Posts by Barbara Landsberg
iAdapter for iPad no longer available from Spectronics
The iPad is attracting a lot of attention in the special ed/learning support arena at present. Some considered. Some media hype. But it definitely does have a place in the special ed technology toolkit. One of the areas in which it falls down is its volume in social settings for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users. It needs additional amplification to make it more …
Amazing Sensory Guru technologies now here in ANZ
Multi-sensory Room technologies have not changed dramatically for many years, but Sensory Guru in the UK is now ramping it up in amazing ways! They are turning around largely passive environments, offering options for active participation and for a progression of skills development within a multi-sensory environment. The Magic Carpet interactive projection system is just one of their new technologies. The system projects interactive …
Boardmaker Studio: Multi-site licensing and no more CD in the drive!
Boardmaker Studio, the first update to Boardmaker for a number of years, was released late last year. It is becoming very popular now, so it might be timely to take another look at why you might consider upgrading your current copies of Boardmaker or Boardmaker Plus! to Boardmaker Studio. What are the advantages of Boardmaker Studio? No CD in the drive is required to …
TarHeel Reader Books: A great resource for iBooks on your iPad
As the Spectronics consultancy team travel around Australia and New Zealand, they are often asked about how to create customised books and bookshelves on the iPad. Books which students can read in self-selected reading time or just for their own enjoyment. Jane Farrall, Spectronics’ Senior Speech Pathologist, recently wrote a helpful guide which steps you through the process of creating books for the iPad, …
Jane Farrall leaving Spectronics in early 2012
Jane Farrall, Spectronics’ hard-working, talented and uber-dedicated Senior Speech Pathologist and AAC Support Services Manager will be leaving Spectronics on January 20th next year. After nearly seven years as part of the Spectronics Professional Services Team, she has decided to venture out on her own as an independent consultant. While we are sad to be losing such a fabulous member of the Spectronics …
Win a trip to the USA for just sharing your AbleNet technologies story at ILT2012. No catches!
Do you use any of the above pictured “easy-tech” tools from AbleNet in your classroom or disability support organisation? Do you use any at home? Tools like the PowerLink 4 Control Unit, BIGMack, Step-by-Step Communicators, All-Turn-It Spinner, the MEville to WEville Early Literacy and Communication Skills Curriculum Collection, Jelly Bean or Jelly Beamer switches, or the popular SuperTalker Progressive Communicator? Any other AbleNet technologies? …
LCD Touchscreens: Beginning of the end for Interactive Whiteboards?
Just add a laptop or an iPad 2! No data projector needed. No shadows. Fully height-adjustable. Even project wirelessly from your iPad 2 (using an Apple TV unit and a WiFi connection)! We have been looking for an attractive alternative to interactive whiteboards (IWBs) in the classroom for many years. We think we have found it now! The 65″ and 55″ EDUSS Multi-touch Interactive …
Warringa Park School iPad Project
Warringa Park School is a special school in Melbourne and was one of the first of many Victorian special schools to roll out iPads to all of its students (almost 300 in total). To learn more about the project read their story online or contact the school’s full-time “iPad Coach”, Dawn Hallett on email hallett.dawn.l@edumail.vic.gov.au. Dawn organises weekly tutorials for staff dedicated to the …



