meeting+minutes

=Minutes =

**Date** : June 1, 2011 **Theme:** Don Johnston Products **Notes:**

SOLO Review Guest Speaker Brenda Bender

Reading and Writing Supports Mac and PC Newest version is 6.03 Step by Step instructions/tutorials on the website All programs provide auditory feedback

Bookshare and Read:Outloud • Read:OutLoud Bookshare edition is a free e-book reader • Only reads Bookshare files • Only goes to the Bookshare URL/website • Simple toolbar in Read:Outloud vs. multiple toolbars in Kurzweil • Brenda demonstrated how to download a Bookshare book into Read:Outloud o Type Bookshare URL within the Read:Outloud program o Search for the book you are looking for o There are 4 file options: Daisy, Blind, HTML, text. Read:Outloud opens the Daisy files. Will unzip, unpack and bring the book right into Read:Outloud. o There are various eText styles that you can select. The student can adjust how the book looks

There are 30 minute tutorials for all of the software programs on-line.

Brenda was able to demonstrate downloading an actual book into Read:Outloud via a participants Bookshare account as a way to help that person trouble shoot.

Brenda briefly spoke about the other 3 SOLO products: Co:Writer, Write:OutLoud and Draft:Builder

The second half of the session was demonstrating a new program that they are working on. All participants signed a confidentiality form and no notes were taken.

      **Date** : May 5, 2011

**Theme** : AT issues in public schools **Attendence**: Karen, Barbara, Rachel, Jeanette, Robin, Sarah, Erin, Kathy
 * Sharing:
 * Share your favorite tech tool: (sign up with your name and what tool you would like to demonstrate)
 * 1. Barbara Murray: IPOD touches/ Ten Marks math site.
 * She got 15 iPods and a charging/syncing case
 * Syncs all apps
 * She is having trouble syncing the software update
 * Robin said that she called the company and that problem is negated if you change the default from "automatic" to "manual"
 * She's using it for different content areas including math (for distributive properties), listening to audiobooks, science projects, etc...
 * She's noticed a big difference in engagement and appropriate use of time
 * How do we get the general education teacher to see the difference in engagement? Video tape!
 * She got the audiobooks on the devices by uploading the audio CD and then syncing
 * Devices stay at school
 * She is also allowing students to bring in their iPod Touches to help them download apps to their personal devices
 * What should we do to move forward?
 * Can we purchase apps? Some trouble with PO and licensing
 * Some districts are allowing parents to purchase the iOS devices and then paying for the app
 * Recommended apps: Smoop (similar to Cliff/Spark notes, but less adds), Story Kit, Fotobabble, ZenTap Pro (word prediction), Typ-O HD (word prediction with text to speech)
 * 2. Kathy Curie - I just got RJ Cooper's switch activated MP3 player and may have time to figure it out by Thursday. (I added a "3" so someone else can also sign up.)
 * The new MP3 player is nice and small. It has a nice little adapter for a switch. Costs about $100.
 * Shel's also working on a SMARTBoard project- They got a demo board so she had to plan activities for all ranges of students. She uses the SENSwitch program and it worked great.
 * 3. Others:
 * Making "Smartboards" out of Wii game consoles
 * "Notebook" software versus others:
 * Notebook has the SMART exchange
 * The "Cloning" feature for counting coins, etc...
 * Premade templates
 * Editing pictures is easy
 * Apps to show Flash:
 * Qwiki: does not screen for children (shows content NC-17)
 * iSwifter: somewhat "finicky" and slow
 * Comparing word prediction apps:
 * ZenTap (2.99): word completion, no text to speech
 * Typ-O (4.99 or 14.99): word prediction, text to speech, phonetic and contextual spell support
 * Troubleshoot a difficult student/case: (sign up with your name)
 * 1. Rachel Kuberry: Please help me find a good Mac compatible magnifier
 * 2. Robin Lewis: I am dealing with a couple difficult situations at the moment and would love some help.
 * When to recommend a mobile device vs. laptop - not a particular difficult student but a difficult decision.
 * How do you get around printing:
 * Move to a paperless approach and don't require printing
 * Use google docs
 * Great for students with physical disabilities (takes away limitations of holding the book/newspaper, allows for easy touch activation)
 * Need wireless Internet
 * Benefits of iPad include size, fast boot up, lack of a screen blocking the teacher/student view
 * When you write it in the IEP you write "mobile tablet device"
 * Other:
 * Evals: How do we do them?
 * Use the SETT
 * Some also use WATI, Written Productivity Profile, etc...
 * Didn't get to:
 * Creating a Team based approach to AT in the public schools
 * Catch up on where people are with this
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What strategies are working for people
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Writing AT in to the IEP
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Data collection - Bring some samples!!
 * Designating "jobs" for the group, such as notetaker, meeting reminders, etc...

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Minutes <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Date** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: April 7, 2011 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Theme:** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What is this group?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Brainstorming:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Check it out: Touchscreen netbook! http://www.excaliberpc.com/596136/asus-eee-pc-t101mt-160gb.html
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Where is this group going?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What are the goals? Professional development, networking, brainstorming
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Should it be tool specific, tutorial-based?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What is the model? PLC? Yes
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes: Problem-solving specific students
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Should we create group norms? Yes, create a page on the wiki
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">No self-deprivation
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Should we open this group to other local professionals? Yes, but not right now
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Additional input with diverse background and training
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Building community and strengthens the multidisciplinary approach
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Allow "brand new" professionals to come for professional development
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But only "by invitation"
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 120%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Will revisit this sometime next year
 * No:
 * It would be good to keep the size of the group manageable
 * Brainstorming:
 * Agendas in advance are helpful as people can pick and choose which meetings to come to
 * People should all feel comfortable contribute to the agenda
 * Can we pick a regular meeting day so people can plan?
 * "Share" component
 * Tool based?
 * To stay current
 * Spotlight a tool with a basic tool tutorial - people can sign-up on the wiki
 * Also troubleshooting with student, getting teams off the group, etc...
 * Professional development
 * People can sign up to problem-solve a student
 * It would be great to follow-up on this student at subsequent meeting
 * Really important to have people that "speak your language"
 * Its important that we have resources available and know whats out there
 * Privacy is important:
 * We need to meet in person to have confidentiality about our problem-solving cases
 * We don't need to post notes/minutes on everything
 * Topics of interest:
 * Data
 * AT in the ABA setting
 * AT in the ABA setting


 * Date**: 3/7/11
 * Topic**: AAC evals, ATIA recap, ...


 * Date**: 10/14/10
 * Topic**: iPods and iPads
 * Questions:
 * Should schools buy iPads?
 * Its not at a place where the schools should purchase them for students with special needs
 * Benefits to use at home:
 * It bridges the gap between the structure at school and lack of structure at home
 * Its lighter, more user friendly, simpler, etc…
 * Will other software publishers release their software for the iPad/iPod?
 * Will other software publishers release their software for the iOS? Crick, Don Johnston, Cambium etc...
 * Who downloads to the device?
 * Some schools don’t even have iTunes on their teacher computers
 * Karen met today with IT to begin The App Store Volume Purchase Program
 * The important part was setting up the designated purchaser
 * Kinks still need to be worked out
 * Publishers need to “opt in”, so not all apps will be part of it
 * What's the best way to use it?
 * Help parents use it at home
 * Karen has recommended an iPad for the a student at //home// not at school, the parents then bought it that night
 * Music and art creation apps
 * Use during a speech or OT session
 * Resources:
 * iPodsibilities.com : Great blog about using iPods and iPads in the classroom
 * Eric Sailer’s blog
 * []
 * Positive Qualities:
 * Easy to carry – will carry it everywhere
 * Immediate start up
 * Great resource for digital text
 * Read to me: will bookmark and start where it left off, will read a book downloaded from bookshare, will automatically scroll if you want
 * Speak it: will not bookmark and always starts at the beginning
 * Built-in voice over: Set the home button as triple-click to start voiceover
 * Watch a video on youtube to learn the finger strokes
 * iRead: free and will send the file out as audio
 * iTunesU for free human voice read text from the public domain
 * Cases:
 * Otterbox
 * will dock
 * protects the devices
 * adds some weight to the device
 * includes a stand
 * Standard hard case
 * will not dock
 * looks dirty
 * You can also uses a netbook case to carry it with the additional benefit that the netbook case cleans the screen!
 * Favorite Apps:
 * Q Books:
 * Buy each one separate
 * Reads the sentence, word, spells the words, and records your voice
 * Pictures are simple, but move
 * Mee Genius:
 * Read by a human young boy voice
 * Reads automatically and highlights text as it goes
 * You can stop the text
 * Some are free, some cost money
 * First words:
 * Physically manipulate letters to spell the words
 * Errorless
 * I Write Words:
 * Lite version is free
 * Guides student to form the letters with their fingers
 * Spells a word and then the pictures moves
 * Mistake tolerant
 * ABC Tracer (or ABC Phonics)
 * Another letter tracer
 * Talking Tom
 * Free
 * He repeats your speech in a cute kitty voice
 * iSock
 * You can pick a sock puppet and he opens his mouth while you talk
 * Kid Klok
 * Clock that the students can manipulate and set
 * The clock will then read the time aloud
 * Sounds Drop
 * You can set bars for the balls to bounce off of, each bar having a different tone
 * Fotobabble
 * Upload a photo, record your voice – done!
 * ABA Apps
 * Many apps with vocabulary
 * Cramberry
 * Flashcards that you can program on your computer and then sync it with your device
 * iAnnotate pdf:
 * free app to highlight and annotate pdfs
 * Cause and Effect Apps
 * Balls
 * Magician
 * Big button box
 * Bloom HD
 * Wheels on the bus
 * iSteam