This was Leo’s homework just a few minutes go. We used the Clicker Sentences app to look at the difference between their, they’re and there. We created a number of model sentences together using the articles and people around us. The settings allowed us to have the sentence read aloud, before Leo recreated it using the word grid.
Just a digital worksheet? No I don’t think so. We co created these exercise and the task/ app still allows Leo to continue freely writing. I am loving Clicker Sentences more and more.
A few years ago I discovered Clicker 4 for PC. After using it just once with individuals who struggled with or were otherwise disengaged by reading, I soon realised that this was a very powerful tool. Clicker is essentially a word-processing program with a customisable grid of words which act like a mix of a word bank and a giant concept keyboard. The beauty of these grids is that you can personalise them and customise them to the child you are working alongside. What’s more the software can read the text back to you and you can even add your own voice.
Since my initial first experiments with the software, the product has moved and we are now up to Clicker 6 and some apps too.
Dylan’s target was to vocalise “I see sentences”. Clicker made this possible in a meaningful fashion.
I have trained a number of Teachers and Teaching assistants in both mainstream and special school on Clicker 5 and I both myself and my wife have made wide use of it with our autistic children. I still maintain it is one of the best pieces of assistive technology ever produced.
Here is a video of one of my other sons, Leo, he has autism and learning difficulties and struggles with pencil control and concentration. Here he is a few years ago on our SMART BOARD using some colourful semantics Clicker grids to write one of his own sentences. I have to say it is only in the last few months that he has managed to replicate something like this with a pencil.
So, with all this in mind I was thrilled to be asked to try out the new Clicker apps on our iPads. I am going to mention just one of these here, which is Clicker Sentences. An app which feels closest to the spirit of the original Clicker 4,5 and 6.
Once again you are able to customise the grids with words of your own or make use of some of the pre made learning grids. I used this last week with Leo as a supported Word Processor we wrote a fairy tale from the template and then I created some history focussed grids for him to help complete his History assignment.
I was really impressed with the preloaded Fairy Tale writing template which we used. Using a series of word bank/ grids
Leo was able to quickly compile his story and listen both to every word and every complete sentence. Not only did this sustain his attention it also helped greatly with his reading. Really this app should be an essential installation for all schools that are putting iPads into their Key Stage 1 and SEN settings. If you want to talk about progression then this would be the idea precursor to Pages with all its intricacies of formatting and features.
Aside from the pre-made templates the app also allows you to create your own templates. I have to say this was far easier than in the original PC application, though the features of the app are less than on the PC. Nevertheless in just a few seconds I had created at least three model sentences with a picture prompt for Leo to follow. Following each sentence he simply swiped onto the next.
On this occasion I let Leo construct the sentences himself from the words randomly arranged in the grid set. However the app does allow you to present the word bank in either alphabetical or sentence order, you can even have it guide you through the grammar by having it highlight one word at a time.
A screenshot from a Victorians Clicker Sentence grid we created “in a matter of seconds”
To augment your own grid creations and the pre-installed templates, there is also a growing number of resources and ready to run grids over on Learning Grids.com too. This feature of having a large searchable gallery of pre made templates was another very useful feature of the PC based programme. Busy teachers do not always have the time to create themed resources and so an on-line repository of these is really useful, if only to provide inspiration for your own grid making.
I would recommend you add this app to your list of literacy apps straight away. Then look at whether it is appropriate for some of your less able pupils too.
Teachmeet iPad was an amazing evening and I am still getting to grips with all that was shared by so many great speakers.
If you were not there, or even if you were, you can enjoy watching the evening by clicking on the image below.
During the evening we were treated to some inspiring presentations from the likes of John D Abbro, Myles Pilling and Terry Freedman, to name just three. I’ll post a full break down of who shared what and add a special page to this blog in due course, but we also need to mention those that spoke virtually. In the run up to the event, a number of you contacted me on twitter and kindly offered to send in a pre recorded video for us to use on the evening.
As it turned out we were quite time pressured and so we could not show all of the videos, also due to some last-minute presenters we chose to use more live talks than videos. My apologies and thanks goes out to all of you who sent in a video. Here are two of those videos for your inspiration and enjoyment. I will post more of these later this week.
1. Bev Evans – talks us through some of her favourite iPad applications with a focus on SEN and early years
When it comes to Apps for kids I do veer mostly towards the creativity side of things. I want to allow the children the opportunity to see, feel or hear something they are proud of, using a MAC or an IOS device will allow a creative output, but one that will be so much sleeker and more professional that a traditional Windows composition.
I am keen to explore the full gamut of app styles and creative outlets with my kids at home and at school. Browsing through the education category of the App store or even going to the Kids section of a physical Apple store can be a bit of a let down. The education category is often skill based games, and while some of these are very good, many show up their authors as being quite out of step with how teachers and pupils learn and create.
One area I am keen to explore is that of music making and composing, but in a more up to date genre set. I had read a lot about Figure by Propellerheads and this week I downloaded it and gave it a try with Charlie and Leo.
Note that Leo (6) does have a learning difficulty, but despite this he used the app effectively a few times and was able to get a half decent and quite danceable tune from it. I also showed my class, to which the response was “sick”, which I think is a positive response. I hope to explore this some more with my class in the coming weeks, though I will need to dig out some headphones. I would add that you will not find this app in the education section and it costs a mere 69p. Bargain!
I have followed the work of the very knowledgeable Ian Bean for some time. He is a great source of information and inspiration on using technology with children with SEN.
His status updates on Facebook and twitter highlight his excitement around the power of equipping SEN children with appropriate ICT to allow them to learn and express themselves. Yet he recogonises that all the IPads, laptops and switches you can squeeze into a cupboard will not achive this, staff have to be trained or at least aware of the power of these devices and their associated software/ apps.
If you work with children with SEN then I recommend one of his courses or at the very least subscribing to his updates on either twitter or his ICT SEN facebook page . He often posts slides like the one above which really resonate with my experience as an ICT advisor and as a parent of autistic children who love technology. Furthermore he is about to publish progression documents on using touch devices including iPad and other relevant materials.
I must also pass on this image from the wall of photos shared on ICT SEN, which Ian had passed to him by Christopher Bryg, as it is so true!
Ian explains:
An image shared by Christopher Bryg which illustrates the importance of training and support. Every school I have ever visited has cupboards full of equipment. So much better to identify which technologies will best support the student’s needs and learn to use them well.
