Tech Talk – Technology
Opportunities in the
Classroom and at Home
HORIZON ACADEMY – LD SERIES
GREG WESELOH AND SARAH MAI
Network Name: HAGuest
Password: haguest123
Guest Speaker - Sarah Mai, M.O.T, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist – serve ages preK to adulthood

Employed full-time as O.T. and Assistive Technology Specialist in Park Hill
School District in Kansas City, Missouri

Co-founded Assistive Technology team in Park Hill

Employed part-time with The Mission Project in Mission, KS

Facilitate social and living skills groups – a.k.a. “Problem Solvers”

Implement a grant-based iPad Initiative with 18 adult participants

Program and Care Coordinator
http://themissionproject.org/
An Overview of the
Research
HOW DO WE KNOW THESE THINGS ACTUALLY HELP STUDENTS LEARN?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxN7xxrKuGc
*DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS, THESE SLIDES WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED BUT THEY ARE
HERE AS A RESOURCE TO YOU.
iPad Basics Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSs18n6qwaQ
Understanding Apps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYgy4rjV4J0
Battery saving strategies

http://www.apple.com/batteries/ipad.html

Adjust brightness: Managing the screen brightness is the best way to extend
iPad battery life. By default, your iPad has Auto-Brightness turned On.

Set the Auto-Lock interval so your iPad will turn off more quickly after a period
of inactivity.

Fetch new data less frequently: Applications such as Mail can be set to fetch
data wirelessly at specific intervals. The more frequently email or other data is
fetched, the quicker your battery may drain.

Auto-check fewer email accounts: You can save power by checking fewer
email accounts. This can be accomplished by turning off an email account or
by deleting it.
Cleaning your iPad
To clean the screen, you may use…

Any microfiber cloth

Any lens cloth you might use on your glasses

Any soft, lint-free cloth

Cleaning towelettes designed for touch screen technology

Do not use: cloths, towels, paper towels, or any similar items on your iPad. These
damage the screen of the iPad.

Do not use any cleaners or other products.
Consider… what is the purpose of the
iPad in this moment?

Instruction - used as a way to facilitate instruction in academics, social skills,
etc.

Reinforcement – used as a reward to increase positive behaviors. (need to limit
the amount of time the iPad is used for this purpose.)

Assistive Technology – used to communicate or as a modification to complete
academic or daily life tasks.

Organization – used to offer choices, show a schedule, facilitate use of a
calendar.

Independent leisure- independently passing time, student has more choice,
may or may not be educational, possibly have freedom to go in and out of
apps

Teacher/parent tool – used to create materials for student (photos, videos, etc)
Facilitate Active Participation
Choose apps that facilitate active engagement and learning rather than just viewing!!!

Make iPad time a social time (i.e. “Show me what you like to see on Youtube”, “Tell
me how this game works… can I play it too?”, “Let’s make a scrapbook page of our
family photos”)

Embed the iPad along with another activity (i.e. use instructional cooking video on
Youtube to make something together, use visuals to facilitate choices for meals or
chores)

Build on knowledge of special interest areas (Google, Youtube, news/info filters like
Zite)

Find apps and videos that guide movement and exercise

Get off the iPad and go move then come back and track it in an exercise log app 
Supervise! Observe! Monitor!

What apps are they choosing?

What are they viewing?

Are they adding and deleting apps?

Changing settings?

Doing a variety of things or getting stuck?

Challenging themselves or going into ‘the zone’?

Being safe with device?

Communicating online appropriately? (email, social media, etc)
Establish specific boundaries in your
home with the iPad

Be specific on time limits and enforce them

Clearly differentiate learning vs. free choice time

Expect communication responses to family members while on the iPad

Establish routines around cleaning, charging, and storing the iPad

Set boundaries with stimulating screen time right before bedtime

Determine non-iPad times (i.e. dinner time, if guests come over, short
commutes, homework time, etc)

Possibly designate spaces in home to use the iPad (where student is visible
to adults)
Guided Access- locking the app
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRTNiCnC-nw
USE VOICE INPUT FOR EFFICIENCY
WHENEVER IT IS AVAILABLE
BUILT-IN APPS
(IOS 6 VS. IOS 7 ICONS)
DEMONSTRATION OF THE IOS7
BUILT-IN APPS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=D32iV6uPSG8
Using the Camera (still shots & video)
and Photos App
Take photos of important documents to reference
Digital portfolios of school or art work
Visual supports and video modeling for home or school routines
Scrapbook photos of family
Develop an interest in photography
Pictures/videos of expectations (i.e. what to wear or not wear)
Save any screenshot
Saving favorite images on the internet
Share photos with Photostreaming
Other ideas?????
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_3957602511-285/five-tips-for-the-new-cameraapp-on-ios-7/
Video Modeling
http://www.gadoe.org/CurriculumInstruction-and-Assessment/SpecialEducationServices/Documents/IDEAS%202013%20Ha
ndouts%203/Using%20the%20iPad%20for%2
0SS.pdf
Using Calendar app

Teach your student to maintain a digital calendar

Can set multiple reminder alarms

Can be used both for personal events and assignment tracking

Even use for daily routine reminders (reoccurring events)

If you have an iPhone, you can send items to your child’s calendar by
sending it to their Apple ID
Apple Education website
http://www.apple.com/education/special-education/
http://images.apple.com/education/docs/L41745
0B_US_Uniquely_Equipped.pdf

http://bridgingapps.org/

They have an app search tool, app reviews, video tutorials, AAC tutorials,
and much, much more.

They specify funding sources and grants for iPads

Their statement on the home page: "We believe that it is more important
to focus on the person who will be using the technology, rather than the
device itself. We assume that you are here because you want to improve
a skill or creatively compensate for a deficit that may be preventing a
person with a disability from maximizing their highest potential."
Where do you find relevant apps?

http://ipads4themissionproject.blogspot.com/2013/06/so-where-do-you-findipad-apps.html

http://blog.momswithapps.com/apps-for-special-needs

http://bridgingapps.org

http://learninginhand.com/

http://ipadapps4school.com/

http://www.tcea.org/ipad

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/p/blog-page_9.html

http://appsineducation.blogspot.com/

Search on Pinterest
EDUCATIONAL COLLECTIONS IN THE APP STORE
SPECIAL EDUCATION COLLECTION IN THE APP STORE
Shop for FREE apps!

http://ipads4themissionproject.blogspot.com/2013/06/i-love-apps-whenthey-are-free.html

AppsGoneFree

AppZapp
iPads for Special Needs Resource
http://ipads4specialneedsbook.com/
"Co-founder of bridgingapps.org (part of Easter Seals of Greater Houston) and
parent Sami Rahman presents a clear roadmap for not only determining
whether or not an iPad would be helpful, but which version to buy and how
to set up and protect your iPad with the special needs user in mind.
Advanced set-up options, using Apple’s built-in accessibility options, apps
and accessories are all discussed, as well as Tips and Tricks for using the iPad
with the special needs user."
Video Apps
iMovie Maker
Videolicious
Pic Collage
School to Home Communication
Collage of work samples
Choice board
Identification of concepts
Dragon
Dictation
App
Voice input writing
instead of
keyboarding
Text can easily be
imported into an
email
Google Drive
App
Easy and mobile access to
Google docs
You Tube App
Subscribe to educationrelated channels
Video modeling
Sharing videos (private or
public)
ChoiceBoard
Creator
Create customizable
photo-based choice
boards.
Zite app
News and information filter
Can specify interest areas and it will
feed current news related to only
those interests.
Evernote app
Take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists,
record voice reminders.
Notes are organized and completely
searchable.
Slide Shark App
Upload and view
powerpoint
presentations on the
iPad
iTunes U
iTunes U app gives you access to
complete courses from leading universities
and other schools — plus the world’s
largest digital catalog of free education
content — right on your iPad, iPhone, or
iPod touch.
Dropbox App
Travel and share easily your
photos, docs, and videos.
Access any file you save to
your Dropbox from your iPad.
FlashToPass
Math flash cards!
Movable
Alphabet
The movable alphabet allows
children to express themselves with
words and phrases prior to
mastering the skill to write with
paper and pencil!
Children can phonetically sound
out words, one letter at a time to
build words. The app includes over
40 images of simple words, along
with audio pronunciations and
instructions, for children to practice
with.
Questions, Feedback,
Needs?