Another day, more Apps

We really do make the best with what we have to work with. Because we don't really have another choice. 

Boardmaker vs Pic Collage

• PEC Picture Exchange Communication is a picture communication system used for non verbal children. Introduced in six phases, beginning with learning how to exchange a picture for an item they really want, to phase six where they are putting together simple sentences. There is no doubt that it is time consuming in constructing the traditional boardmaker cards/boards from start to finish. I've had some experience, and I've used hours creating VERY basic boards used in labelling my classroom. 

Some items to consider...

• Cost factor of one program verses the other
• visual schedule  - easy to change/add to throughout the day as the day changes
• digitizing information, less time consuming
• only as limited as your imagination - so true!
• used for visual schedules, calendars, graphic organizers, labeling activity
• possibility to buy thematic sticker packs. 
• use camera to take pictures - real pictures with meaning to the student verses traditional Boardmaker boards
• ability to get online and search

Piccollage - It's free and super easy to use. I've now downloaded it to our iPad, I love it. I've even added it to Emma's mini. So easy to navigate.We were first introduced to this app during our summer course, but at the time we didn't have an iPad, now we have 3 in the house! It's kind of like a virtual scrapbook page maker. It allows you to create collages using pictures (your own or from the web), stickers, borders, and text. There are a variety of  backgrounds, font styles and colors to choose from. 

Emma's 1st attempt @ a collage. We just downloaded it and I gave her a 3 minute lesson how the "how to" and voila. Grampa was most impressed.

Another really great app we explored today was Book Creator. This is an inexpensive app ($4.99) that gives the user creative freedom to create a book and share it with friends! You are able to import your own photos and videos, and also can record your own voice! These books can be published to iBooks to be shared with others. Here are some creative ways you could use Book Creator in your classroom:

• Social Stories - I've never had the experience in writing one, but I hear that they can be interesting. With Gerry, Emily and I worked on one for a studnet who likes to shred paper. A social story on an iPad would prevent the student from shredding it!
• Story writing - fairytales - Emma's class is using Power Point to present their fairytales. BooK Creator seem more fun, interactive, authentic and modern.
• Using a Venn Diagram or T-chart students could sort numbers in their various forms in to categories. 
• Biographies
• Dictionaries for any subject
• Personal Encyclopedias
• Study notes
• Journalling

and so much!

Anything that a student would want to create a book about, you can do that using Book Creator. It is just much more engaging using technology!

  

One last note for today....

Dr. Ruben Puentedura is the Founder and President of Hippasus, a consulting firm based in Western Massachusetts, focusing on transformative applications of information technologies to education. If you have some time, check out the following link.

http://www.hippasus.com/rrpweblog/