October / November 2000

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Reporting from Macworld Expo 2000, New York, NYWe've been going to various Macworld Expos since they started in San Francisco in 1985. We've watched the show grow and evolve from hippie nerds with card tables to Las Vegas style booths with swimsuit models selling RAM. A few years after the San Francisco show got going (the San Francisco show happens in January each year) an East Coast show started up in Boston in July.

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Linking technology and curriculum: Calendar-based curriculum planning One essential task involved in the integration of technology into the curriculum involves aligning appropriate technologies with the activities of teaching and learning. While a variety of resources are available to assist in this linking process (see previous TIS column, Outcomes, standards, and technology, 18(5), 9, 10, 34), typically, it is left to the teacher to determine the curriculum goals and the specific technologies, media, and materials that will be used to enhance the instructional process.Of course, the challenges of technology integration are simply added to the responsibilities of teachers who must design lessons to address content standards and create performance assessments to ensure that students are achieving at ever increasing levels of academic performance. When all of this work is left for the teacher, it is obvious that the technology integration process is at risk due to the overwhelming time demands placed on teachers.The purpose of this column is to describe several promising curriculum design and implementation tools that are particularly relevant for special education teachers and technology specialists.

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Students with disabilities rarely have the opportunity to fully participate in creative activities. Teachers often complain that they can't find the time, or that they are too busy. In some instances classrooms that claim that their students are involved in creative activities simply have assistants that are creating the project for the student.

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eye yummies are scrumptious graphics and images that you and your students can create. Today's image editing and painting programs offer a wealth of features perfect for students using alternative computer access, enabling students to digitally create pencil drawings, oil and watercolor paintings, and photo realistic landscapes.For teachers and therapists, understanding how to work with computer graphics has become almost as important as knowing how to use a word processor. With the growing availability of digital cameras, scanners, and clip art on the Internet, teachers and students are creating unique communication boards, alternative keyboard overlays, Web pages, multimedia presentations, newsletters.

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HyperStudio is the best selling multimedia software in use by schools today. Its ease of use and flexibility makes it a top choice for designing and building curriculum adaptations and congruent activities. IntelliTools products, particularly IntelliKeys and Overlay Maker, define the standard for creating custom student access.

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Children with communication difficulties often demonstrate behaviors that interfere with learning and participation in the home, school, and community. Often, the ability to manage behavior not only defines least restrictive environments, but quality of life outcomes. The reauthorization of IDEA dictates that behavioral support plans be considered in each special education student's program (NICHCY, 1998).

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Students with learning disabilities often have difficulty with skills others take for granted, such as reading, listening, organizing information, spelling or writing. The right computer software and assistive technology can greatly improve a student's skills and make these necessary tasks enjoyable activities!However, not all software is appropriate for students with learning disabilities. Individuals with learning disabilities have various needs and learning styles.

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Culturally and ethnically diverse parents must have information on assistive technology (AT). In spite of mandates for parent involvement, barriers to AT may preclude parents from accessing needed devices and services. Parents from minority cultures need information about special education service delivery systems to know their rights to services.

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Preschool software, books, toys and videos This issue is devoted exclusively to preschool children - and the computer software, toys, videos and books they will learn from and love to play with. Software trends include new Playsets that strap onto the computer for a different kind of access. There are lots of television and book friends on computer (great for carry-over and motivation); more cause and effect programs for toddlers (just press any key to get fun and exciting animations, music and sounds - great for single switch use); and some errorless mouse programs (just move the mouse around and things happen -great for mouse/trackball training).

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Reading hasn't changed much since the days of Thomas Caxton's first printing press in 15th century Europe. As we strive through the millennium, for most people, reading still mainly consists of ink on paper or embossed Braille. But now we may be in for a shock, electronic books (eBooks) are set to lead us into a new era of paperless publishing.The eBook revolution is picking up momentum and big players are already showing their commitment.

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Greystone Digital announces BigKeys LX, the latest in its BigKeys keyboard product line. BigKeys LX is designed especially for adult computer users with advanced keyboard needs who require very large keys in order to locate and operate keys on a keyboard. BigKeys LX is a standard-sized desktop keyboard with 60 oversized keys with easy-to-read labels.

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TuffTalker is a communication system for users who want computer access virtually anywhere. Designed to withstand the most challenging physical environments, TuffTalker is encased in full magnesium alloy and has a shock-mounted hard drive that can withstand the rigors of the typical AAC environment - all while delivering superior computer performance in a compact, completely mobile package. TuffTalker features a powerful 300-MHz Intel Celeron processor and comes fully loaded with Windows 98 and Word +'s Talking Screen software.

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The NuVision from Keeler is a breakthrough in optical video technology, which enables people suffering from severe vision loss the freedom to become independent.NuVision is a cosmetically pleasing system comprising a lightweight, head-mounted mini visor concealing a tiny video camera and optical system. The camera projects an image onto two small screens on the inside of the mini visor, the equivalent to watching a 62 inch wide-screen TV from only six feet away. With this enhancement of functional vision, students can now visualize their teachers and class projects; others can preserve or seek employment.

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A standard tool in the UK, Clicker is widely used in thousands of schools with students of all abilities. Its use is already spreading in the US as well as in Australasia and Europe.Clicker is a tool for writing, communication and access. The program comprises a pictorial word processor and a Clicker grid, which contains up to 100 cells.

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Canadian educational software publisher, Bytes of Learning, has launched CREATE Together, a new multimedia authoring program for schools. CREATE Together is a powerful and broadly capable multimedia authoring tool offered to the K-12 school technology market - it's also the first multimedia authoring tool designed with the Internet in mind.CREATE Together rivals MacroMedia Director and Authorware in its depth and capability, but is designed so a wide range of users from novice to expert can achieve extraordinary results. Using built-in assistants, even primary level children can quickly make interactive multimedia such as games, presentations and resource encyclopedias.Dr.

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Lawrence Productions announces the release of Lawrence D. Duck, Language Arts Private Eye. This language arts software for students in grades 3 through 8 focuses on reading comprehension, deductive reasoning and grammar skills.In the educational game for schools and homes, the local police of Huntsville have been overrun by criminal activities and have posted a reward for anyone able to help clear up their unsolved mysteries.

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Ostrich Software announces the availability of the Road Runner Talking Bible. The Talking Bible is a portable, handheld text-to-speech player that contains either the King James, American Standard, or New American Standard version of the Bible. Although the Talking Bible was designed for people who are blind or visually impaired, even those people with no reading difficulties will enjoy the benefits of listening rather than reading, especially when traveling or when time is at a premium.

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Hawk Software announces the launch of a free computer program for the disabled, YSpeak. YSpeak is a computer program for users with speech and motor disabilities. It is designed to assist in communicating in a variety of ways, reducing the input from the user to the minimum.

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Special educators and parents are always looking for materials that will encourage reinforcement of school objectives at home. Take Along Language Kits (T.A.L.K.) are complete games and lessons that support IEP objectives and skill development. Improving communication skills is the focus of each of the 58 activities included on this CD-ROM (Mac/Win).

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Today, inexpensive, networked personal computers are widely used in business, schools and homes across the United States. Internet Web pages, information kiosks or other ITM (information / transaction machines), and educational software increasingly include multimedia elements as a central component. Videos, images, interactive spoken and written English, and 2-D/3-D graphics are now commonplace.

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Technology for Language and Learning, a non-profit organization that distributes Special Education Public Domain Software, announces the availability of its new collection of quality public domain software/shareware for special education on CD-ROM.MacPac 2 contains 2 CD-ROMs, each with over 600MB of programs for your Macintosh computer. Some of the main categories included are:o Single Switch Cause and Effect Programso Keyboard Bangers (Press any key programs)o Learn to Use the Mouse - Programs to practice mouse, head mouse skillso Symbol Use, Learning Letterso Preschool, Kindergarteno Language, Reading and Writingo Favorite Friends (Programs with all your favorites - Barney, Blues Clues, FreddiFish, Madeline, Ernie, Bert, Elmo and many more)o Math/Money/Time, Science, Social Studieso Reasoning and Thinkingo Spellingo Word Games, Concentration, Simon Games, Board/Card Games, Arcade Gameso Keyboardingo Storieso Art, Music, Clip Art, Holiday/Seasonso Teaching Tools, Utilities, and moreAs a special feature, MacPac2 contains over 100 set-ups for specialized programs like IntelliPics, ClickIt!, IntelliKeys, and Boardmaker. There's an on-screen keyboard, sign language programs, screensavers, ESL programs, and much more.

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