#AppMondayTAS - Attainment Switch

Attainment Company has released a new app for iOS.  The Attainment Switch turns you iOS device into a 1 or 2 button switch which can be used with any switch accessible software like Boardmaker Plus, Intellitools Classroom Suite, Clicker5 or many others! You can customize the switches with your own pictures, included pictures (which they are adding more in a future update) or just make it a solid color.

 For this to work you need to install a small helper program on your Mac or PC which is free and can be installed on multiple computers. It also requires a wireless network to work properly.  The Attainment Switch for iOS is $4.99 to install.

App - Attainment Switch

Price - $4.99

Type - Universal

Restrictions - none, runs on all iOS devices

Skills Addressed - computer access, cause and effect

Attainment Company has offered 5 codes for the Attainment Switch.  You can register to win a code one of 3 ways:

1.  Comment on this post at Teaching All Students

2.  Link to this post on Twitter using the hashtag #AppMondayTAS

3.  Like Teaching All Students on Facebook and leave a comment on the wall

If you use all 3 ways, you will be entered 3 times.  Good luck!

Patrick 

**I received a copy of this app to review for this post**

Cross-posted on Teaching All Students

#AppMondayTAS - MeMoves

I've written about MeMoves before - MeMoves and MeMoves Revisited - so you know I'm a fan of the product.  I knew they had an iOS app, but I haven't had the opportunity to check it out until recently.

MeMoves for iOS is designed for a single user at a time to help calm and focus them.  It includes the same music as the DVD and allows them to interact with similar motions in a more controlled way.  MeMoves lets you pick from Joy, Calm and Focus (just like the DVD), but then lets you choose one motion to complete.  As you do the motion if you are rewarded with fish and bubbles if you are following closely.  It does provide audio prompts as well as visual prompts.

It has several settings you can adjust to personalize your experience.  You can set the sensitivity to low, medium or high, change the speed from relaxed to normal and set it to just watch, use 1 finger or 2 fingers.  This app is great for children needing a quick focus before a lesson, or just need something to do while waiting at a restaurant

App - MeMoves

Price - $2.99 (at time of posting)

Type - Universal (works on iPhone, Ipad, and iPod Touch)

Restrictions - None

Skills Addressed - fine motor, waiting, focus

Patrick 

Reviewer's Website - http://teachingall.blogspot.com

#AppMondayTAS - Do As Me

I'm not exactly sure where I heard about this next app, but I love the concept and it's execution is done very well.  Do as Me is a simple app (as many of the good ones are) that allows you to draw or write on the screen, then kids can follow along and do the same thing.  In the teacher mode it allows you to erase the steps one at a time or trash the entire thing.  In the student mode you have to make it similar to what is on the screen before it goes on to the next letter or part of the drawing.  It will let you know if you go to far out of the lines.

Using the app on an iPod Touch is a little limiting, I can get about 4-5 letters on the screen, or small drawing.  I imagine the iPad version has much more of the screen available for writing, making it very effective for students with fine motor issues.  It would be nice for the app to have some more features - different color inks, maybe extra pages, different backgrounds (for students with visual issues) - overall I think the app is a solid app for working on writing skills.

App - Do As Me

Price - $0.99 (at time of posting)

Type - Universal (works on iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch)

Restrictions - Requires iOS 4.2 (will not work on 1st Generation iPhones or iPod Touches)

Skills Addressed - writing, fine motor

Patrick

Reviewer Website - http://teachingall.blogspot.com

Expressive - #AppMondayTAS

There has been quite an explosion of expressive communication apps for iOS in the past few months, from single message systems to full communication suites.  One such app is from Smartyears called Expressive.  As described by the author Expressive is:

Expressive was developed in order to improve the communication abilities of individuals with a communication disorder. It does not matter if an individual is having difficulty communicating due to autism, apraxia, or any other communication disorder, Expressive will give that person the ability to express themselves through the use of pictured images and corresponding audio.

It is designed to be a mid-level communication system, above static audio generating systems (like TapSpeak Choice) and below full communication suites (like Proloquo2go).  It allows individuals to easily navigate simple questions, places, people, verbs, feelings and basics.  There are quite a few built in phrases and messages.  The interface for adding new pictures/symbols is quite easy to use.  If you choose an application image the sound is provided for you, if you choose an image from your library you can add your own sound.

Navigation around the app is simple, a home and back button are provided as well as delete and add buttons.  You can turn off the edit mode in the Settings Menu on your iOS devices.  You can also choose between Male and Female voices in this area.  The app is responsive, even on older devices, and works well.  So if you are in the market for a mid-level communication device/app this is might be a good option for you.

At this time, Expressive is $29.99 and the developers let me know that an update is forthcoming adding more images to the app.

Patrick

Reviewed by Teaching All Students

IEAR Podcast #13: iOS Edition

Click to Play

Guests are Kelly Dumont, Meg Wilson and Jim O'Hagan. The primary topic is a discussion focused on the merits of the iPad as consumption or production devices.

Show notes:

1. Do these Apps change your view of the iPad as Consumption Devices?
2. Counting Coins App Review by Kathy Burdick
3. Bar Max App Review ... Well sort of...
4. The Best E-Book App - simply because it is the best Kid's Book Period!
5. "The Strange and Wonderful World of Ants" App for iPad
6. Happy New Year ... The IEAR Wish List for 2011
7. IEAR Podcast - Android Edition #1
8. 2010 IEAR Community Best App Awards

App Reviews:

1. Bean Jar Kids: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bean-jar-kids/id380110228?mt=8
2. Djay: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/djay/id382604769?mt=8
3. Studio HD: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/studio-hd/id392472624?mt=8
4. Word Lens: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/word-lens/id383463868?mt=8
5. Little Things: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/little-things/id382821388?mt=8#
6. Whiteboard: Collaborative Drawing - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whiteboard-lite-collaborative/id301962306?mt=8
7. Operation Ajax: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/operation-ajax/id408086365?mt=8 - Attention: 17 years old and above App!
8. Whiteboard Mac App - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whiteboard-collaborative-drawing/id412312635?mt=12

Special Mention:

• Mobile Learning Event: http://mobile2011.org/