Productivity is one of those words thrown around in society that act like a non-specific band-aid for fixing whatever is wrong.  If we increase student productivity…  Teachers need to use their time more productively…  and so on.  Sometimes increasing productivity requires increasing stimulation.  While researching this week’s tip I came across the focus@will site.  www.focus@will.com    The site streams music that is picked to increase productivity.  It has tips running along the bottom, and 8 different genres of music to run in the background.  Listening to music without lyrics works really well for me.  The trick in a classroom is to find a music style that suits the students that need it while not disturbing the ones that don’t.  In this way it becomes yet another tool in your UDL tool box!

This is what I was listening to while writing.

I started out researching “SpeakIt”, a free app on the Chrome Web Store.  For those using the web browser Chrome, once installed, this app will translate all highlighted text to speech while on the internet.  SpeakIt adds a speaker button to the right of the bookmark star just outside of the URL address box on the Chrome browser.  The user just needs to highlight the selection to be spoken and press the speaker symbol.  The pictured box will appear and read.  To get this app, go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/home  search SpeakIt in the search window and follow the instructions.  While I would not recommend this app for all text to speech needs, it is free, easy to download and can be used in some non-essential ways.  One of my favorites is for proofreading.  I will let the computer read what I have written while I listen for content.

So how did one thing lead to the other?  I pulled up this article http://edudemic.com/2013/04/cycle-of-productivity/ ”This Is The Modern Cycle of Productivity” by Katie Lepi on Edudemic.  I was testing SpeakIt for this post.  It is a quick fun article and lead me to focus@will.  Try the app on the article and you will notice that the graphic will not read.  That is because it is just a picture of the original graphic.  This is an issue that has been discussed and will continue to be discussed when looking at truly accessible reading material.

Don’t forget that it is Autism Awareness Month.  The Appy Mall as well as Appolicious have been listing several free and reduced autism apps!

See you at the PATINS Tech Expo!

PATINS 2013 Tech Expo

Thursday, April 18, 2013

The Fountains
502 East Carmel Drive
Carmel, IN  46032

OK, so there’s no hiding the fact that I’ve been a nearly-hopeless blogger this Fall 2012.  But, I’m here today.   I’ll do my best to be here next Friday as well.  I hope that most readers/subscribers have stuck with me and in return, I’ll try hard to make up for lost posts in the coming weeks.

3rd Grade Braille Challenge Winner Video Interview:  This past August, I enjoyed the distinct privilege of interviewing Drew about his accomplishments, his use of AT and AIM in school and at home, his personal drive and his inspirational attitude!  There are two parts to this video interview, each approx. 25 min. in length.  Not only does Drew discuss the importance of assistive technology and accessible materials in his life, but he provides some fascinating insight into some aspects of being blind that many people may not think about on their own.  Drew has a passion for life that is unmistakable and a drive to succeed that is inspirational.  I want to be like Drew when I grow up!  

• Watch Part I & II Here:  http://bit.ly/patinstv
• Just choose “AIM & AT in Action!” from the Channels Drop-Down Menu!

AND, while were on the topic of Video:  Have you been watching the LIVE PATINS TV?   Jeff Bond and I are live for 15 minutes over lunch on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month (less holidays).  We’ve covered such topics as ePub Conversion of documents for iPad, AAC  Basics, UDL, Read:OutLoud, iBooks, VoiceOver and more!  We are currently in the middle of a multi-episode series on Video Modeling, Self-Modeling and Self-Operated Prompting.  HOWEVER,  The next episode on Dec. 18th will feature two very special guests as Jeff and I cheer from the sidelines!    On Dec. 18th, two VERY SPECIAL guests will take over!  Sandi, PATINS SE Coordinator and Kelli, PATINS SE Assistant: 

‘Tis the season for toys!  This episode will show viewers how to use assistive technology to meet the needs of their student or child by modifying every day toys. We will use low cost, no-tech to low-tech items on books and toys to allow children to find the JOYful independence that they constantly seek and deserve!  Today will be a temporary break from our mini-series on modeling, VSM, etc.

• Watch LIVE at 11:45 EST on Dec. 18th here: www.patinsproject.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=41
• Check out Archived Episodes of the past here as well:  www.patinsproject.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=41
• Send us suggestions for future Episodes Here:  www.patinsproject.com/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=3&Itemid=42   Challenge US!  Send us your most difficult questions.  Jeff can handle them!  ;)

ICAM Blog: Have you checked out Martha Hammond’s (ICAM Lib. Services Consultant) blog?  The ICAM Dispatch typically posts on Thursday afternoons, is well written and contains great information about all things ICAM, AIM, NIMAS, etc.  Check it out and subscribe to it for free, just like you do to this one.

• ICAM Dispatch: http://icam.edublogs.org 

UDL Tool: This isn’t a new tool.  In fact, many of you should be familiar with the paper version of it.  This is pretty neat, except that it is designed in FLASH, which makes it non-accessible!

• http://udlwheel.mdonlinegrants.org

Sp.Ed. Teachers & Evaluations:  Here’s a quick article on CEC’s  view of special education teacher evaluations:

• http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2012/10/states_must_tread_cautiously_o.html

Using Twitter: …to analyze presidential debates in your classroom:

• www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=5016 

Top 200 Special Ed. Apps: www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/10/top-200-special-education-apps.html

 See you next Friday!   

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.

Click The Image Above and submit your info for entry into a special drawing
for some PATINS Goodies and a Full-Day PATINS  AIM & AT Training on topic of your choice, at your school!

It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that I’ve been posting to this blog for nearly 4.5 years!  For anyone who might be fairly new to the blog, it started as a replacement for sending out emailed newsletters to my contacts in the NE part of the state.  At the time, it just made a lot more sense to post that information in a blog format rather than emailed.  One of the greatest advantages is that all past  information in the blog is archived and searchable by month/year, by keyword, or by category!  So, I thought it’d be fun and interesting for this 200th Blog Posting to look back at this day in each of the previous years and see what the buzz was all about at that time!   Here we go!

September  2007, when this blog first started: 

• First REAL Post; 2 Vista Gadgets for Students

• 9/21/2007; Free Switch Games & Podcasting Tips

• 9/29/07: More Podcast Tips and Free Study Cards & Supporting Resources

 February  2008:

• ATIA ’08, Open Source ReadingTeacher, ForgeFX, PATINS TechExpo and Announcing EduChallenges

• 2/8/2008: Citation Machine, Math Resources Online, iPod Protection and The Very First EduChallenge!

• 2/15/2008: iDump Alternative to iTunes, GoogleReader, Big Search’n and Friendly Images and Sounds

• 2/22/08: Today’s Podcasting Workshop, Microsoft Acess Guide, Reading Website, Another iTunes Alternative and the EduChallenge

February  2009:

• 1/31/2009: ATIA 2009, Free Picasa for Mac, Text To Speech Recommendations, Reading For The Dogs

• 2/6/2009: Your Read:OutLoud Software, More from TRLD and ATIA 2009, Mac Screen Capture

• 2/13/2009: Alternative Seating, SL Art Locations, Video Format Conversion, A Great Accessible Book List, More TRLD Stuff

• 2/20/2009: More TRLD, Free Wii, Second Life Learning Experiences

• 2/27/2009: Suggest a Workshop, Promethean Offer, Touch Screen Videos, Immersive Worlds Examples, UDL Collaboration and Indiana Moms!

February , 2010:

• 2/5/2010: Google Wave For Students, Collaborative Drawing and Imagery, Highlight Web Pages, Typing Speed Comparison, David Davis on our Island!

• 2/12/2010: Are You Ready To Teach Online? David Davis in SL, ISTE Connects, Wired Kids, Podcasting Accessibility, Website Evaluation, Looking Back At The Tools, Family Center on Tech and Disability & Two Little Girls Grab My iPhone for Valentines Day!!!

• David Davis in Second Life (FREE) in 2 Weeks! Are You Ready? Some Ideas!

• 2/19/2010: 50 Free Graphing Apps on The Web! FREE IEP App for iPhone, 45 Education-Related Second Life Locations, iPad Still Lacks Flash, L.D. Statistics, Brains & Learning,

• 2/26/2010: News About Your Stimulus Dollars, Virtual Worlds Best Practices In Education Conference! Punishment Systems and UDL Engagement, Cool Twitter Apps! A Good Classroom Blog Example, and Two FREE Events Coming SOON!

February , 2011:

• 2/4/2011: PATINS AT Overview Online Module, Learning in 3D Online, LEGO Universe, SketchUp and ASD, Apps for Special Needs, PATINS Tech Expo Registration

• 2/11/2011: Readability, SHIFT Planning, iPad Evaluation in Education, Plug Into PATINS, Shorten URLs Easily

• URGENT: Mid-Week Post Requesting Your Help Now! IDEA Part B Funding at Immediate Risk

• 2/18/2011: Free UDL Forum, Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference, Second Life Firewall, Digital Nation Video, Safe Online, More!

• 2/25/2011: No Snowdays Online, Your Docs to ePubs, Feedbooks, Education Killing Creativity, Allow Kids To Fail? Proloquo Keyguards, How/Where Do You Work?

February 3, 2012!  For today, as a little bonus, you’re going to get a 2nd, separate, blog posting with lots of great tips including, “2/3/2012: 6 Free Ways to get Books on Your iPad, Mac OS LION Experiences & iBooks Author, Congrats Kristin from Wabash, Digital Learning Day, AIM For Young Children Reminder! “  Watch for it to post later today!  Also, remember that I post during all months of the year, not just February!  So feel free to browse the monthly and yearly archives on the right side of this blog anytime you wish!  There just might be some good OLD stuff back there!

Thanks for being a part of the blog over the last several years.  Many of you have left comments (though I wish more would) and many have emailed me, met me in person at conferences, etc., and many great discussions around Assistive Technology and Accessible Instructional Materials have resulted!

Even though it’s often a lot of work, it’s been a real pleasure to do the blog each week and it’s something I almost always look forward to!  I certainly hope to continue this blog for many years to come!  Remember you can always leave comments, questions, suggestions, requests, here on the blog or just click the image below to give us feedback.  We’re here to serve you!

NEW TTA Grant Applications Announced TODAY! 

Short Turn-Around Time! 

• There is a short window of opportunity so don’t delay:  Deadline to submit is Valentines Day’s, 2/14/12.  Two weeks from today!
  
• We will notify status to all that apply on 2/17/12.
• THE LINK to APPLY:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2ndroundttagrantapp13112

What Is This Grant All About?

• The PATINS Project’s Indiana Center for Accessible Materials (ICAM) will provide Targeted Technical Assistance (TTA) to Five New Indiana Local Educational Agencies (LEAs).
• The purpose of the TTA is to work closely with LEAs to assist with developing, improving and/or sustaining an effective, efficient system for the provision of specialized formats of print-based instructional materials to students with disabilities.
• The details of TTA for each LEA will be defined in a TTA Agreement collaboratively developed and agreed upon by the ICAM and assigned PATINS staff and a LEA AIM Coordinating Committee (to be assembled by the LEA).
• TTA will be provided to LEAs free of charge but no additional funds will be provided to participating LEAs.
• LEAs interested in receiving TTA from the PATINS Project should COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION BY February 14,2012.
• This is the second round of  five LEAS identified to begin working on an efficient district-wide system for the implementation of Quality AIM.
• All LEAs are welcome to apply and the selection of LEAs will be based on the information included in the application.
• If you have questions…. Contact Your PATINS Coordinator:  www.patinsproject.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=29

A Little More Supporting Information:

This TTA Grant Opportunity is supported by a  discussion I had at the national  ATIA conference last week about the QIAT Indicators and the work they’ve been doing around determining the most Influential factor.  Through a series of ratings, evaluating and weighting, they’ve determined that the most influential on everything else primarily deals with: having a systematic and collaborative process in place.  Even above expert knowledge or any other factor, it’s been determined that the most influential factor on the entire rest of the system around providing access to the curriculum for students is whether or not a systematic & collaborative process is in place first.   This strongly supports the work we’re trying to do with districts through this TTA Grant Opportunity.   This is in reference to the work that the QIAT Leaders are doing around the concept of “Influence Maps,” which they say will be on their website soon.

Low Tech Mainstream AT:  I saw this photograph floating around on a social media network from a colleague this week and wanted to share it.  It not only represents a great idea for keeping your many cables where you want them, it also represents the fact that great assistive technology does not have to be expensive, might be right next to you, and can often assist far more people than only those with disabilities.

ZoomReader: (Thanks Sandy) An OCR (Optical Character Recognition) App for iPhone only.  Not free, but can allow a user to photograph text with the iPhone’s camera and then have that text read to them.  I haven’t fully tested this app yet, but so far it seems to be the best one I’ve found.  At this point, it does not work for iPad though.  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zoomreader/id414117816?mt=8

A Touchscreen Braille Writer!  Cool: However, the video on this site is a Flash video so don’t bother trying to watch it on your iPad or iPhone, unless you have a third party Flash viewer app installed such as the two listed below.

• Video:  http://engineering.stanford.edu/news/stanford-summer-course-yields-touchscreen-braille-writer
• Third Party Flash Video Viewer Apps:

1. Skyfire: $2.99  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skyfire-web-browser/id384941497?mt=8
2. Photon Browser: $4.99  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photon-flash-web-browser-app/id430200224?mt=8

Upcoming Free PATINS Trainings:

1. Next Week!  App Party Thursday!
   www.surveymonkey.com/s/APPPartyOct272011 
2. THIS Monday!   Read:OutLoud, Get Started Now!
   http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SW_ROL_10-24-11
3. 10/25   Tuesday: A Look At eReaders and NIMAS Files:

   http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/eReader_10_25_11

4. 10/27   iPad eReader Apps & NIMAS Files:
   http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/iPad_eReader_10_27_11
5. Nov 7: Kurzweil 3000 Basics:
   http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SW_Kurzweil_11-7-11
6. See them all here:
   www.patinsproject.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38&Itemid=30
   

Some Apps For Literacy: (Thanks Jim)
www.spectronicsinoz.com/article/apps-for-literacy-support

Lots More Apps for Everything! (Thanks Jim)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsI85m0M-FnFdFZySU9ULU1vNDhWTm04ek5FdWVJbUE&authkey=CPej99sH&hl=en_US&authkey=CPej99sH#gid=0

Using PPT for Switch Scanning:  …of course, is nothing new, but the fact that it can often be done very quickly and very cheaply (if not free) makes it worth mentioning again.  I have recently gotten some questions about simple, free, easy beginning switch games.  Here’s a couple helpful links.  The first is to a very nice posting on another blog about setting up either single or dual switch scanning with Powerpoint and the second is a link back to a listing of online switch games that I posted awhile back.

1. http://adaptingcreatively.blogspot.com/2011/06/youve-made-some-cool-activities-in.html
2. http://nepatins.edublogs.org/2007/09/20/9212007-free-switch-games-podcasting-tips/

Save The Date
For the
2012 PATINS Tech Expo!  April 19^th

^{@ Marriott East Indianapolis (Free Parking!)}

REGISTER at PATINS Website:  Starting In January!

THIS COMING MONDAY!
May 2   4-5pm EST
NO COST!

Chris Bugaj & Beth Poss Present: UDL 2.0  The Read-Write Web: Free Online Tools

• Register Here (limited, but spots still available): www.surveymonkey.com/s/MAY2

• PATINS Second Life Island Event Location: http://bit.ly/PATINSLSISLAND

• PGP Points Available for Attending
• Right After School Timing for most
  
• Must have Second Life Software Installed and Avatar created.  A little practice time also recommended: www.secondlife.com
• PATINS Staff happy to assist you with getting started or question you might have: www.patinsproject.com/contact.html
• Download The Flyer Here: Poss Bugaj SL May 2011 Flyer
• These awesome national presenters will share loads of great free tools that you can use in your classrooms right away and access to this opportunity is available at NO COST to you!

About The Great Presenters:

Christopher R. Bugaj, MA CCC-SLP earned his Bachelor of Science in Education at the State University of New York at Fredonia and earned his Masters of Arts in Speech Pathology at Kent State University. Chris is the host of the A.T.TIPScast, an award-winning podcast featuring tools and strategies that can be used to differentiate instruction. Chris is the co-author of The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools: Building or Improving Your District’s AT Team and has presented at a variety of local, state, and national conferences and is an active member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. He currently works as an assistive technology trainer for Loudoun County Public Schools in Northern Virginia. Chris is also the co-producer and co-author of the popular Night Light Stories podcast which features original stories for children of all ages.

Beth Poss, MA CCC-SLP, a graduate of The George Washington University and Johns Hopkins University, is an Instructional Specialist in Curriculum and Universal Design for Learning for Montgomery County Public Schools, in Maryland. She also serves as a consultant for Johns Hopkins Center for Technology in Education and the Maryland Assistive Technology Network and teaches graduate classes in Assistive and Instructional Technology for Towson State University and Johns Hopkins University. Beth has presented locally, regionally, and nationally at a variety of educational and assistive technology conferences including ATIA and Closing the Gap.

About The Session:

Your goals are to motivate students to read and write, allow students to express their knowledge in unique ways and provide multimedia based materials to enhance student understanding. Don’t have the budget to purchase some of the wonderful, but costly software out there?  Then, this session is for you! We will explore web-based tools that are free or very low cost that can be used to support the 3 basic constructs of Universal Design for Learning–multiple means of engagement, multiple means of representation and multiple means of expression. A variety of flexible, interactive Web 2.0 tools such as will be demonstrated. Examples of how to use these tools in a Universally Designed for Learning classroom to support a wide range of student needs will be explored. Participants will walk away with ideas that they can put to use right away without the need for purchasing new equipment or software!

Event Flyer Here:
Poss Bugaj SL May 2011 Flyer

Register Here (limited, but spots still available):
www.surveymonkey.com/s/MAY2

Tech Expo Presentation Schedule: For those of you attending the Tech Expo next week here’s the “Schedule At A Glance:“  TechExpo2011PresentationAtAGlance

PATINS SL Island Main Auditorium

Monday May 2, 2011 4-5pm EST

Chris Bugaj & Beth Poss Present: UDL 2.0  The Read-Write Web: Free Tools for Students

• Register Here (limited): www.surveymonkey.com/s/MAY2

• PATINS  Second Life Island Event Location: http://bit.ly/PATINSLSISLAND

• PGP Points Available for Attending
• Must have Second Life Software Installed and Avatar created: www.secondlife.com
• PATINS Staff happy to assist you with getting started or question you might have: www.patinsproject.com/contact.html
• Download The Flyer Here: Poss Bugaj SL May 2011 Flyer
• About The Presenters:
  

Christopher R. Bugaj, MA CCC-SLP earned his Bachelor of Science in Education at the State University of New York at Fredonia and earned his Masters of Arts in Speech Pathology at Kent State University. Chris is the host of the A.T.TIPScast, an award-winning podcast featuring tools and strategies that can be used to differentiate instruction. Chris is the co-author of The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools: Building or Improving Your District’s AT Team and has presented at a variety of local, state, and national conferences and is an active member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. He currently works as an assistive technology trainer for Loudoun County Public Schools in Northern Virginia. Chris is also the co-producer and co-author of the popular Night Light Stories podcast which features original stories for children of all ages.

Beth Poss, MA CCC-SLP, a graduate of The George Washington University and Johns Hopkins University, is an Instructional Specialist in Curriculum and Universal Design for Learning for Montgomery County Public Schools, in Maryland. She also serves as a consultant for Johns Hopkins Center for Technology in Education and the Maryland Assistive Technology Network and teaches graduate classes in Assistive and Instructional Technology for Towson State University and Johns Hopkins University. Beth has presented locally, regionally, and nationally at a variety of educational and assistive technology conferences including ATIA and Closing the Gap.

Microsoft Math 4.0 (Thanks Colleen!): Shared with me this week is the Microsoft Math 4.0 FREE download.  This has a step-by-step equation solver, graphing calculator, formulas and equations library, triangle solver, and a unit conversion tool and is available for both 32 and 64 bit systems.     www.microsoft.com/education/products/student/math/default.aspx?qstr=CR_CC=&CR_ID=#overview

Math Add-In for Word and Onenote: Upon install, it also gives you the opportunity to add Math options to MS Word and Onenote.  Here’s the link directly to that download:
www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=ca620c50-1a56-49d2-90bd-b2e505b3bf09

Disney Digital Books: Yet, another example of mainstream content moving toward more flexible, accessible and portable digital text: http://disneydigitalbooks.go.com The Story Builder is especially cool, but not free.  But if this interests you, don’t forget about the FREE Book Builder from CAST: http://bookbuilder.cast.org

Free UDL Forum March 31: The registration is open online for the UDL Forum in Columbus at the end of March….first come, first served registration.
http://www.bcsc.k12.in.us/15891021813643263/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=62885&15891021813643263Nav=|&NodeID=2552

Configure Your Firewall To Allow Second Life: I can tell you that we’ve got at least one really exciting opportunity coming up on the PATINS Second Life Island.  Here’s some information on configuring a firewall to allow you to join us!  Watch for more info on upcoming events!  http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Configuring_your_firewall_to_allow_access_to_Second_Life

VWBPE_Image

Virtual Worlds Best Practices In Education: It’s THAT time again!   3 Straight days (day and night) 0f  FREE online (virtual) conferences!  I believe I’ll be presenting again this year on the PATINS Project Second Life Island.  Did I mention it’s entirely free?   Check it out here: http://www.vwbpe.org/ Register Here: http://vwbpe11.eventbrite.com/

Frontline Digital Nation Online Video: If you’ve seen this Frontline Video already, it’s worth checking out.  It offers a pretty interesting look at both sides of some digital issues that I know I’m addressing almost on a daily basis when I talk to LEA staff.  Even if you just have it playing in the background and listen to the audio while you’re working on something else:
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/view

Safe Online: Here’s a resource I think I might have posted in the past, but have recently used it again and thought worth re-sharing.  Stay Safe Online is a resource for the National Cyber Security Alliance and offers some tools worth bookmarking and at least having an awareness of.  If we are going to promote the opening up/less blocking of all the great web 2.0 tools in our schools, then we also have to have the knowledge and resources at the ready to TEACH online responsibility to our students (and our staff).   www.staysafeonline.org I particularly like and embrace the 3 Key Pillars: www.staysafeonline.org/in-the-classroom/three-key-pillars

Voki For Education: “There are endless ways of using Voki in your classroom! You can use Voki for any subject and any grade. Our users upload their lesson plans for your convenience. Additionally, we encourage you to visit the Teacher’s Corner to learn and get inspired by our community of educators.”  www.voki.com/Voki_for_education.php

2 Quick Web 2.0 Tools From Vicki this week: These are cool tools and Vocaroo is one that I’d like to talk more about next week!  Check it out!

• Voxopop:  www.voxopop.com
• Vocaroo:  vocaroo.com

REMEMBER

• SEVERAL REALLY GREAT videos have been added to the PATINS YouTube Channel on Accessibility of a Digital Curriculum!   www.youtube.com/user/PATINSProject
• Register for the PATINS TECH EXPO in INdy on April 13:  www.surveymonkey.com/s/techexpo2011 It’s FREE & PGP Points Offered!  …and FREE Lunch!

SPECIAL PATINS YouTube Channel Offerings

The PATINS Project will be releasing, throughout the month of February, a series of You Tube Channel videos on Addressing the Barriers of a Digital Curriculum and E-Learning Resources. This series of PATINS videos will focus on addressing the accessibility issues that local educational agencies need to consider when purchasing an on-line or digital curriculum or when a school district sets a course for developing their own digital curriculum.

• February 1^{st –} join us for an interesting overview of the barriers with two national experts: Dr. Joy Zabala, Director of Technical Assistance with CAST – the Center for Applied Special Technologies; and also the National Accessible Instructional Materials Center as well as Skip Stahl, Senior Policy Analyst and the Project Director for CAST and the NIMAS Technical Development Center.
• On February 7^th, the PATINS Project will bring you an interview with key personnel from the Bartholomew County School Corporation who will discuss their approach to universally designing curriculum inclusive of digital and on-line educational materials.
• And during the week of February 14^th, PATINS will bring you a series of presentations by Jeff Bond, the PATINS Central Region Site Coordinator, on solutions for making your traditional or digital curriculum accessible to students with disabilities.
• PATINS also invites you to join us in an open forum discussion on the issues during the month of February.  This forum discussion will occur in the Accessible Instructional Materials Community on the Indiana Learning Connection website and will be moderated by Daniel McNulty, the PATINS Northeast Regional Site Coordinator.
• All video presentations can be located on the PATINS YouTube Channel, Teacher Tube and on TeachIndy.com

PATINS YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/PATINSProject

AND, please let us know what other sorts of things you’d like to see on the PATINS YouTube Channel!
Contact Us:
www.patinsproject.com/contact.html

Education Apps Review! So, in addition to checking here for new apps I come across and either like or don’t, you might want to bookmark this great resource!   www.iear.org

AIM Navigator: AIM or Accessible Instructional Materials is such a huge focus for all kids that you can never have enough tools and resources.  Those of you who participated in the January 11th Webinar with Dr. Friedlander and Dr. Nellis, have already seen the AIM Navigator from Joy Zabala and her group at CAST, but it has come up again several times in my work here at ATIA this week and so I thought I’d post it for anyone who may have missed the Jan. 11th webinar.  The AIM Navigator is an online  “process facilitator that guides the work of a collaborative team as they work through the AIM-related needs of individual students.”  http://aim.cast.org/navigator/page/

NEW WAYS TO REQUEST FROM THE NE LENDING LIBRARY!

1. Download this MS Word Form, fill it in ON YOUR COMPUTER, and email it back to us!
www.patinsproject.com/Northeast/NEDIGITALLoanRequestForm1.doc

2. Simply go to this URL, fill out the loan request online and click submit!
www.surveymonkey.com/s/NEPATINSLoanRequestFeb2011

Remember you can search the online PATINS Lending Library Catalog Here:
www.patinsproject.com/FMLendingLibrary/search_form.php