The Value of Using Photos with Children who have Autism

/in , /by

Hi Everyone,
Students on the Autism Spectrum often have short attention spans, have difficulty adapting to change and may find difficulty in expressing themselves appropriately. Using pictures, pictographs or photographs can improve their ability to communicate by providing a visual image for their feelings, thoughts, wants or needs. Viewing pictures of routines/schedules can make transitions easier since the children can visually see what is expected of them and what comes next.

Benefits of using photos on the ipad for children who have autism

This blog covers how you can use the iPad and photos to assist your child or student who has autism, including:

  • How photos are beneficial
  • How you can use photos in the classroom
  • Apps that can use photos
  • My favorite apps that incorporate photos
  • A few examples of how your students can use them in lessons/projects

To read the rest of this blog follow the link below, and sign up to the Child Development Club website to receive regular updates.

The Benefits of Using Photos on the iPad for Children Who Have Autism

– Karina

Using The iPad to Create Social Stories

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Hi Everyone, 
We hear a lot about the term ‘Social Stories’ in the field of autism and there is a lot of discussion about how to use them for children on the Spectrum. I personally believe that social stories can be a really powerful tool that can be used for children who need visual cues and demonstrations to assist with concept development, behavior modification, and transitions and change management. As we use iPads and tablets more and more, it makes sense to also use the technology to create our social stories.

Social Stories can be used to:

  •  Change an unwanted behavior
  •  Encourage positive behavior or actions
  •  Alleviate stress and anxiety
  •  Visually explain a concept or idea that might be challenging or difficult to understand
  •  Create consistency and routine
  •  Transition between one event to another; or from one developmental stage to another i.e. toileting

Social Stories using the iPad

This blog with Child Development Club covers the basics of creating a social story using the iPad, including:

  • What social stories can do for your student with autism
  • What social stories can be used for
  • What to consider when creating a social story
  • Using technology to create social stories
  • What apps you can use to create social stories
  • Links to apps you can use to create social stories
  • Examples of social stories

Please follow the link to read the full blog:

Using the iPad to Create Social Stories

Visual Schedules (VS) Using The iPad

/in , /by

Hi Everyone, 

There are numerous benefits to using Visual Schedules (VS) with individuals with Autism and there is also significant research supporting their use for individuals on the Autism Spectrum (AS). A Visual Schedule can be the key to increasing independence and managing anxiety for students with Autism. This can make a huge difference to the child and in turn diminish meltdowns, anxious behavior and foster positive growth. 

This blog goes through the advantages of visual schedules, how to create visual schedules, and what apps you can use to create visual schedules. 

Visual Schedules using the iPad

I recommend Keynote and Pages to create visual schedules, but there are many other options available. 
If you follow the links below you will be taken to the Apple App Store to download. 

                                       

   Keynote App                        Pages App

                                  

Popplet App                            Grafio App


To read the full blog follow the link, and sign up to receive regular updates.

Visual Schedules (VS) Using The iPad

– Karina 

iPads and Autism – Setting Up The Parameters

/in , /by

Setting up the parameters for using technology is something every parent should do, but it is especially important when you are using an iPad for autism education. 
This blog gives you a brief introduction to how that is done, including:

  • How will you use the iPad?
  • Security issues
  • Selecting apps
  • Make sure you know how the apps work
  • Allocate the iPad for educational use only
  • The device cannot do the work for you, or replace you as a teacher
  • Implementing guidelines

Setting up the parameters blog

To read the whole blog, please visit iPads and Autism. Setting Up Parameters 

– Karina

Karina’s Child Development Club Blog – Using iPads With Children Who Have Autism

/0 Comments/in , /by

Hi Everyone, 
I have been writing a blog for the Child Development Club’s website for a few months now. I have been sharing my insights on using iPads with children who have autism, not just in the classroom but for use at home as well. 

This is the first blog in the series, and I talk about iPads and why they work for children on the Autism Spectrum. 

ipads CDC Blog intro

If you follow the link to the Child Development Club website, you can read this full blog and sign up for their newsletter to get updates on my blog, as well as blogs from my fellow contributors. 

iPads and Autism. Why they work.

You can read the series of Child Development Club blogs on iPads for autism, and learn the many benefits of using the iPad with children with special needs:

– Karina 

Rational for using iPads in Education

/0 Comments/in /by


Imagine a school, just for one moment… Where you walked into the door of the school… And the very first questionnaire would contain the questions: “What do you love to do?” What is your favorite thing in life? What are you good at? What would make you smile? How would life/school be if you could do the things that you love to do?

Imagine a school whose curriculum catered for those kinds of questions… And designed a pedagogical program that is individual to your child, based on the answers to those questions?

Teaching to Children’s Strengths
It is then that we could abandon English, Math, Science, etc. in the way that it is taught now, where we just deliver buckets of information that has no relevance to kids. Alternatively, let’s say a child’s interest is cooking; what if we were to inspire them to want to learn for example they will want to learn to read because by reading they can gain more information from recipe books. They will want to learn about measurement because this knowledge will help them to become a better chef. They will want to learn about money because they will want to go shopping to purchase their ingredients. They will want to learn about science in the context of how cooking and science interrelate. They will want to learn to write, because they will want to write their own recipes. Just recently, there’s a program called Master Junior Chef and everyone is amazed at how incredible the children are.  
The comments I hear are “can you believe those kids?” “Those kids are just brilliant”.  “I can’t believe they can cook like that.”  The recipe (pardon the pun) really isn’t that difficult to understand and while I don’t want to take away from those amazing kids (because they really are amazing), but these kids are shining because they LOVE to cook; they LOVE to do what they are doing; and when children LOVE doing something, they WILL learn!!!  You don’t have to ask them, or cajole them into it, they can’t wait to get into the kitchen to cook; and to be a better cook, they will learn to read a recipe, learn the math required to get their recipes right; understand the science behind what makes recipes work, flavors taste better etc; and develop creativity in the way they present their food.  As I said above, it really is NOT difficult to comprehend and in my mind, this gives me a “recipe”, a foundation, a platform from which educating children should stem from.  If we start with what they LOVE to do; the rest comes naturally. 

I personally believe that using technology can bridge the gaps for those children who are struggling, but also make learning easier for any child. These kids come to school ‘tech’ ready and digitally aware so it makes sense that we give 21st century children the tools to learn using 21st Century technology. 

PD Staff Development

/0 Comments/in /by

Please watch a sample of how this school district saved thousands of dollars and shared valuable insight from leading teachers helping other teachers

Flipped Faculty Meetings from Shannon Holden on Vimeo.

iPads, Tablets, and Mobile Learning for Professional Development

/0 Comments/in /by

After talking with our best teachers and executive team we have decided to continue to serve the hundreds of teachers who have signed up for classes and our learning platform by asking every educator to create a sharable lesson or learning module.

We have the unique opportunity as a company to ask our fellow educators to use our platform to collaborate and help one another.

Look for many courses that you will be able to learn from for free.  For professional development, whether it is learning how to use media effectively in the classroom or famously known as flip teaching (our teachers is nationally known as the best coach and presenter on edweb.net made up of over 80,000 leaders).  Another popular course that has gotten international recognition is our ipad for teachers course.  Karina Barley as been equipping teachers using ipads and tablets in the classroom for over 5 years.  She has fine-tuned her graduate level course and is getting perfect reviews 100% of the time which is incredible.  Karina also has a passion for Autism solutions using ipads, sensory-based curriculum.

We have many more recruited teachers who are building courses in gamification or as Randall Fujimoto says, game-based learning.  He is in the process of developing a complete curriculum to modernize the learning experience needed for today’s educator and student.  Gamification or gamifying the classroom and online hybrid learning experience takes a lot of intentional planning as well as well-thought out pedagogy.  Stay tuned for many many helpful solutions.

Shifting gears for Digital Learning Tree

/0 Comments/in /by

After talking with our best teachers and executive team we have decided to continue to serve the hundreds of teachers who have signed up for classes and our learning platform by asking every educator to create a sharable lesson or learning module.

We have the unique opportunity as a company to ask our fellow educators to use our platform to collaborate and help one another.

Look for many courses that you will be able to learn from for free. For professional development, whether it is learning how to use media effectively in the classroom or famously known as flip teaching (our teachers is nationally known as the best coach and presenter on edweb.net made up of over 80,000 leaders). Another popular course that has gotten international recognition is our ipad for teachers course. Karina Barley as been equipping teachers using ipads and tablets in the classroom for over 5 years. She has fine-tuned her graduate level course and is getting perfect reviews 100% of the time which is incredible.

We have many more recruited teachers who are building courses in gamification or as Randall Fujimoto says, game-based learning. He is in the process of developing a complete curriculum to modernize the learning experience needed for today’s educator and student. Gamification or gamifying the classroom and online hybrid learning experience takes a lot of intentional planning as well as well-thought out pedagogy. Stay tuned for many many helpful solutions.