Top Apps Presentations

Some of the main points from today’s presentations:

-         My classmates are extremely creative.

-         It was very frustrating not having access to an iPad to practice or play around with the apps for the presentation.

-         Pictello will be an essential app to download whenever I get my own iPad or at my next school. It was pretty revealing that 3 different groups highlighted it as a top app and I’m excited to get to explore what it can do.

-         I want to go back in time and use lots of these apps with my students from last year. It makes me sad that I won’t be with them next year to try some of this stuff out on them, but I hope that their new teacher is tech savvy.

-         I know what a learning disability is, I just wish that knowledge had come across better in the presentation of my app.

-         Those with Macs are clearly at an advantage in this course/on this campus.

-         Teachers really need more PD around technology. Maybe it will be a goal of mine for next year? (to work with my staff more around technology)

The video Loving Lampposts that we watched in our Family/School/Community Support class got me to wondering how we could use iPads to better engage families with students that have learning disabilities or are disabled in some other way (particularly children with autism). iPad time could be built into the bonding time parents/guardians spend with their children, using various engaging apps. I explored a little bit for suggestions about which apps would be best for doing that, and I found this website:

http://virtualhelpblog.com/2011/09/28/10-apps-to-help-children-with-autism-and-their-parents/

Having this time might be a great chance to practice communication and enjoy some time together.