If you read my past posts, you likely know that I am not a fan of SMART Technologies. However, this product impresses me. I’ve spent a good deal of time researching its application from a special needs perspective. Of course it is irrelevant at my grade level, but I am thinking that for teachers of children on the dissociative spectrum PreK-3rd grade, SMART may be reall onto something here.

There is also a flashy marketing video. But note the price… what are they thinking?

On that note, two things:

1. Big thanks to the following fellow blogger-teachers who helped guide my research:

• Learning is Messy
• Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs

2. I am learning that hardware is not so important – SOFTWARE is. I’ve downloaded or purchased every curriculum software app designed for IWBs that I can find. So far, the best product with flying colors is Promethean’s Activstudio (for the older kids) and Activprimary (younguns K-3).

I keep hearing rumors that Promethean is about to launch a major upgrade – possibly even a new app entirely that integrates Studio with Primary and something else called Activexpression. I also understand that they are hand-picking users to test and comment on the new software. I WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE “USERS”!

So I am blogging about this in hopes to get their attention. Please comment if you know of anything:).

Here is a great video from an event somewhere that I found:

“Principal Dr. Diana Strohecker and Teachers Katie King and Emily Minnigerode share AASD’s best practices for Activclassroom technology in special needs learning environments.”

This is just a heartwarming story.

You might scoff at the simple moment that is shared here between a caregiver, a mother and a son, but after working with autistic children, simple communication like this is a rare treat. Assistive tech is just beginning to address the problems that we have as teachers reaching these kids.

I’ve not seen this device before and I’d like to know more about it. Has anybody used one of these in or out of a classroom?

I can’t tell whether this site is active anymore, but with all the media coverage lately, these two conditions have certainly entered the public consciousness. Notice those colorful little puzzle pieces that are sprouting up on bumpers’s everywhere? Those are for Autism awareness. Community is something that we often take for granted, but an autistic person may not have any sense of community in their life whatsoever. Using the virtual world of SecondLife helps these people to socialize on the terms that they are comfortable with. I’m not a big SLer myself (done a few walkthroughs to know what it’s about) but the potential here is amazing.

Brigadoon, keep up the good work!

http://abilitynet.wetpaint.com/

Great wiki style site of assistive tech resources… from their site:

This wiki has been created by AbilityNet, the UK’s largest provider of advice and information on all aspects of Access to technology. The purpose of the wiki is to provide live and up to date information on all aspects of Assistive Technology.

The wiki is moderated and all comments and opinions are those of the individual contributor not necessarily that of AbilityNet.

The wiki is in constant development and we welcome comments, thoughts and contributions.

Fun!

This is probably the best overview of assistive tech – it definitely belongs on my blogroll. But they’ve missedan important puzzle piece that is crucial to how I use assistive tech. Interactive white boards! C’mon Buffalo, where’s the IWB goodness?