In introducing the Hoosier Family of Readers Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz says, “I strongly believe that a reader is not simply someone who can read; a reader is someone who does read.”  She goes on to encourage them to, “read anything that interests them –including graphic novels, non-fiction books, magazines, and newspapers – whether online or in print.”

Through the Hoosier Family of Readers initiative, students and their families across the state will have unlimited access to reading material on myON, giving families an opportunity to share rich literacy experiences together regardless of their socioeconomic status or whether or not there is a proficient reader in the home.

To find out more about this program, click on the link below

Included in this reading program are more than 3000 digital books from myON Books.  To get started follow this link:

myON Books

App of The Week 

   FREE BOOKS – 23,469 classics to go! is the tag line on this app.

This is not the only free book app.  Just search free children’s books in the app store and you will find many options.

Other Information

CIESC Newsletter :  http://bit.ly/13GhovZ or on our web site www.ciesc.k12.in.us

Attention All Teachers & Administrators! - Registration is now open for our first Summer eLearning Conference at Lebanon High School.

August 1-2, 2013

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Lebanon High School

• Are you interested in learning ways to increase student engagement?
• Do you need to integrate technology to enhance instruction?
• Do you want to prepare for the new school year with new energy, creativity and inspiration?
• Are you wanting to learn how to go from a textbook curriculum to more of a digital curriculum?
• Would you like to learn about new tools such as Weebly, Digital Badges, Blogging and LiveBinders?
• Maybe you just need an opportunity to dig a little deeper into Mimio or My Big Campus.

We are honored to announce Heidi Hayes Jacobs, PhD. will provide keynote sessions both days of the conference as well as breakout session opportunities.

Over two dozen additional breakout sessions will be offered.

$50 per person that includes a networking lunch both days

http://lebanonelearning.weebly.com

University of Indianapolis – iLead Scholarships $1500 – 3000 applications due by August 30, 2013 – APPLICATION

Click here to see full announcement 

The end of the school year is happening this week for some of the schools in Indiana.  Others will end next week and a few others, the week after.  It is a time of good-byes and new beginnings for children changing buildings, seniors starting their post secondary adventures and teachers, administrators and other school personnel who will be packing up their classrooms and offices and moving on to other adventures of their own.  Education is an on-going process.  We do not start over with ABC’s and 123′s at the beginning of each year.  We review.  So, with that in mind, it is important for those who are moving on to leave some of the knowledge that they have gained for those that will come after them.  If you are one of those professionals that has had a relationship with PATINS and is now leaving for retirement, or another post, we want to thank you for all you have done for your students.  If you have borrowed assistive technology, called/emailed questions or attended our conferences, you are marked as an educator who will go to any length to facilitate your student’s needs.  We also have a favor to ask.  Before you leave, please leave some wisdom for the educator who is following in your footsteps.  Leave them a note filled with some of your favorite tips and tricks and let them know how PATINS can help.  Thank you.

An important PATINS email should be coming to you soon!

In it will be a survey that will help to develop the interstate assistive technology and universal design for learning webinar series for the 2013 – 2014 school year. All responses are confidential, and we would like to receive it back by May 31, 2013. This interstate webinar project is a collaborative effort among Indiana (PATINS), Ohio (OCALI), Michigan (MITS), Texas (TATN) and Minnesota Department of Education. The survey has 2 questions so it won’t take very long to complete.  When you get your email, we encourage you to forward this survey to all of your colleagues, including general and special education teachers, building level, district level, and special education administration, related services professionals, IT professionals, AT consultants, etc.   Thank you in advance for your feedback!

What’s that you say?  You want to take it right now?  Well, Ok, just click on the red “I Can’t Wait!” and the survey is all yours!

I Can’t Wait!

Speaking of surveys… our app this week is AnswerGarden.  It is a simple app that can be used as a feedback tool.  As people answer the question it creates a word cloud of the answers!  Please click on the icon below to view my question for you!

News

The Autism Society of Indiana in partnership with the Indiana Governors Council of People with Disabilities is presenting in 2013 the 1st Annual Indiana Youth Leadership Forum (IN-YLF), which is based off of the California Youth Leadership Forum.  The program is an exciting five-day leadership program for students with disabilities (any and all types) where students will learn everything from technology to resource agencies to creating a “Personal Leadership Plan” to help reach education and career goals.  In addition, the students and their peers will be able to meet and interact with leaders in the State; professionals and role models from the “disability community”.

We need your help in getting the word out to students that you know that fit the criteria for the forum. The students are to be between the ages of 16-21, in 11th or 12th grade in high school and have a disability. The disability may include a variety of disabilities such as learning, visual, mobility, mental health, developmental, hearing, and neurological impairments.  In addition, the students have to show leadership at school and/or in the community.  Please visit our website at to learn more http://www.inylf.org/ our program.

We will be selecting, from all the applicants, 25 students that will attend this year’s forum which will be held July 27th – July 31st, 2013 on the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus in downtown Indianapolis. Please help us by spreading the word to any organization, group, or school that you know in your area that may have students that qualify. Any way that we can help you spread the word such as a newsletter or website blurb that we can provide for you, please let us know. Attached is the student application. Please help us by forwarding the application to anyone that would know of a student that could meet our criteria. It is also available online electronically – this is the preferred method of submittal. The applications are due May 24, 2013.

Please feel free to contact me or Jennifer Coffey, IN-YLF Coordinator (Jennifer@inautism.org or 1-800-609-8449 x66) if you have any questions or would like to be involved even as a volunteer for the event. Anything I can do to help you and your organization to spread the word, please let me know. You can also follow us on Facebook (Indiana Youth Leadership Forum) or Twitter (@inylf) for updates about the event as well.

via: David Goetz, david@inautism.org Rural Outreach Ally, Autism Society of Indiana,  1800 – 609 – 8449, ext 333

CIESC and Apple partnered to offer a Train-the-Trainer Summer Camp June 18 through June 21 for Technology Integration Specialists to further support innovation in schools with iPad 1:1 digital learning initiatives. The Apple courses to be covered are iOS Creativity , iOS Productivity, iBooks Author, iTunes U Course Manager.

Register at http://bit.ly/Y406Cq or www.ciesc.k12.in.us. Only 20 registrants are accepted. Send a Team! For more info see flyer: http://t.co/0HBPvWmgCf 

WE HAVE ONLY 8 SPOTS LEFT, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU!

For some, the school year is winding down for others there is quite a bit left.  Regardless, it is a good time to look at summer camps!

Through the National Federation for the Blind students can attended the BELL Program – Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning   The goal of the program is to provide 2 weeks of Braille instruction enrichment to children ages 4-12 who are blind or have low vision.  The program runs from Monday through Friday for six hours a day and incorporates all of the great summer camp activities like:  crafts, games, projects and field trips.  All of these activities will be related to the NFB BELL curriculum.  THE DEADLINE FOR SIGN UP IS MAY 15th! 

Click here for more details!                     Link for sign-up.

Here are some other links to articles with lists of summer camps for students with disabilities in Indiana.

Friendship Circle Blog list of summer camps

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Summer 2012 Camps and Programs

I get asked all the time, “What is your favorite app?”  In general it depends on what is supposed to be accomplished.  That said, I try a lot of apps!  I do have some that I really like.  I hope that I can highlight some that will help you.  So, to this end, I will be posting an app each time I blog.  This first one is a blockbuster!

Native Numbers  $4.99 

Native Numbers is a completely complete way of learning what a number is and what it represents.  Students will first work with rods, no numbers.  They will be asked to “touch one”.  They will then see a square white rod and will need to touch it to make it continue.  They will then see a rod called 2 (appropriately sized), 3 and 4.  Then they are given the rods in sets of 2 and asked to touch the one that is named.  This goes on through nine.  Once completed they are introduced to sets.  The next lesson reviews and then has them compare rods and sets.  Finally the 4th lesson introduces numerals.  Though the scope of the app they will work with tallies, counting up, counting down and counting on.  The final group of lessons involve demonstrating mastery.  I thoroughly enjoyed the process and would love to see it applied to foreign language, science and anything else the developers at Native Brain can come up with!

Have a great week!

I find many things on line, in blogs I read and in my email.  This is just an eclectic group of things I’ve been keeping to pass along.

A new update to the Kindle app came to my iPhone this week.  It is now compatible with VoiceOver.

Update: National Federation of the Blind comments on Amazon Kindle App: https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-comments-amazon-kindle-app

Michigan State University is proud to present an exciting college transition program for high school students with disabilities. The Venture program invites students ages 16-18 to join us for a unique on-campus pre-college experience. Venture offers students the chance to “try on” university life through an interactive experience at MSU. This experience will benefit all students, regardless of whether they are planning on attending a 2 or 4 year college.

Students will:

• Talk directly with current MSU students with disabilities who have “been there” and understand the journey
• Consult with university disability specialists to learn skills for college
• Experience firsthand the latest assistive technology through breakout sessions during the program
• Attend a college class, stay two nights in an accessible residence hall, and build connections with other high school students with disabilities
• Become aware of self-advocacy skills and resources for a successful transition
• Develop a long-range goal that includes a vision of higher education

Learn more and apply now at https://www.rcpd.msu.edu/programs/project-venture!

Do you have information you would like to see in this blog?  Let me know.  Post a comment or send me an email.   sepatins@ciesc.k12.in.us

ISTEP, Spring Break and winter storms!  Weather wise, the February 26th (close enough) Parent Evening featuring Adapting the iPad for Accessibility at the Logan Center in South Bend, IN iPad was postponed due to inclement weather.  It has been rescheduled for May 6, 2013 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.  Hopefully even South Bend will be snow-free by then.  The good news is that this rescheduling allows us to reopen registration for this event!  There are only 20 spaces available.  To see the information and to register, please follow this link.  A Parent Evening featuring Adapting the iPad for Accessibility

For those of you looking for a parent evening a little further south, March 19, 2013, parent night will be in Greenwood, IN.  There are still spots available.  To see the information and to register, please follow this link.  A Parent Evening featuring Adapting the iPad for Accessibility

The PATINS Tech Expo is getting closer!  The presentation information as well as information on hotel accommodations, and registration for attendees and presenters is posted at:  www.patinsproject.com

I am currently on spring break and had to rely on PATINS Project Administrative Assistant Glenda Thompson, to help me send some information to a director in my region regarding the Fall PATINS State Conference and including PATINS in the Special Education Improvement Award.  Her advice and information were so well stated that I wanted to post it here. “Our PATINS State Conference is coming up November 4 & 5, 2013 in downtown Indianapolis at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The cost is $75/day which covers the catering costs. There will be a full slate of National and Local presenters along with a keynote each day. That Registration will be up by the end of this week and we are firming up our Presenters even as I type-a list for your review will be on www.patinsproject.com very soon.
As you formulate your proposal and allocate your monies, keep in mind our annual Spring PATINS Tech Expo for 2014. This will be held in Indianapolis as well but NO registration cost and complimentary lunch. If you could plan for subs and send some teachers to this event they will have a full day of vendor driven presentations, PATINS staff available for support and discussions and an Exhibit Hall full of vendors to explain their technology and tips. If you or any of your colleagues can come THIS year, please do. It is next month, April 18th and I have included the registration link for your consideration. Register Here! “

For more info on these topics and more, contact your region’s Coordinator and stay warm and dry!

I am Sandi Mahl, PATINS SE Coordinator.  A brief explanation before the blog:   As you know Daniel McNulty, now State Project Director of PATINS usually writes this blog.  He has not given it up; however, he is no longer able to keep it as current as he would like it to be.  So, I will be taking a guest role in writing the Rapid Fire Blog.  It was an easy fill for me as I was just beginning some blogs of my own.  The Rapid Fire Blog will probably change its “voice” a bit, but you will still find the same information here.  With me blogging, the Rapid Fire Blog will become part of a trio of blogs:

Rapid Fire – Just the facts ma’am

smahlthoughts* – A deeper look into the topic with some personal opinions thrown in http://smahlworldindustries.edublogs.org/

smahlstuff* – A more emotional, hold hands and sing Kumbaya look at the topic with lots of opinions and a look at the twisty road my mind travels. http://smahlstuff.edublogs.org

*Any opinions or mistakes expressed on smahlthoughts and smahlstuff are all my own.  They are not endorsed by nor are they intended to reflect negatively or positively on PATINS.

So, let’s get started!

I received notification that the ICAM Dispatch blog had been posted this morning.  I love the way Martha Hammond writes so I clicked on it immediately.  In it she listed some reminders of what different PATINS people were doing and that yesterday was Digital Learning Day.  Very appropriately, I spent 90 minutes listening to an ATIA webinar on tools for storytelling in the 21^st Century.  The content was great I heard about tools that I knew and tools that were new to me.  Webinars are great ways to seek information from others in the least amount of time.  While the ATIA webinars are not free, PATINS and our counterparts in Michigan (MITS) and Ohio (OCALI) have teamed up to present some great FREE webinars.  Here are some of the ones coming this month.

Julie Kuhn – NE Coordinator

2/14/2012, 8:30am – 9:30am EST – AT Feature Match:  Assistive Technology (AT) is not really about the Stuff.  It’s about knowing the student, what’s required and what the desired end result is. This presentation will show you how to get where you need to go.

To register:    http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AT_Feature_Match_Registration_2-7-2013

Martha Wells Hammond – ICAM Library Services Consultant

Sandi Mahl – SE Coordinator

2/14/2013, 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST – Early Childhood Indicators of Latent Print Disability:  In this training I will discuss early indicators of possible print disabilities that families may encounter as students begin reading.  This training is not a diagnostic tool, but a guideline to help families/teachers/caregivers be aware of potential problems, and to begin preparing with early interventions if problems do present. Some iPad apps with an Early Childhood focus will also be demonstrated.

To register:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NKY7P8B

2/19/2013, 11:45am – 12:00pm EST – PATINS TV – Another Special Guest today; our NE PATINS Coordinator Julie Kuhn provides some especially relevant insight from the perspective of an OT into positioning for access to the curriculum!

Barb Meier – MITS Presenter

2/21/2013, 3:15pm – 4:15pm EST – Tools to Support Students who Struggle with Math: This session examines FREE (and very low cost) tools and strategies that support student access to the curriculum. Learn about virtual manipulatives, talking calculators, and other items to support students as they access the mathematics curriculum. The focus of this webinar is on students with special needs but these tools support ALL students in the classroom.

To register:  http://tinyurl.com/8ebjug7

These and other Interstate Webinars are listed at: http://www.patinsproject.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=40

Well, to say things have been busy the last couple weeks would be a severe understatement!  I do apologize for missing the last couple of weeks with the blog though and have lots to share.  This one, actually should have posted Friday and didn’t, but here it is and I’ll do my best to get another posting out this Friday.

First, and quite appropriate to my life recently, is a discussion I’ve had with some colleagues in other states and in some Indiana districts that relates to one of my other lives as a scuba diver!  KEEP BREATHING.  While it may sound silly/obvious at first, it’s the best advice around amongst scuba divers.  Seriously, new or overwhelmed divers can have a tendency to forget to breath!  So, when the air is compressed at depth, then held in because they forget to breath and then expands rapidly as the stressed diver rushes to the surface in panic… well, the lungs explode.  This Fall, like many starts to the school year of the past, can be particularly stressful as we all try to do 15 different jobs at once.  So, remember that the most important thing may just be to stay exactly where you are for a moment and remind yourself to keep breathing.  ;)

PATINS State Conference Announcements!  

It’s Getting Closer and Closer!  We’ve got an awesome lineup of speakers that include such national presenters as Joy Zabala, Scott Marfilius, Kelly Fonner, Mystie Rail, Anne Rowe, Judi Sweeney, Jason Carroll and MANY others!  We also have two highly inspirational and entertaining keynote presenters!  The conference booklet is now available to you as a downloadable PDF.  It’s pretty large and might take a couple minutes to download, but is well worth it.  Registration for the conference is $75/day and includes your breakfast and lunch!  Registration is required and will close on Nov. 1st, so don’t delay!  There will be 2 hands on lab rooms going all day, both days and 6 other concurrent session rooms going on all day, both days!   Great Door Prizes (iPads!) will be given away each day!  For the first time ever, there will be a “DRM Corner-Chat” on both days where you can casually bring your questions, ideas, concerns, success stories to the ICAM & IERC experts!  Download the Conference Booklet and register at the links below!

Presentation Schedule: http://bit.ly/PresentationGrid

Full Conference Booklet (including presentation schedule): http://bit.ly/FullBooklet

Conference Registration:  http://bit.ly/PATINSStateConf2012

CIESC / IDOE Back To School Resource Fair!  TOMORROW!!!

PARENT-Family iPad Training Evening Announced!

This great evening opportunity, co-hosted by the PATINS Project & INSource, which is primarily intended for parents & families, will offer several ways to improve the accessibility of the iPad for children experiencing Vision, Hearing, Physical, Cognitive, or Communication challenges.  Limited to the 20 registrations!  Content of this evening presentation will be tailored to the specific and unique needs of the registrants to the greatest extent possible.

Apple Special Ed. Seminar September 13:  Co-Sponsored by PATINS Project and ICASE

• Sept. 13, 2012, 8:30am – 3:00pm
• At CIESC in Indianapolis
• NO COST
• Registration opens to public TODAY.  Space is limited to first 75 participants
• Flyer Here: Apple Seminar Sept 13 2012 Flyer
• Register Here:  http://edseminars.apple.com/series/3k1nW-bbxap 

ICAM VI Teacher Audio Interviews: If you’ve not yet heard any of the audio interviews that Martha and the ICAM staff are doing with outstanding teachers of the visually impaired, check these out!

• www.icam.k12.in.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=46&Itemid=128
• also check out the new ICAM Blog that Martha is doing weekly:
• ICAM Blog: http://icam.edublogs.org 

iPad Document Camera: A pretty cool stand that will turn your iPad into a Document Camera.  Could be quite useful in some classrooms, where the teacher is walking around with an iPad anyway, to make things larger for increased accessibility to examples, demonstrations, etc.  www.ipaddocumentcamera.com

Whitley County Autism Walk: Sunday Oct. 7, 2:00pm.  1 mile, $10, Includes Walk T-Shirt!

• Whitley county walk for autism 2012 Flyer
• Resource Provider Registration
• Sponsor registration

6-Week Long UDL Course from ISTE: http://www.iste.org/store/product.aspx?ID=2490&utm_source=Store%2BEmail&utm_medium=Store%2BEmail&utm_content=Feature%2BAd%2B(UDL%2BCourse)&utm_campaign=Store%2BEmail%2B(UDL%2BCourse)%2B8.9.12 

10 Alternatives To Powerpoint:  www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/08/10-excellent-alternatives-to-powerpoint.html 

Two More Events to keep an eye on!

• Nov. 8-9   PATINS State Conference Returns!  Save The Date.  Watch here and on the PATINS Website for Registration info very soon!  AND, we’re still wanting a few more teachers, therapists, admin, IT staff, who are working toward accessibility and are willing to share!  The Call For Proposals will absolutely close 1 week from today on Aug. 17 2012.  Get your Proposal in NOW, by clicking this link:  www.surveymonkey.com/s/PATINSStateConf2012CFP
• End of Sept/Beg. of Oct.  Parent Webinar nights with ISTE presenters that PATINS will be co-sponsoring with INSOURCE.  Watch for more information on this next week and start thinking about parents that you think could benefit.  There will be 2 locations; one in Indianapolis and one in South Bend.  Space will be limited to 20 parents at each site.

NEW ICAM Blog Announced! Martha Hammond at the ICAM has started blogging all things AIM, NIMAS & ICAM related on Thursdays via the brand new “ICAM Dispatch.”  I think it’d be a wise decision to take 5 minutes and check it out, subscribe just like you do to this blog and leave Martha some comments, suggestions, etc.  …especially if you are a DRM or serving students with print disabilities.

 First Friday Walk For Autism:  Aug. 3.  This wonderful event helps raise awareness and funds for families in Grant County
living with autism.

• Flyer and more info here: Marion Walk 2012
• Registration Form here: Walk for Autism Awareness Registration Form Aug 2012

Aug. 7:  PATINS Live TV Returns at 11:45am EST

Nov. 8-9: Save The Date:  PATINS 2012 State Conference!  Flyer Here: State Conf 2012 Flyer 1 CFP

ASAP: Still a little time to get your proposal in to present at the PATINS State Conference Nov. 8-9.  Contact me with questions: dmcnulty@ciesc.k12.in.us

A Reminder:
Big PATINS Project Changes!

Several things have now officially changed within the PATINS Project organization that I want to make sure you’re aware of as we get closer and closer to the start of the 12-13 school year.

1. The SE PATINS Site has moved from Madison to Columbus, IN and as you may know, Tina Jones ( SE Site Coordinator for past 17 years) has retired.  Tina will be missed by many people!  Tina’s replacement as the new SE Site Coordinator is Sandi Mahl.   The email you are currently using to reach the SE Site (sepatins@ciesc.k12.in.us) will remain the same, but will be received by Sandi now instead of Tina Jones.  We hope you’ll help us welcome Sandi to the PATINS Team!  More on Sandi to come!  Kelli Suding will be assisting Sandi at the SE Site and Kelli’s email is: ksuding@ciesc.k12.in.us.  The new SE Physical & Mailing Address: 1200 Central Avenue, Columbus, IN 47201
2. The NE PATINS Site has also moved, but just a couple miles down the road to the Wabash City Schools Admin Building.  I have handed over the NE Site Coordinator position Julie Kuhn!  We’re also excited to welcome Julie to the PATINS team and more details on her will also be coming soon!  Much like the SE, the NE Coordinator email will still be (nepatins@ciesc.k12.in.us), but it will no longer come to me.  It will go only to Julie!  Brandon Culver has also transitioned out of the NE Assistant position and Emily Booth has transitioned in.  Her email is ebooth@ciesc.k12.in.us.  The new NE Physical & Mailing Address: 1101 Colerain St. Wabash, IN 46992.  After today, please don’t send anything to the old Wabash address as it will likely not reach PATINS!
3. Vicki Hershman has also officially retired as the PATINS State Director after 17 years of dedicated service to PATINS and to Indiana’s K-12 schools.  Vicki will also be missed considerably by many and while there really is no replacing her (or Tina in the SE), I have now assumed the role of PATINS State Director.  My new email is: dmcnulty@ciesc.k12.in.us and you may begin using it now.  The Central PATINS location and phone numbers will not change:  Contact Us Page Here
4. Finally, the PATINS UDL Blog is going to be merged with this PATINS Rapid Fire Blog.  Tina has done a great job of keeping you informed with UDL related information on the UDL Blog and going forward, I plan to combine UDL, AT, AIM, Creative Ideas to Engage, Announcements, Important Information, all in this one convenient location.   So, if you were subscribed to the UDL Blog, you’ll want to make sure you’re now subscribed to this one.  Just enter your email address in the upper right-hand area of this page and click subscribe.  That way you’ll receive just the headlines each Friday in your inbox and can then decide if you want to click them for more information.

We ask that you continue to bear with us during this time of transition.  I do not anticipate any problems or delays in PATINS services to you and your colleagues, but we will have several new staff in new positions and are losing three very valuable PATINS Staff.  Vicki, Tina, and Brandon will all be missed greatly.  I am excited and very optimistic about the new staff joining us and I view this as an exciting opportunity to evolve, adapt & grow!   More details on new staff members will be coming and I hope that everyone out there will help to welcome them.  I will still blog over the summer months as much as possible and my plan is to continue blogging in this coming school year in my new role as well.

CONGRATULATIONS LISA SMITH from Brownsburg Community School Corporation!  A few weeks back (February 3rd posting)  marked the 200th post to this blog since Fall of 2007 and a chance to enter a drawing for some PATINS Goodies AND a full-day  AT/AIM Training on the topic of choice and at the winner’s school!   I’m happy to state that my random number generator spit out a “6″ and LISA SMITH from Brownsburg, you were indeed the 6th person to enter that drawing!   Thanks for playing and I’ll be in touch soon to schedule your training!  If you missed that 200th posting, check it out HERE

The Final of  the 6  Mostly Free, Easy, Fun Ways to Get Books/Content on Your iPad:

• Use iAuthor on a Mac Computer: OK, so this is definitely my favorite!   VERY cool and can be pretty simple or highly complex!  BUT, even though it’s free, it’s only for Mac computers.  I have started creating a couple of books and made a little time this week to finish a sample book and get it onto my iPad.  Here are my perceptions so far:
• If you’re familiar with using iWeb, then iBooks should be a breeze.  If you’ve never used iWeb in the past, there will be a little learning curve, but it’s not bad.
• There are several templates offered to help you get started.  They are a nice way to jump right in and start creating by dragging and dropping.
• Dragging and dropping images and other content like Word Docs or Pages Docs or videos into the templates automatically adjusts the text to flow around them.
• You can (and should) add interactivity to your books with various widgets… even ones that utilize multi-touch.
• Accessibility MUST be considered and built-in.  You’ve likely heard me say many times already that DIGITAL does NOT equal ACCESSIBLE.  So, your primary text and table of contents and glossary are built to automatically utilize the built-in VoiceOver on the iPad, BUT be sure you add accessibility to your other media and widgets!
• It’s pretty simple to then export your book to the iBookstore and make it available for purchase OR free download.  It’s also possible to export it directly to iBooks.
• RESPECT Copyright.  Know where you’re getting the content from for your book and if it’s not your content, DO NOT use it w/out permission of the owner.  This includes images, videos, and all other intellectual property.
• I intend to keep exploring iBooks and posting periodic updates as I learn.  For now, if you have a Mac with OS X LION, get iAuthor for free here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibooks-author/id490152466?ls=1&mt=12

My Web, My Way:  “Making the web easier to use.”    This great tool allows users to identify specific difficulties they have with using the web and then offers several methods/tools for helping!

• www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility

Typing/Keyboarding Resources &  Programs:  I have seen a lot of requests lately for online keyboarding tools.  So, here’s just a small list.  I’m sure that there are more and please feel free to comment here on the blog OR email me with your own suggestions to add to this list.  What’s sort of interesting about this particularly listing however, is that I had a 10 year old student try them all out and provide a couple sentences worth of her initial opinions of them.  (Student comments in parentheses below.  I’ve corrected some of her spelling, but made no other changes to her comments/notes)  Keep in mind that these are not my perceptions necessarily, but the initial feelings of a 4th grader who spent only about an hour and a half exploring these sites.   She had prior knowledge of computer use, but not necessarily any real typing skills.

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/ (…is a good typing center because it gives you advice and speaks on what you do, giving you checks and X’s.)
• http://www.nimblefingers.com/ (…is a good site, because when you go on it, it has nothing that will distract kids.)
• http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr076.shtml  (…seems like just information for teachers)
• http://www.typeonline.co.uk/lesson1.html    (…gives you 5 types of information and tells you how and where your fingers go.  It’s good and will not distract me.)
• http://www.customtyping.com/typing_tutor-parents.htm  (…seems like it’s mostly for grown-ups and principals) 
• http://www.typingweb.com/   (…is not OK for kids.  Seems too hard and won’t tell anything they will remember.)
• http://www.goodtyping.com/ (…you need to register)
• http://www.powertyping.com/  (…is good because it gives letters and sentences for you to type)
• http://sense-lang.org/ (…is a cool and good site.  You can practice test.  The test you give yourself and even more serious tests they will give the sentence to you.  …a longer one.  …but you pick the subject)
• http://www.typing-lessons.org/  (…gives you all different kinds of options to choose from for learning to type)
• http://www.slimekids.com/games/typing-games/type-em-up.html  (…is the perfect website for kids, but lots of it is games for typing, which could help)

Improv & Bookstream Demonstration Webinars:  Last week I mentioned the new communication development from Don Johnston.  This week I found out about a few demonstration webinars of the Improv software that might be of interest:  (all here: http://www.donjohnston.com/webinars/index.html)

• Fri, Mar 2, 2012 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM CST <https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/794589310>
• Wed, Mar 14, 2012 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM CDT <https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/340055118>
• Wed, Mar 28, 2012 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM CDT <https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/776626046>

Early Childhood Part 1 of 3 Webinar Recording AVAILABLE NOW!

The PATINS Project is hosting a three-part series on AIM to Start Early: Implementing Accessible Materials with Young Children with national presenters Kelly Fonner, Scott Marfilius and Donna McNear:

Feb. 6, 2012; 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. EST

- The first event in the series was a webinar with Scott and Donna that covered the current educational contexts for using AIM with young children, as well as foundational concepts, research implications, developmentally appropriate practices and the instructional framework.

Please visit the PATINS Video Collection Library Channel web page for viewing

You will need to visit this web page  to fill out the follow-up survey which will qualify you for Professional Growth Points.  Please note viewing this video on a Mac computer requires the Chrome browser.  If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Stabenfeldt at 812-490-7927.

Mar. 5, 2012; 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. EST

- The second event will be a live streaming event with Kelly, Scott and Donna that will encompass implementation with demonstration of appropriate technology tools and software and instructional supports.

April 2, 2012; 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. EST

-The final event will be a follow-up webinar with Kelly and Scott that will focus on developing a plan for implementation and program development/improvement.

Please visit the Survey Monkey web page for Registration information for this informative series.

Professional Growth Points (PGPs) for participation require participation in all three events of the series.  You will need to visit this web page to fill out the follow-up survey for each of the three events to qualify for Professional Growth Points.

All three videos will be on the AIM for Young Children Channel which is available by clicking on the dropdown arrow in the All Channels box in the middle of the page on the PATINS Video Collection Library web page.