Friday "Appy" Hour: Notability 8.0 Update

Notability, created by Ginger Labs, released it's 8.0 version update this week and it's garnering a lot of attention in the world of AT and Ed Tech.The latest update includes unique features including handwriting recognition, searchable handwritten notes, and handwriting to text conversion. With Multi-Note, two notes can be open side-by-side. And the new Note Switcher makes it quick to change notes.

So what does this all mean? The video below provides an overview of what is included in the latest updates as well as a breakdown of the updates below...

Handwriting Search
Handwriting in Notability is now searchable!
Handwriting can be searched in the note view and from the library. Handwriting recognition and indexing all happens on the device, keeping notes private. Additionally, 14 different languages are supported and searchable on Notability including: 
English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian Bokmal, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Turkish.


Handwriting-to-Text Conversion






With the latest update, individually written words or full lines of text can be converted into typed text. Once converted, the text can be copied to the clipboard and pasted into other apps, like Mail or Messages. 
















Multi-Note
The Multi-Note features proves to be the biggest time saver giving users the option to work with two notes side-by-side. In addition to saving time, Multi-Note provides more context, and makes editing and reviewing notes more natural. 




If you're unsure how to use the Multi-Note features, here are a few suggested ideas: 
• Highlight terms in a textbook and then summarize concepts in another note.
• Keep a meeting's full agenda in view while taking minutes in a separate note.
• Use a blank note as a scratch pad while working on a class assignment.
• Make a note of frequently-used drawings, and simply drag them into other notes at any time.
• While reading a recipe, jot down the ingredients you need in a shopping list.

All of the tools available for a single note are also available when using two notes at once, like add and edit annotations, zoom in and scroll around to capture details, rearrange pages, copy-and-paste pages between notes, drag-and-drop content between notes, and more.

Audio can be recorded in one note while editing and switching between other notes. This makes Notability's unique audio recording and playback feature more powerful than ever. No longer does audio recording have to stop in one note to check another.

Note Switcher and Recent Notes
The new Note Switcher is a quick and convenient list of the recently opened notes. Notes can be switched without going back to the Library. Note Switcher includes search too, to help find other notes.

The Library now includes the new Recent Notes list. This is particularly useful for finding, sharing, and working with notes stored in different subjects.

Costs and Availability
Notability 8.0 can be download from the App Store, and is compatible with the iPad and iPhone running iOS 10 or later. All current Notability users can update their apps for free to access Version 8.0. Not a Notability user, yet.....Notability can be downloaded for $9.99 USD. Certainly an app that you get more bang for the buck! 

Source: Blogpost adapted from Gingerlab Update Article 

Learning Ally's National Achievement Award

Learning Ally appreciates teachers and educators for the inspiring work you do. Each year, Learning Ally recognizes outstanding students and teachers through their National Achievement Awards with scholarships and cash prizes. Learning Ally needs your help to recognize the best Principals, Assistive Technology Specialists, SPED Directors and more. Please make your nomination today!

Nominate an educator

Nominations must be submitted no later than June 15, 2018. Learn more about this year's winning educators.

Do you have students ready to apply for scholarships? High school seniors can apply for our $6,000 scholarship. Send home this reminder to apply by June 15.

Motivational Monday

Friday "Appy" Hour: Reading Bookshare Books Downloaded in Word

Bookshare books can now be downloaded in Word and read with any compatible editor or reading tool. This is a common, easy-to-use format that allows members to customize the book’s text to meet their reading needs. Members can do the following with Word:

• See the text
• Customize the font size, colors, styles, and more
• Annotate text
• And additional features depending on the tool

How to Access Books in Word

Here are the steps for accessing Bookshare books in Word:

1. Log in to Bookshare
2. Select a desired book
3. Select "Word" from the drop-down menu next to "Download" and follow the steps to complete the download process
4. Find the zipped file in your "Downloads" folder
5. Extract the zipped file

Once the file has been extracted, you can open it with a compatible editor or reading tool.

Submit Feedback on Word Format

Do you have suggestions on how we can make Bookshare’s Word option better? Share some feedback!

Read Aloud with Latest Version of Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word 2016 has a Read Aloud feature that lets you hear your document and see each word highlighted simultaneously. (Learn more about Microsoft Word's Read Aloud feature.)

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2018

Today marks the seventh Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). As stated on the GAAD website, "The purpose of the day is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital (web, software, mobile, etc.) access/inclusion and people with different disabilities." 

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) and to help create more inclusive school and classroom environments,  all educators should be encouraged to explore Microsoft's Educator Community training course, brought to you by Microsoft Innovative Educators who work in Special Education.

Within the training course are a plethora of technologies and resources available to help create more accessible and inclusive learning environments. With a few easy clicks, you can access quality content, efficiently and independently, without having to ask for it. Through the link below you will find 10 ways every educator can make classrooms and learning more accessible for all students with Office 365.

10 Tips to Make Your Classroom More Accessible

Additionally, the infographic below highlights ways students and teachers can provide options to reach those learning through a variety of modalities. Click on the image to download. 

Webinar Wednesday: Book Creator Webinar Series for Summer

In the world of Ed Tech and assistive technology, when you find an app, for lack of better words, that just works, you really get excited. Book Creator is one of those apps. It's a top-quality creation tool which empowers kids of many ages to publish their own digital books.With it's simplistic interface students can easy navigate the features to build pages, providing for more opportunities to enable your students to focus on creatively designing and publishing their work digitally. For struggling or emerging readers, Book Creator has a "built-in" 'Read to Me' feature available on both iOS and Chrome. This updated feature provides your students with the ability to listen to their books read aloud using your device’s text-to-speech capabilities. Additionally, Book Creator can highlight the words as they are read and turn the pages automatically.

So now that you're hooked, the question is, where can you learn more about Book Creator?

Join fellow blogger, Monica Burns (@ClassTechTips), for a free webinar series to explore a variety of ways students can “show what they know” across subject areas when creating ebooks with Book Creator. From May through August of this year, Monica will be hosting 10 Book Creator webinars all about this open-ended creation tool.

Each webinar has a specific focus where you’ll find lots of different ideas to take back to your students or the teachers you support. You’ll need to register for each webinar individually.

Interested in a topic, but unable to make the date? Not to worry. Register anyway and a recording will be sent for you to watch at a more convenient time. Space is limited for each webinar, so don't delay in registering. Below you can find a list of the various topics with links to register. Please note all webinar times are EST.

For more details on what will be focused on specifically in each webinar, click on the link below:

Book Creator Webinar Series for Summer

Source: Book Creator, Class Tech Tips

Benefits of Text-To-Speech Tools with Beth Poss

You can watch the interview with Poss below, or view the interview transcript.

Biography

Beth Poss is a faculty member for the Center on Technology and Disability and an early childhood special education administrator for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland. As a member of the MCPS curriculum writing team, she helped design and implement a curriculum aligned with the Common Core State Standards and the principles of Universal Design for Learning. As a certified Speech Language Pathologist, she served as a member of the MCPS assistive technology team for 10 years.

Poss is also an adjunct faculty member for Johns Hopkins University, and presents nationally and internationally on best practices in professional development, early childhood special education, assistive technology, instructional technology, and Universal Design for Learning.

Motivational Monday

The Case Against Assistive Technology

If you've made your way to this blog then you surely understand how technology supports, such as word prediction software, text readers and dictation tools, allow educational content to become more accessible for students including individuals with dyslexia, weaknesses in literacy and even English Language Learners.

Despite an increase in awareness in how these tools can support varying learners, there are always myths associated with the use of technology to promote accessibility. The most common myth hinges itself on whether these technology supports are "unfair" and provide an advantage to the students using them. The following video, The Case Against Assistive Technology, from DonJohnstonInc help to debunk the myths surrounding assistive technology and focuses on how the provision of technology levels the playing field for those with disabilities.

A narrated version is available at donjohnston.com/thecase

Source: The Case Against Assistive Technology from DonJohnstonInc

Webinar Wednesday: I Can Read That! AT Supports for Struggling Readers

I Can Read That! AT Supports for Struggling Readers

Click to RSVP for this Event

In this session, participants will learn how to use the built in accessibility supports in their mobile devices to support struggling readers, a free screen reader,  as well as how to adjust settings in three library apps; Google Play Books, Kindle App, and Libby/Overdrive so that readers can confidently say, “I can read that!”

Diana Ree-Reeder is a former low incidence disabilities teacher turned assistive technology (AT) resource teacher.  She has a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Assistive Technology from George Mason University as well as a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.  Ms. Ree-Reeder has worked in Fairfax County Public Schools for her thirteen year career, with the last nine as an AT resource teacher.  She has worked with students from preschool to high school but primarily serves students in elementary schools. Ms. Ree-Reeder works with students with high and low incidence disabilities in her schools to find AT that will increase their academic achievement and enhance life skills through data driven methods.  She has presented at district, regional, and international conferences to share her knowledge with others. 

Event Date: 

Tuesday, May 15th, 2018 - 4:00pm to 5:00pm EDT

Webinar Wednesday: Assistive Technology: What it is and How to Use it

Students with disabilities can benefit from using assistive technology (AT) to support a wide variety of skills. But what is assistive technology and how do you select and appropriately use it? In this introductory CTD event, we’ll cover what assistive technology is, the legal consideration process for choosing assistive technology and some of the different types of tools that are available for students of all ages.

Click to RSVP for this Event

Event Date: 

Wednesday, May 16th, 2018 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm EDT

AT and OT: Assistive Technology for OTs

The blog AT and OT, hosted by Molly Shannon, a clinician with over 30 years of experience, contains many excellent resources and tools specifically designed to support OTs using Assistive Technology (AT). The blog contains links and articles focused on apps, blogs and support on how to maximize the use of technology to support struggling students. Visit the website to begin exploring!

https://atandot.com/category/assistive-technology/

Motivational Monday