement with the material being presented. And again, as students are able to share Ants with one another, there will be further learning that can happen in a way that is fun and engaging.

A second way classroom teachers can use VideoAnt is by annotating videos for students to learn from so that they can conduct their learning in places outside of the classroom. This is especially beneficial for students who are unable to attend class due to illness, disability, or other reasons, as they will be able to have access to both the video and the lecture presented by the teacher wherever they have access to a computer or mobile device. This ability could also be helpful when assigning homework, as it could be a more engaging form of learning for students than reading out of a textbook.

Further Information

To access VideoAnt, please use the following link: https://ant.umn.edu/. Users can sign in via Google, Facebook, or Twitter.

Kidblog

App/Tool Overview

Kidblog.org is a website that was created in order to give students a safe place to express themselves and publish their work online. Students create content and then are able to publish it to make connections with fellow students and educators and share what they have done. In terms of the specific content they are creating, Kidblog enables them to use a variety of forms. Students are able to create content with words, images, videos, and more, allowing them to work with the medium with which they are the most comfortable or fond of. There are myriad ways to express creativity through Kidblog with their wide variety of customizable features; students are able to have the final say on all elements of their post, including font, color schemes, header images, tags, audiences, and other such areas. Once the creation process is underway, Kidblog also provides ample evaluation and assistance services, allowing for editing, revisions, peer review, and website driven suggestions to enable the students to continually hone their craft and creative process.

School Library Applications

Kidblog would be a beneficial tool to have available in school libraries because it promotes creative thinking, gives students a sense of autonomy, and encourages collaboration.

This tool promotes creative thinking because it allows students to step outside the traditional box of essay writing and enables them to make different creative choices to express their thoughts. While students still have the option to explain themselves through words, they also have the ability to create content through posting images, creating works of art, and providing videos that also convey what they are intending to share. They are not confined to working in just one medium, but instead are told that the possibilities are endless, so they are able to choose freely from whatever expression speaks to them the most. Being able to think and work creatively enables students to create content that they are passionate about and motivated to work on.

The next benefit from Kidblog, giving students a sense of autonomy, can be seen through the vast number of choices students have when creating their blogs. Students are able to control every aspect of their blogs, from the type of content they are creating, the color scheme found in the backdrop, the font they are using, the audience with whom they are sharing their work, and more. Every choice being made is left solely to the student, allowing them to think and act freely. This ability to make choices completely uninhibited builds students’ confidence and allows them to act independently in a safe space.

The last major benefit to using Kidblog in a school library is that it promotes collaboration. Being able to work successfully with one’s peers is a valuable skill for both educational and professional careers. Kidblog allows students to peer review each other’s work, letting them practice interacting with one another in a constructive and respectful way. It also allows them to publish their work while exploring others’ work, letting them feel like part of a community.

Classroom Teacher Implications

Kidblog is a very helpful tool for classroom teachers as it aids them in engagement and assessment.

As stated above, Kidblog allows students to flex their creative muscles and synthesize information in many different ways, an element that is important when trying to engage students students. Allowing students to have creative freedom helps to motivate them to create high quality work that they are passionate about. It also aids students in synthesizing and retaining information because they are actively engaged in what they are learning about and are creating content centered on the material, rather than passively sitting and listening to a lecture.

Kidblog can also aid teachers in assessing their students’ work because they will be able to witness a variety of their students’ skills through the creation of their blogs. One of the skills they will be able to assess is their students’ ability to synthesize the material and present it in a clear, concise, and engaging way. Another skill they will be able to evaluate is the students’ ability to utilize technology, as Kidblog must be accessed through a computer or mobile device. A third skill they will be able to assess is the students’ ability to work independently. Each student will be responsible for managing her own blog, so teachers will be able to evaluate how successfully each student is doing so.

Further Information

To access Kidblog, please use the following link : https://kidblog.org/home/ . Users are given the option of trying a free thirty day trial before being asked to pay for a subscription.