ArtikPix 2.5 Update
ArtikPix and ArtikPix - Full version 2.5 were released today as free updates. Here's a list of the new features:- Deck sharing feature for users with all of the decks. If you have the full version or all of the decks in the free version of ArtikPix, you can now share custom decks via email attachment or iTunes File Sharing.
- Bug fixes related to the Create module
- If you like the new features, please leave a comment on the iOS App Store listing for ArtikPix. If you have feedback, please email support@expressive-solutions.com.
Comments
Mr. Potato Head app tops the list of things I recently learned
After finishing a round of trainings in May with a two-day stint in New York and two Ablenet webinars, I have thought about what I learned. Here are just a few things gleaned from the preparation and audience participation:- There’s a visual timer in the built-in iPad Clock app
- Books made in the Book Creator iPad app are best viewed in the iBooks app
- In the built-in Photos iOS app, re-order an image/video thumbnail by tapping the Edit button, then dragging the thumbnail to a desirable location.
Story app
05.10.13 Filed in: Apps
Yesterday, Disney announced a new iPhone app called Story. Story is a free storytelling app that allows you to add text and a theme to a collection of your photos and/or videos. After you’re done with your story, you can share it via email or Facebook. The recipient of your story is then able to view it on the app’s website.I like the Story app because it has a clean design and is easy to use. However, I do have a few requests to make the app even better for everyone (including individuals with special needs):
- iPad version
- Record audio
- Select text to speak with highlighting
- VoiceOver accessibility for the in-app help and images in stories
iPad Secrets app
Last week, I posted about training beginning iPad users and creating a tutorial for them. Shortly after posting, one of my blog subscribers emailed me about an app, iPad Secrets ($.99), which has tips and tricks for using the iPad. Well, I got a chance to download the app, and I have to say that it provides a lot of great information in an easy to understand manner. I liked the app so much that I’m planning to use it as part of trainings next week in New York. Thank you to Paula M. for suggesting this app to me!
What Causes Speech Disorders in Children?
05.03.13 Filed in: Other
The following is a guest post from Erica L. Fener, Ph.D. at Progressus Therapy.All children go through periods where their speech is not perfect. That's true of any skill as it's acquired and then perfected. However, concern about a true speech disorder in your child is warranted. What causes childhood speech disorders and how can they be remedied?
Environmental reasons:
- Lack of proper speech models
Remedy: As a child grows, the speech patterns he or she hears should mature also so that the child learns to mimic and then fully understand language and appropriate pronunciation.
- Too little time spent in conversation with older children and adults
Remedy: While good socialization skills necessitate children being quiet at times, parents should allow children to engage in conversation as much as possible, for full speech development. These conversations also provide great opportunities for adults to appropriately model proper speech.
Physical or developmental reasons
- Structural abnormalities
Remedy: Surgery and/or use of assistive devices can restore hearing and speech capabilities, so that speech can develop normally. For example, young children often have frequent ear infections and buildup of fluid in the ears, making it difficult or impossible to hear others’ language so that it can be imitated correctly. Surgically implanting ear tubes can resolve fluid buildup, so that hearing is possible. Similarly, correcting a cleft palate makes normal speech development possible.
- Developmental language and speech disorders
Remedy: As children get the assistance they need with their disabilities and acquire the tools they need to manage their disabilities, they learn to express themselves clearly, acquire new vocabulary and concepts as quickly as their peers do, and understand written and spoken direction so that learning proceeds at a normal pace.
Developmental disorders such as autism can cause speech delays to varying degrees. Children who are severely affected may speak very little, or when they do, may simply "echo" what someone else says using the same tone, inflection, etc., with no real understanding of what's being said. Special, intense language therapy is required.
Remedy: Early intervention is key to minimizing developmental speech delays.
- Neurological disorders
Remedy: Similar to an adult who has had a stroke, these children can learn to speak with varying degrees of success, or can use assistive devices that create speech for them, at their direction, much like the voice device famed physicist Stephen Hawking uses to communicate.
About the author:
Erica L. Fener, Ph.D., is Vice President, Business Development Strategy and Analysis at Progressus Therapy, a leader in connecting their candidates with school-based SLP jobs and early intervention service jobs.
A Birthday Wish for Eric
05.02.13 Filed in: Other
I decided to hijack my husband’s blog today in order to wish him Happy Birthday! There have been many early mornings when I awake to him typing away about iPad accessories, a great app, or a teaching strategy he wants to share. So, this is my chance to share a little bit about Eric. (Though, I’m a night owl, so my crazy typing happens late at night!)Eric is one of the most caring, dedicated people I have met in the field of education. The time and energy he devotes to helping colleagues through training, app development, and email support is admirable; even more than that, his love for making a difference in the lives of children with special needs is inspiring. I am always in awe of how he finds a way to help every child communicate and to have fun while working to overcome obstacles. As an educator, I know first hand how many challenges we face in our field today, and Eric embraces all of them with a positive attitude, a compassionate heart, and a remarkable spirit. I so often wonder how he manages to do it all and still put up with me ;) Honey, here’s to an incredible 33rd birthday and hope for many more happy days to come!
All my love, always
Kelly
Photo of Eric and Kelly Sailers was captured at the 2012 ASHA Convention.
Gerty Makes a New Friend
Story Title: Gerty Makes a New FriendAuthor: Written by Vicki Sailers, read by Eric Sailers
Story Description: After being scared at first, Gerty becomes friends with a spider.
Quiz: Yes
Quiz Questions: 5 (Who, What, When, Why, How)
Voice Recording: Yes
Download Link
With the StoryPals app installed, tap the download link on your iPad. Then, choose to open this file in StoryPals. The story will be imported to My Stories on the Table of Contents screen in StoryPals, where you can open the story to view it. Note that you must have the StoryPals or StoryPals - Basic app on your iPad to view the story.
This story and all contents contained within are for non-commercial use only. The author of the story has provided permission for use in StoryPals for non-commercial means only. The author has also acknowledged that the story and contents within do not infringe upon the copyright or rights of a third party. If the content posted raises infringement issues, this post will be deleted.
To automatically receive additional free stories as they become available, please subscribe to my blog by entering your email address above in the right sidebar.
To share your stories, email them to support@ericsailers.com and submit a request to share your stories by completing the following form: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFV4cnUzMmFxRXZYM2FkWUhkWnloakE6MQ#gid=0.
Tutorials for built-in iPad apps
I have found myself doing more iPad workshops with users who consider themselves to be beginners. As a result, I spend time demonstrating basic use of iPad. I also show how to use the built-in iPad apps (e.g., Photos) for images and videos. When teaching the built-in apps, I noticed that beginning users have difficulty grasping the concepts immediately, and they wish to have tutorials for future reference. So, I created tutorials for important features in the following built-in iPad apps: Safari, Camera, and Photos. See below for the tutorials:
Tutorials for built-in iPad apps
Note that the tutorials are for an iPad running iOS 6.
3 ways to use the ArtikPix video camera
The latest versions of ArtikPix and ArtikPix - Full 2.41 for iPhone and iPad include a video camera feature that can be used in multiple ways to aid children during speech sessions. Here is a quick guide for three easy ways to use the video camera in ArtikPix:1. Use it as a mirror
The video camera can easily be used as a mirror to allow a child to view his/her mouth movements during speech productions. Simply activate the video camera by tapping the camera button (in Flashcards or Matching); there is no need to press the record button. When you’ve finished practicing, tap the Cancel button to get back into ArtikPix.
2. Record a video and play it without saving
It’s easy to record speech productions for immediate review. After tapping the camera button (in Flashcards or Matching), tap the record button (once to record and a second time to stop), then the play button to preview the video. You can continue to record over each video by tapping the Retake button. For users who choose to preserve storage space on their iOS device, ArtikPix does not require you to save each video. Just tap the Cancel button to return to ArtikPix.
3. Save a video for later review
Of course, you can also save videos from ArtikPix to access later in order to track and share student progress. Once you have recorded a video (in Flashcards or Matching), tap the Use button to save the video. A prompt will appear in ArtikPix to save the video to your iOS device Camera Roll. You can choose to play the video by tapping the play button in ArtikPix, or by accessing your Camera Roll via the Photos app. Saved videos can be emailed from the Camera Roll by tapping Edit, choosing the video, then tapping the Share button and Mail.
Using the video camera in ArtikPix is easy and there are multiple possibilities for incorporating it in speech sessions.
Autism Awareness Month Giveaway: ArtikPix - Full or iTunes Gift Codes
Enter to win:
ArtikPix - Full
iTunes gift codesFor Autism Awareness Month, I wanted to do something to benefit individuals with autism and special needs. After considering a few ideas, I decided to do a giveaway on my blog. Since ArtikPix - Full was recently updated, I thought I would include it as part of a giveaway. I also wanted anyone who previously purchased the app to be eligible, so I’m including an alternative option to win a $15 iTunes gift code. Consequently, three winners will have the opportunity to choose either a promo code for ArtikPix - Full or a $15 iTunes gift code.
To participate, please enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. You are eligible to receive multiple entries for completing the various tasks listed.
a Rafflecopter giveaway