Closing the Gap Highlights

[KarenJanowski]

There are many in our network who are unable to attend CTG this year. This discussion can be the opportunity to share highlights of the conference with everyone in our network. What has excited you at this conference? Any particular products/devices/hardware? Which presentations were exceptional that we can share here?
(One of the advantages of a social network such as this is the opportunity to share this kind of information with our personal learning communities - and all our kids benefit!)

[Marylou Connors]

Hi Karen and AT Friends...
I am one of those anxiously waiting to hear how the CTG conference is going - some year down the road I'll put the fear of flying aside and make it to the conference...in the meantime - can't wait to hear how you are all doing at the conference and if you found any "must have's"!!!

Thanks!
Marylou

[Samuel Charles Sennott]

Toy Booth Showed this super cool "thing" called an ELMO. It is a gen. ed. science tool that can be used for some really cool stuff. Check it out here:
http://otot.wikispaces.com/Cool+AAC+and+Literacy+Supports

[Paula Walser]

I have a slightly older version of the Elmo and I love to show teachers how many different ways it can be used. We love to use it with writing projects - allows us to easily show and edit students writing samples. I personally use it to demonstrate software applications on handheld computers. Great Tool!

[Samuel Charles Sennott]

The name ELMO gets me every time! I honestly thought she was presenting on some weird way to get kids out of Elmo.

[Paul Hamilton]

Intellitools launched Version 4 of Classroom Suite at the conference. I was favourably impressed! The program includes an extensive collection of new templates for reading, writing and math that are research based and well designed. Student screens are uncluttered and incredibly easy to navigate. These templates are so easy to modify that you can create new activities extremely quickly. I especially like the math templates. The math activities will be especially helpful for some of my step scanning switch users.

Speaking of scanning, perhaps the best new feature of all is something Intellitools is calling "smart scanning". With smart scanning, scans have been set up so that the scan starts at the first place where a user will need to select a button. This saves a switch user much time, energy, and potential frustration. It literally brought tears to my eyes to envision some of my step-scanners using smart scanning.

So, I think anyone who can afford the program should take a serious look at the new Classroom Suite. It is scheduled to start shipping in early December.

[Paula Walser]

WOW - I came home totally energized! Ok - maybe I am energized now that I slept away the weekend -- but the highlight of the conference for me was the incredible networking that was occuring. Twitter, Ning, Wikkispaces ..... I cannot wait as the Future is Bright!

[Nicole Peters]

There is so much out there on the web. I love being reminded of great websites! Two of the best ones that were noted at CTG were 1.) http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/hiat/about/
This is the Montgomery County Public Schools (High Incidence Accessible Technology) and 2.)http://www.paec.org/fdlrstech/index.htm (Florida Instructional Technology Resource Unit)

[Jodi Nibbelin]

Nicole,
I haven't checked out the Florida site yet, but have already shared info with a few other people about the HIAT site as well as downloaded and saved some info and sent info along to fellow therapists. They had a Profiler listed on their site that I am checking out as a way to get people in the area to take surveys reporting their knowledge levels on AT used in our area which might help us when making decisions about future training opportunities. I'll check out the Florida site soon, thanks for the reminder.
Jodi

[Samuel Charles Sennott]

Florida really does need to work on their names though, Fddlrs for the IT/AT stuff and the one that always makes me laugh: FLASHA: Florida American Speech and Hearing Association. Don't people think? :') Just kidding!

[Samuel Charles Sennott]

Patti Weismer and Linda Bastiani Wilson had a terrific presentation of the Accessible Book Collection's project focusing on importing books into ICS 3 and Clicker 5. Check it out at accessiblebookcollection.wikispaces.com.