Tools, Apps and Resources for TBI

There are so many tools and places to go online for help with traumatic brain injury. Below is a collection of websites, tools and apps to help support the TBI student.

Check out Papershow, which puts what you write on the screen AS you write. Very cool and according to Brian Friedlander's blog post about it was a BIG hit at MACWorld 2011 in SanFransisco.

Here is a website that has some great tools for families. There are some great videos on how to work through issues in IEP's and school meetings.
Brain Injury Partners: Navigating the School System

Print Disability Tools:

I have found a lot of great helps at CAST and through the AIM/NIMAS links below:
CAST has a new video UDL at a Glance, that explains Universal Design for Learning.

AIM Navigator will help you determine need, what electronic formats are needed, identify textbooks that are needed. There are great summary topics about accessible insttructional tools, what quesations to ask, etc. This is a good tool to use with a staff to line out what is needed, develop a materials list and a to do list for what comes next.

CAST UDL Book Builder is a free book designer program that utilizes Text Help and UDL elements. You can read books that have been built by others or create your own. It allows students to go in and read, take notes online and then save notes to the computer at the end.

CAST Strategy Tutor is a free download that goes on your internet browser toolbar. It gives tips and strategies on how to study at your fingertips when you are studying, doing research, etc.

The CAST Learning Tools area has other teacher support tools.

iPad/iTouch Apps:

I found a YouTube video from Michigan Engineering on a texting tool for the iPad that does auto scanning for texting and email using the on-screen keyboard. It is not available anywhere at this time but keep your eye out for it!


Shapewriter is a touch keyboard that allows you to slide your finger dot-to-dot style without having to lift your finger. I tried to download it and it said it was not available in the U.S. It didn't show up on the app store search either. Two friends have it so if you know how to get it let us know.

App list: You can google these or type them into the app search on iPad/Pod and find them most are free (F)=free - a few I paid for.

Speech/AAC:
Talking Tom (F)
Speak it!
Proloquo2go
Tap to Talk (F)

Study/organization/scheduling:
Dictate, by Dragon Naturally Speaking (F)
Search, by Dragon Naturally Speaking (F)
Dictionary! Auto fills words in list as you type to help spell. (F)
WordWeb Dictionary and Thesaurus, speaks words to help with spelling
iPlanin - visual scheduler (F)
Time Timer -
Class Organizer - has recording tool that syncs with notes and drawing pad, etextbook access and class scheduler homework to-do, etc. (under $10)
Text Expander - create abbreviations to auto fill with keyboard.
Mind Mapping - iThoughtsHD (9.99 and 7.99 versions)

Math:
Talkulator (talking calculator) (F)
Arithmetick (F)
Hot Potato: Algebra (F)
Balance - money tracker accounting app (F)
Dot to Dot Number Whiz lite (F)
Flash to Pass Math

AIM/ Talking Books:
Storykit (F)
Treasure Island by Flying Word
Speak it! - copy in text to read - great voices
iReader - copy in notes to read (F)

Brain/speed drills:
BrainReactor (F)
Buzzwire (F)
3D Brain (F) lights up, describes and shows sections of brain and turns 3D style

Writing:
Dropbox, free account for file space and storage (F)
Elements, for word processing documents - linked to Dropbox
Zen Tap, word predict tool (F)
Plain Text, free word processing tool (F)

Hope these give you some ideas!
Lon

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Considerations Before Deploying iPads and iPods

This is a well thought out reflection on the use of iPads or iPods in schools by Howard Chan at Socratech Seminars. Worth a read as part of any evaluation of hand held devices in schools on a large scale.

Before schools and districts go on a mass purchasing spree of iPads and iPods, there are a few infrastructure considerations before sending the purchase order. While I am a strong advocate of using the tablet in the classroom, there should be some strategic deployment plans before putting it in the hands of students. Rather than sounding as the expert, I have decided to format the considerations through questions I would ask before purchasing. This list by no means fits everyone’s model, but will hopefully serve as a guideline to planning out iPad/iPod/tablet/mobile device deployments. Thanks! I would be more than happy to add your feedback, questions, comments to this evolving blog post.

Infrastructure:

• Do you have enough wireless bandwidth to sustain dense populations of mobile devices? Check this post on Beef Up Your Wireless Infrastructure
• Do you have a Mobile Device Management system in place to effectively manage and support the devices?
• Do you have a big enough Internet pipe to sustain the network traffic?
• Will you create a separate wireless network for mobile devices with different policies? Mobile VLAN?
• Do you have OSX devices to create apps content to push to the iPods and iPads?
• Do you have authentication policies to access the wireless network?
• How do you plan to filter browsing (ex. Mobicip) on these devices?
• Will you allow teachers or students to install apps on the devices? Or will it be centrally managed?
• Will you allow teachers or students to configure settings on the devices? Or will it also be centrally managed?
• Do you have the personnel to be part of the Apple Store Volume Purchasing Program? I believe you need a Program Manager and Program Facilitator(s) to be able to access ASVPP. Apps can be up to 50% off on volume purchasing.
• Will your IT staff be trained on how to support mobile devices?
• Will you allow students to take the devices home? What AUP will you have on mobile devices?
• Will you allow personal mobile devices on campus?
• Does Flash incapability hinder any present network considerations?
• What is the refresh cycle on the devices?
• What mobile cart solution will you have? Where will it be stored? Check out system?
• Do you go 1:1 or shared mobile cart?
• How do we assess Total Cost of Ownership?

Academic:

• How does the iPods and iPads align with your curriculum?
• Who will be responsible for delivering professional development? How do we hold teacher’s accountable to using the devices?
• Does your existing edtech programs and tools work on iOS?
• Are there planning/collaboration times to share best-practices in using mobile devices?
• How will you assess the effectiveness of using the mobile devices?
• Are there data and assessment tools built into the iOS to gather quality data of student achievement?
• Is there a curriculum vision for the iPods and iPads? Does it align with the school’s mission?
• How will parents/community be involved if students are bringing the devices home?
• Are the educational apps available enough to support your curriculum?
• Are there enough content creation tools to replace the traditional computer desktop/laptop?
• How do you assess the educational value of purchasing iPods/iPads? versus Total Cost of Ownership?

iPad 2 - Released April/May 2011 Rumour

image from geekword.net

Apple will begin production of the next-generation iPad beginning in late February for an early April 2011 launch, according to sources for DigiTimes. A delay in the firmware is said to have pushed back plans but initial shipments from Foxconn should be as high as 600,000 units as Apple stockpiles inventory for its introduction. An April 2011 release date of the new iPad 2 has been the rumoured and if the normal trend for releases by Apple continues, that would make it a May 2011 release in Australia. Apple will need to build significantly more inventory for the launch of the second generation device during the month of March to meet expected demand.


The next generation iPad is widely rumored to come equipped with a FaceTime camera for video calling and a gyroscope for advanced motion control sensing, much like the iPhone 4. It is also expected to be thinner than the previous model and have an improved display, and may even include a built-in Micro SD Card reader for downloading photos, images and video.


These reports have come from the chinese newspaper "The Economic Times".  This is significant because it was the same paper that reported that Apple were building tablets in the first place.