help for a teacher in my class

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

Hi-
I’m teaching a class on effective uses of technology. All of the participants are teachers with iBooks from the state’s laptop program. One of the middle school teachers is in a special education classroom. On average they read at a 2nd-3rd grade level. All the students have iBooks, but she is having difficulties coming up with ideas for them to use the laptops without trying to buy a bunch of extra software (which isn’t an option). Any recommendations or resources I should point her too?
Thanks!
ashley
[email protected]

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 07/08/2003 - 9:51 PM

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1. what about a daily language passage that students type into their word processing document. Make corrections, proofread, etc.
2. a daily journal, maybe letter format-with a current event or today’s success
3. a calendar or assignment page
4. vocabulary and spelling practice - word, definition, sentence
5. a news story for a classroom newspaper
6. keyboarding practice
7. learn to make an outline
8. make a resume
9. type a recipe that you like, put together a cookbook
10. take your spelling test, list and a dictated sentence

Submitted by KTJ on Tue, 07/15/2003 - 1:22 PM

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Ashley,
Why can’t the students with special needs use the computers in the same way as their peers? How are their peers using the iBooks which is different from the students with learning differences? If you can provide this information, we may be able to offer additional recommendations.

In addition, I highly recommend the article by Richard Wanderman at his website, www.ldresources.org entitled “How computers change the writing process for students with learning disabilities.”

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 07/21/2003 - 7:09 AM

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Here are some URl’s that will link you to information and freeware for children’s educational software for the Mac.

This is a paper that was written in 1994 some of the links may be dead but the information is good.
Guide to Children’s Educational Shareware for the Mac
http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/review.html

Kids Domain
Sorted by Subject as well as age groups.
Some great memory games such as Scribes, as well as fun creativity programs I recommend Rainbox. The list is very very long you should find something, or some ideas here.
http://www.kidsdomain.com/down/mac/_subjectfreeware-index.html

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 07/22/2003 - 2:20 AM

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I can’t believe that you aren’t using the power of the ibook. Go directly to Imovie! images, sequencing, add text/titles, narration and presto the best presentation ever!!!!

Collecting the images is the key-digital cameras are best, scanners or internet second.

The program is drag and drop.

Why use a modern computer that is built for video and sound for nothing but word processing. Sigh.

Submitted by Bill G on Tue, 07/22/2003 - 2:56 AM

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Excellent suggestion, mmm!

I reviewed the first link to Mac software for kids that I posted last night and found that several of the programs were built for Hypercard stacks, these are good but might lack luster (well it was written in 1994…).
Hypercard programs can conceptually transferred and easily reworked into an imovie format. Have the kids script and act out the lessons, that’s if teacher you are working with access a digital video camera.

Neat stuff, contextual interaction will leave a big impression.

nice going~

Bill

Submitted by des on Tue, 07/22/2003 - 5:17 PM

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There are some new programs now that are way updated over Hypercard. One that I think is very cool is Hyperstudio. It is also a multimedia type program, but unlike Hyperstudio (which is so old that the readers aren’t even on new computers) is designed to handle graphics, sound, etc. Inspiration or Kidspiration (I haven’t actually seen Kidspiration made for K-5) are neat programs where kids can plan or outline using images. Don Johnston also has something called “Draftbuilder” where you can plan a whole paper from just some beginning ideas. I think that these two programs could be used together nicely. There is also a program similar to Powerpoint called Keynote. I think there is a lot of stuff out there on how to use powerpoint in the class room. Though I think you could do all this and more with Hyperstudio. It would be nice to have a good drawing program. Photoshop Elements (for older kids), Painter Classic, Color it! or some nice ones and for younger kids there is of course Kid Pix.

This link includes just about all software from freeware/public domain to commercial software available on the mac:
http://guide.apple.com/ussoftware.lasso

I hope they have some cash for software. It seems ashame that they would spend all the money on the iBooks without it. Still you could do a lot with iMovie, as someone says!! There are a couple other nice built in programs— Apple Works has a drawing and painting as well as database and spreadsheet and presentation element. Why stick to word processing, they could have had a AlphaSmart 3000 for $200 if that’s all you want to do.

—des

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