App Heaven

I attended the Closing the Gap workshop today entitled, "iPod touch, iPhone and iPad as Assisitve Technology: From AAC to Planning tool.  We were presented with a wealth of information that will take me some time to continue to experiment with, learn, and use with the students that I work with.  There are over 300,000 apps that have been developed for these devices for a wide variety of purposes.  I have selected a few to post so that you may investigate which would be useful to you and/or your students:

• Picatello - An app for the iPod Touch and iPhone that can enable the user to create photo albums and books that "talk".  These could be used to create social stories, schedules, or narratives as a few examples. $14.99 though iTunes store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pictello/id397858008?mt=8
• ArtikPix - This app was designed by a speech and language pathologist to help students practice their speech sounds via a game structure. There is a free and a full version of the program. It is available for the iPod Touch, iPad, and the iPhone.  Data collection is available within the app. The full version is $49.99. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/artikpix-full/id356720379?mt=8
• myHomework - Available for the iPod Touch and the iPhone can help a student keep track of homework, projects and tests. Free http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/myhomework/id303490844?mt=8

Using the iPad to Connect - Wall Street Journal 10/13/10

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703440004575547971877769154.html
This short article appeared yesterday in the WSJ.  It is a nice testimony to the power of the iPad and the Proloquo2Go "app" that I have previously discussed. It identifies the issue of the high cost of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) products and Medicaid's stance on reimbursement for these types of products. There is also a short video clip embedded in the article.  It is worth the time to watch it.

Visules

This is an app that is designed to create visual schedules specifically for students with autism. The combination of checklists, color, text, and visual cues can be a meaningful way to communicate with a student what he can expect during the day. Cost: $4.99

App works on iPhone, iTouch, and iPad.  See the website for more information: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/visules/id322543961?mt=8#

Ever need an "External Brain"?

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evernote/id281796108?mt=8#

Evernote is an iPod/iPad/iPhone app that allows the user to author a text message, audio clip, video clip, or photo to help to remind them of events or ideas. It works with both PC and Mac, synchronizing to either platform. Data stored in "notes" is searchable by geolocation.  The above website indicates the following potential uses:
"● For research and class notes
● To capture blog ideas and design inspiration
● To stay in-sync with your desktop notes, web clips, and files
● To snap photos of whiteboards
● To record voice memos" (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evernote/id281796108?mt=8#, retrieved 10/1/10.)

Why not try it out? It's FREE!!