Friday "Appy" Hour: Apple Clips

This Friday "Appy" Hour features the Apple exclusive app, Clips. If you follow any of the EdTech or Assistive Technology hashtags on Twitter, then at some point you have seen a post or mention regarding Clips and it's expansive features. So what's all the hype about?

Clips is a free app, which allows you to customize photos and videos before sharing them with friends and family. Within the app users can create and send video messages or narrate a story with the help of artistic filters, animated text, music, emojis, and fun stickers featuring characters.

Some highlighted features of Clips...

Videos made easy

• create videos in real time with simple controls — no timeline, tracks, or complicated editing tools
• Record video, take photos, or add them from your library
• Easily mute audio, adjust the length of your clips, and reorder them
• Drag and pinch while recording to add smooth pan and zoom animations to your photos and videos
• Add a music track from your library or choose from more than 60 built-in soundtracks that automatically adjust to the length of your video

Artistic effects and filters

• Turn any photo or video into a moody painting, elegant pencil sketch, or comic book illustration*
• Add warmth, impact, or drama to videos and photos with a selection of filters from the Camera app
• Use effects and filters while recording or apply them to photos and videos from your library

Live Titles

• Create animated titles and captions using just your voice
• Captions are generated automatically as you speak and match the timing of your voiceover
• Easily change the style of your title, adjust text and punctuation, or add inline emoji 

Fun stickers, emoji, and posters

• Choose from dozens of animated stickers from Star Wars, Disney, and Pixar
• Add emoji, animated speech bubbles, shapes, and customizable text labels to your photos and video clips
• Use full-screen posters with animated backgrounds and customizable text to help tell your story

Interested in seeing Clips in action and how to connect this into the classroom? Watch the brief video created by Apple Distinguished Educator, Kristen Brooks, which provides a visual demonstration to highlight the ease of the app and built-in features.

Looking for more ideas? Read the ICT Evangelist article: 

5 Ways to Use Apple Clips in the Classroom

Webinar Wednesday: Assistive Technology Trends

Stephen Hawking said "the future is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities."  But what are those possibilities, you ask?  Well, as technology becomes more ubiquitous and readily available for everyone to purchase, we will explore some of the current and future general technology application trends that could be considered assistive technology.  Some technologies to consider are wearables, digital assistants (smart speakers) and even the worlds of Virtual and Augmented Reality. 

Click to RSVP for this Event

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Kirk Behnke delivers professional development, technical assistance and cultivates learning opportunities regarding Accessible Educational Materials, accessible and assistive technologies and Universal Design for Learning within the US, Middle East, Europe and Indonesia. His passion is helping to facilitate excellence in learning for all, whether it is in a classroom or presentation room. He has developed and implemented the “Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP)” at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and later adopted by the University College of Dublin, Ireland. Kirk has worked in a variety of settings, including CAST, Region 4 Education Service Center, CSUN, and Temple University where he received his M.Ed. in Education/Special Education. He also holds an Assistive Technology Professional credential from RESNA, a Certificate in Assistive Technology Applications (CATA) from the University College of Dublin, Ireland and is currently contracting with the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA). 

Event Date: 

Thursday, April 19th, 2018 - 4:00pm to 5:00pm EDT

Accommodating Students with Dyslexia

For educators and parents alike, working with a child with dyslexia can pose many obstacles. Where do you begin for interventions and accommodations? In an age of technology, luckily there are many resources and tools available at your fingertips to help bridge the gap and provide access to print materials for the thousands of struggling readers.

The following article, Accommodating Students with Dyslexia by Jessica Hamman, featured on Edutopia's website provides five easy-to-implement accommodations to support students with dyslexia in the classroom. These tips are helpful for those just beginning to learn more about the accommodations available, and also a helpful reminder for those already familiar with accommodations. Click the link below to read!

Accommodating Students with Dyslexia Article

Source: Edutopia

Motivational Monday

Webinar Wednesday: Creative Technology for Inclusion and Engagement

Creative Technology for Inclusion and Engagement

Click to RSVP for this Event

Most of us know about many of the most common technologies to help students with disabilities. This presentation will explore creative technology to help struggling learners better access the curriculum and engage in the learning process. You will learn about how to include students in art, and music with technology and engage students with various disabilities. Participants will learn about high-interest technologies that will motivate student and the psychology of educational technology. If you are looking for something new and different, this presentation is for you.

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John F. O’Sullivan is a Librarian, an Assistive Technology Specialist and an author of several books on educational technology. His books include The Educational Technology Guide 2018, The UDL Educational Technology Guide 2018, UDL Technology, The Teacher’s Awesome App Guide, and Teaching Projects with Computers. He currently holds four certifications in education and has taught under each certification. He works for Chelmsford Public Schools at Chelmsford High School. He has worked in the past as a Special Education Teacher and Technology Integration Specialist.

Motivational Monday

Webinar Wednesday: AT and the IEP Resources and Webinar

All about Assistive Technology and the IEP

AT and the IEP  - Featuring Lisa Lightner   Are you a parent or family member of a child with an IEP? Do you work with students with disabilities and their families? This family-oriented webinar will provide valuable ideas on how to advocate for assistive technology devices and services designed to help students be successful at school.  This Thursday  March 29th, 2018- 1:00pm EST You still have time to RSVP for the webinar. You can access the entire webinar archive as well as all upcoming CTD events by visiting  CTD Webinar Central.

Resources on AT and the IEP Assistive Technology and the IEP When meeting with the IEP team, parents are a child's most effective advocate. It's important that they be prepared and informed. This brief guide informs parents about assistive technology and the IEP.   Also available in Spanish. Assistive Technology and the IEP - Tips for Parents This fact sheet provides tips to help parents navigate the IEP process, particularly with respect to assistive technology.  Assistive Technology and the IEP - Tips for General Ed Teachers This Infographic offers information and tips on how general education teachers conduct and follow through with Individualized education programs (IEP's).  Considering Assistive Technology There are many components to consider in assistive technology selection, such as student history, current needs, and future goals. This article from the Center for Parent Information and Resources gives step-by-step instructions to this process that all members of an IEP team can utilize.  Assistive Technology 101 This illustrated guide describes AT basics in user-friendly language. It discusses how to select AT devices and provides annotated photos of a wide range of AT options. This is a great starting point for those who want to learn about AT and teach others.