Holiday News and Link Roundup!

Hi Folks, just a few bits of news and links to some posts elsewhere to share with you!

First of all, I wanted to offer a belated thanks for all who took the time to vote in this year's Edublog Awards.  I was thrilled to place 2nd (wow!) in two categories! Like Avis, we try harder.

More importantly, SLPs made an excellent showing in this year's proceedings, with several wins and many top 5 placements.  See all the results here, and please check out all the nominees.  The Edublog Awards is above all a great place to find new resources to follow.

I am going to be offering a 2-day (you can attend one or both days) workshop here in MA on January 17-18 in Dartmouth for Southeastern MA Educational Collaborative.  Click here for more information and to register.

In other news, here are a few other posts I was involved with elsewhere on the Interwebs:

-On the Mindwing Concepts Blog, I posted a video tutorial on one of my favorite apps, Puppet Pals, and a discussion of how to use it in a story retelling activity.

-Also on Mindwing, a post on using the Gift Wrap App (Holiday season and year-round) to target knowledge of the narrative element of character and social skill of remembering things about others.

-Over on Speech Time Fun, I did a guest post about Investigating Apps with the FIVES Criteria- or using evaluation strategies to think about an app before you even download it!

-I did an interview with Tanya Coyle of Lexical Linguist as part of the Blog Chain Letter Link-Up, and the post includes a giveaway of one of my favorite apps, Mr. Reader- go over and enter by Jan 1!

Happy Friday!

iTunes 11's New Code-scanning Feature

I am sure I am not the only one who received a few iTunes cards this holiday season. My peeps know my passion for apps. Additionally, I had taken advantage of a Best Buy deal that I'd encourage all to be on the lookout for periodically- on Black Friday iTunes cards were 20% off! These deals are also often available at BJ's, Costco, or Sam's, and when you add funds in this way to your iTunes account, it gives you a nice budget to stretch over...whatever period of time you choose.

Normally, the process of redeeming an iTunes code can be a bit of a pain for those of us with the best decoding eyes, but with the recent overhaul of iTunes, Apple has made this much easier. As long as you have a recently produced iTunes card that has a box across the code, when you go to redeem the code on a Mac or PC, you can scan it via webcam and it's as simple as this:

Super cool! It hadn't even occurred to me until I saw it while blog surfing that this new feature is actually assistive technology...it has been mentioned that this new code-scanning element will be of great assistance to the visually impaired and those with dyslexia.

So, be sure to update to iTunes 11, which is important software to have on your computer in case anything goes wrong with your iPad, and I still prefer it as a way to back up my devices rather than buying more iCloud space. Here's a nice tutorial.

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday break!

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Mr. Rogers' Wisdom

I apologize for that little bit of radio silence the last couple of weeks, but in the wake of the CT tragedy, I hadn't felt much like writing.

For so many of us, this event just hurt on so many levels. Worst of all is the children and their families, which I have difficulty even thinking about. Having spent most of my career in elementary school settings made Newtown seem horribly close to home, as did thoughts of my mom, dad and sister, who have spent their lives in classrooms (my sister is a first grade teacher, additionally).

My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to this entire community, and for all of America as well.

So, although this is quite a delayed response, I wanted to post a resource that I found helpful in the days following December 14, and indeed shaped my response to a group of boys that brought up the event during a treatment session.  Good old Mr. Rogers:


I also found great comfort from his famous quote, which in itself is a strategic use of reframing:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world."

Notice.

People may mistake my enthusiasm for the potential of technology with a desire to spread the message that our lives, both work and personal, should be tech-infused all the time.  Though I struggle myself with balancing high- and no-tech, and there's the whole "those who can't do..." thing at work here, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge how important it is that we regularly Notice our analog friends, family, neighbors, and, of course, students. Erik Raj recently wrote a wonderful post on tuning in to the parts of our job that make us happy, and you should check it out.

On my part, this post may seem out of the blue, but I do have a Zen streak to me, and I was actually inspired by two TED talks I watched at the gym this morning.  If you don't know about TED (it stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design), it is a series of events in which people from all disciplines give short, inspiring talks.  It is also, naturally, an app and website. TED really gives us a LOT to think about, and certain talks could also serve as a therapy context given their real-world and multimodal nature (a good opportunity to use graphic organizers to break down information).

Don't think I don't recognize the irony and contradiction of writing a post that advocates for focusing on the present moment related to the use of an app, all prompted by my utilizing said app while working out (hey, it was a warmup). Also, as I was writing this post, and I am not kidding, my mother called me, I received a text from a friend, a Google Chat message from a different friend because I had that open in a tab, and both a Facebook and Twitter notification, all at the same time.  Couple solutions: don't have multiple tabs open in your browser, and minimize notifications so you can check services when you want to, and not be constantly interrupted by them (one example). Anyway, despite all those levels of concentration/distraction, the meaning got through to me, and I hope these two brief talks are meaningful to you as well.







(Google Reader or email peeps, please click through to the post to see the videos)

Vote for SLPs Shortlisted for 2012 Edublog Awards

A couple weeks ago, you might have seen my post nominating some peers (always hard to make these choices) for the 2012 Edublog Awards, and may have seen many other posts if you hopefully follow some other SLP blogs.  The way this works is that the folks at the "Eddies" need to comb through thousands of nominations made by all the people in the edublogosphere and create a manageable Shortlist.  This is based on some qualifying factors as well as measures of reader engagement such as page rank, use of comments on the blog etc.

I am proud to say that SLPs have again represented in this initiative, underscoring our key role in the educational process and in the spheres of social media and educational technology.  What follows is a list of SLP nominees, so please VOTE early and often.

As the Edublogs People tell us:

Remember that only one vote per day per category will be counted from the same location! 

This means, if your school uses one IP address, you’ll need to ask students and staff to vote from home, or only one vote will count.

The best way to vote is to navigate to Vote Here, select Vote all at Once from the dropdown menu, and be aware of the following SLP nominees in various categories.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO VOTE or go to this link

CONGRATS to all the nominees!!  Thanks again to those who nominated me!

Best Individual Blog

SpeechTechie

Best Group Blog

ASHAsphere

Best New Blog

Speaking of Apps

Speech Adventures

Speechie Apps

Best Student Blog

HannaB, gradstudentSLP

SLP_Echo

Best Ed Tech Blog

PediaStaff

SpeechTechie

Best Teacher Blog

(I'm in here too somehow, wow, but please vote for..)

speech-language-therapy.com- Caroline Bowen

Most Influential Post

Lexical Linguist – Nomenclature and basic functions of Twitter (AKA Twitter 101 for SLPs and AUDs)

Individual Tweeter

@SpeechyKeenSLP – Tara Roehl

Twitter Hashtag

#slpeeps

Podcast

A.T.TIPSCAST

Edceptional

GeekSLP

Therapy and Learning Services

Social Network

PediaStaff

Mobile Apps

Custom Boards Premium


Vote Away! Remember that this event is also a great way to discover new resources to follow, including those not created by SLPs.

QR Code Update: Make Audio-Based QRs with Recordmp3.org

In my previous series on using QR codes in speech and language intervention, we covered how clinicians can use this engaging visual strategy to easily "hide" text and images behind a code scannable by mobile devices.  The result is kind of a high-tech (but simple) hide and seek where stimuli related to articulation, vocabulary, sentence structure, narrative skills, you name it, can be accessed by your students.

I have seen some QR codes that, when scanned, play audio, and it occurred to me that this adds a really exciting dimension (and modality) to the potential uses of QR.  Think of it- you could create QR codes that will play verbal directions, informational material, even the students' own oral language (descriptions, storytelling, functional narration of a school tour or rationale for their art/writing project, etc).

So, though I am sure there must be other ways of doing this, one simple way I found is to use Record mp3.  This simple site uses a Flash-based tool (so, you will need to use your computer and NOT an iPad to access it) to let you make a simple recording. You will want to make sure your Flash is updated or you may have trouble or distorted audio.

It even tells you how right on the site:

Once you have recorded and saved the audio sample, the site gives you a link. From what you know about QR already (I hope a little bit, or you'll want to go to my series, read about it and watch the video tutorials), what do you do next? Go to a QR code generator such as Kaywa, copy and paste the link from Record mp3, and you have a QR code that plays audio when scanned.  Try using the app Scan to access mine below:

Now, go have fun with audio QRs!

Workshop in Detroit, Michigan area- seats available

I am excited to be going out to the Detroit area again in 2 weeks (12/7/12).  If you are looking for a workshop in iPad integration and are in the area, there are seats available for this session:

Current Topics in iPad Integration for Speech-Language Pathologists: Fall 2012 Update 
This workshop provides an update on available apps that are dedicated to speech-language therapy, as well as further models of repurposing of apps designed for gaming, visual exploration, organization, creation, and professional development for use in speech and language interventions. Additionally, an overview of emerging trends will be reviewed, including use of QR Codes, Augmented Reality, and use of ePub tools to create books within interventions. This workshop will also discuss the utilization of apps in social intervention for students with autism spectrum and related disorders. Time permitting, an App Smackdown activity will allow participants to briefly share apps that they have found useful in therapy, with facilitation and discussion by presenter.

Click here for registration information. Thanks!

2012 Edublog Award Nominations

Each year I enjoy the Edublog Awards season, which is ostensibly a competition but really a reminder of the importance of social media in education.  For more on the history of the Edublog awards, click here.  In the past few years, quite a few of the SLPs participating in social media have represented in this event, as you can see in last year's ASHAsphere post.  I'd encourage SLPs who blog to nominate others; visibility and awareness of the work that SLPs do in education is very valuable. No matter who "wins," the annual event exposes all educators to a new list of passionate teachers.

Here's how you can nominate others, if you are a blogger and are interested.

Here's a link to Chris Bugaj's nomination post- Chris, thanks again for the nod.

So, short(listed), hopefully, and sweet, here are mine:

Best individual blog 
Speechie Apps by Aubrey Klingensmith is a great spot for app reviews, and kudos to Aubrey for tackling the task of helping SLPs incorporate Android apps as well as iOS, which I honestly have no desire to do! So glad I can send SLPs to her blog to explore this area.

Best group blog
ASHAsphere, the blog of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, features thoughtful blog posts from SLPs with a variety of viewpoints, in a variety of settings, working with a variety of populations. It's great food for thought and skillfully compiled, collected and elicited by Maggie McGary, ASHA's social media director.

Best new blog
Hanna B. gradstudentSLP explores a variety of topics close to my heart (executive function, social cognition, and apps) with humor and the wisdom of a...wait, Hanna's a grad student still??

Best ed tech / resource sharing blog 
all4mychild shares the creative use of a variety of apps, books (particularly with their books4all analyses) and other strategies to make therapy engaging and effective.

Best teacher blog
Speech Adventures-Speech Therapy, Technology and Humor by Mary Huston (not a teacher technically, but as an individual SLP in the school setting) has in a short time adventured into many interesting territories, including app commentary, RTI, and even the connection between Cher's Burlesque and our tendency to get stuck in our own thought patterns. I love me some Cher and flexible thinking.

Most influential blog post 
Appdapted: Halloween-Themed Apps by Jeremy Legaspi is a tour de force of creative re-purposing of apps, which you probably know is my favorite topic. With 21 examples of how to consider apps' features as related to speech and language objectives, readers are sure to be able to generalize these ideas past October 31.

Best twitter hashtag
#slpeeps, of course, is my go-to hashtag when I have a question or just want to engage with other professionals.

Best free web tool
Domo Animate is one of my favorite web tools to tell people about. Animation=Language, and it's pretty easy to use.

Best educational use of audio / video / visual / podcast 
A.T.TIPSCAST by Chris Bugaj continues to infuse an ever-growing list of high- and low-tech tips with humor and production values, and is geared toward every educator (but we SLPs should arm ourselves with a lot of A.T.TIPS, for sure, in our consultation work). Again, podcasts provide an opportunity for re-claimed drive time.  Listen to Chris on your commute through the free Podcast app.

Best educational wiki
Karen Janowski and Joyce Valenza's UDL Tech Toolkit is a one-stop shop for tools to help any learner access the curriculum.

Best open PD/unconference/webinar series
I have been to a number of Edcamps in the past several years, and these free unconferences, crowdsourcing the knowledge of the attendees themselves, still rival any experience I pay $$$ for.

Best educational use of a social network
Monthly #slpchat events continue to be an excellent reason for SLPs to check out twitter, recently covering such topics as AAC, autism and conference attendance strategies.

Best mobile app 
Toontastic, again, cause Animation=Language, and because Launchpad has continued to develop context and allowed school-based SLPs to access them with the All-access Pass.

Always tough to pick.  Good luck, guys!

ASHA 2012 Highlights

Like many of us who attended ASHA this week, I still have what is known as the "ASHA Hangover." This does not have to do with consuming adult beverages (though there were a few, I admit) so much as consuming knowledge, walking yards and yards of various carpets and traversing escalators (lots of escalators!) occasionally waiting in long lines, and pretty much talking incessantly leading to my vocal folds going on strike. Exhausting, but a great experience.

My 2 sessions were embarrassingly well attended and I am sorry to anyone who needed to watch from an overflow room or got closed out entirely.  ASHA was very kind to ask me to repeat the sessions on Saturday. Wow.

You can see the handouts here and here.

I attended some great sessions by Sarah Ward, Anthony Bashir, and Bonnie Singer, and as always appreciated the panel discussion on contextual language intervention by Bonnie and Barbara Ehren, Geraldine Wallach, Kerry Howland, et al.  Meeting Barbara Ehren was an SLP Geek-out moment for sure.

Here are some photos from the event:


The Exhibit Hall being put together!

My hotel was near the Olympic torch...and pretty much nothing else. Priceline Fail.


With pals Jeremy The Speech Guy and Easy Speak Magazine's Shareka Bentham, who traveled all the way from Barbados!



Mary Huston of Speech Adventures and Smarty Ears' Barbara Fernandes


Not Real...But Fun.  From ASHA Leader Launch Party for the upcoming redesign.

Helping out at the booth with the Smarty Ears Team!



Did you know? all4mychild's Meghan Graham and Tactus Therapy's Meghan Sutton and I are all BU alums- and I was once their (unnecessary) clinical supervisor? Funny!



What's wrong with this picture? Bathroom problems are infamous at ASHA, and this year was no different!

Hope to see you all in Chicago in 2013!

ASHA Sessions Update

Hi folks,

ASHA has asked me to repeat my two sessions tomorrow as I guess the room and overflows were filled for both. I am so appreciative of people's interest in integrating technology in their work! Please spread the word if you are attending ASHA as I think this information is only available at info desk and the daily update sheet, two resources I doubt people access.

 

Repeat Session (1084)

1540: Applying Emerging Trends in iPad Apps in Speech-Language Interventions (Repeat Session)

11/17/2012, 8:00am-9:00am

B401-B402

 

Repeat Session (1042)

1541: Pairing Picture Books with Apps to Contextually Target Language Objectives (Repeat Session)

11/17/2012, 9:30am-10:30am

A402-A403

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