East Midlands Learner Conference on eSafety

Sal Cooke Director of JISC TechDis gave the keynote at the 
East Midlands Learner Conference on eSafety
Kegworth,
21 March 2012

Sal Cooke keynote from Paul on Vimeo.

East Midlands Learner Conference on eSafety
21 March, Kegworth House Hotel, Kegworth
https://sites.google.com/site/prdesafety/resources
Learners and staff from Specialist Colleges throughout England came to Kegworth to explore esafety. Situated on the M1 junction 24, Kegworth House Hotel was the venue for what proved to be a thought-provoking and fun event.
The event was part of an LSIS-funded project run by the Peer Review Development Group of the East Midlands Specialist Colleges and included staff from Linkage, Landmarks, Portland, Hinwick, Homefield and RNIB colleges.
The event aimed to showcase work being produced around resources, teaching and learning and advice and guidance materials on e safety for vulnerable learners. There has been a plethora of materials on esafety in recent months but there is still a need for more help for the vulnerable learner and embedding in organisations working within the LLDD sector (Learners with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities). Outcomes from the project include training for staff, guidance for parents and support and guidance materials that learners can understand and own.
Both JISC TechDis and the RSC East Midlands were involved in planning, and technical support came from events with FX.
Sal Cooke, Director, JISC TechDis gave the keynote, welcomed staff and learners and thanked Viv Berkeley from LSIS and the RSC admin team. http://vimeo.com/39040675
Shirley Evans, Special Projects Officer, JISC TechDis presided over a voting session using low technology in the form of red, green and yellow cards, which was much appreciated by all involved. http://vimeo.com/39100818
How do you know who you are talking to over the internet? In a workshop called ‘What if….’, a Facebook user taking the role of a blonde 16 year old girl turned out to be a middle-aged man! A sobering and instructive case study in being aware.
Other workshops included the use of Technology and raising parental awareness, and learners were able to record their thoughts on the day in the ‘Video Diary Room’.  
The project finishes in July and the resources and outcomes will be made available to the FE and Skills sector on the Excellence Gateway in the autumn of 2012. Meanwhile videos and resources can be seen at
https://sites.google.com/site/prdesafety/resources
The PRD Group is headed up by Sally Warr, Learner Engagement Manager at Linkage, and Dawn Green, Principal of Landmarks College

Online Accessibility Self-Evaluation Service (OASES)

Supporting Inclusion

Alison Wootton, RSC West Midlands presented a webinar on the online accessibility self-evaluation service provided by JISC TechDis.


the webinar recording is at
https://sas.elluminate.com/mr.jnlp?suid=M.A63CE324114C9CD677801BBBA1D23E&sid=2009077

Supporting inclusion introduction webinar march 27 th 2012

View more presentations from JISC RSC East Midlands.

Developing a culture of accessibility need be neither costly nor time consuming. In line with the Equality Act 2010 all staff have a responsibility to ensure that key relationships are developed between roles within the institution so that successes are fully exploited.

The Online Self-evaluation Service (OASES) is designed to provide a way of benchmarking your accessibility practices to widely accepted 'reasonable adjustment' recommendations as well as the practice within other providers.

The service is quick, free and anonymous and providers can help to overcome barriers to access in a number of technology-related ways.

Supporting Inclusion

Resources from the Supporting Inclusion online series

Presentations and links for the webinar recordings. 

Introduction  http://goo.gl/92S0h

e-texts  http://goo.gl/JPGmh

Accessibility Essentials  http://goo.gl/shsZk

MyStudyBar  http://goo.gl/30WYZ

OASES  http://goo.gl/lW51i

Accessibility Essentials

Investing in Staff skills to support learners  Staff can learn to use assistive technology and create accessible learning resources easily even in Microsoft programmes -  

MS Word Document map view – relies on authors structuring documents but in return gives easy instant overview of entire document and makes it accessible to screen readers and exportable to mind mapping tools.

the webinar recording is at

http://goo.gl/shsZk

supportinginclusionaccessentials

View more presentations from JISC RSC East Midlands

You say you want a revolution? mobile learning for inclusion

With the passing of Steve Jobs it will be mooted whether without him we would have had the Mac, the iPhone and the iPad? Very likely not, at least as we know them. He and his team have made a difference, not least to many who need assistive technology and those who need discrete tools to  maintain a measure of independence. Other assistive technology will not disappear but a paradigm shift has taken place and we are witnessing a revolution in mobile learning for all; and because these tools are helpful and cool, many young people with learning difficulties are empowered. Pause to give thanks.

Ah, you will say. what about the digital divide? My point, however, is that the revolution in which Jobs has had such a major part has helped to narrow the divide. Take SEN provision in access to machines as just one example. Who now is going to invest in computer suites with a few machines set aside for the special needs learners? No need. Investment for all wll include mobile and handheld because it will be more inclusive as well as motivational and provide easier access. It’s important for someone with dyslexia to be able to use the stuff that their peers are using.

I have to confess I’m a techno-minimalist, so I won’t use technology just because it has gadget appeal, particularly if there are technical hurdles to overcome. So in coming to mobile learning I have been a bit slow. We have been particularly impressed with the value of cheap usb camcorders and digital cameras as these have required little technical expertise, together with a whole array of free open source software tools that would have incurred considerable costs only a few years ago. Some of these are accessibility utilities for reading and writing and planning: others are multimedia and presentation tools.

I have had a watching brief on the use of smartphones as personal tools but was there something worth our providers investing in?  Lots of good work has been done, notably Molenet, and there are numerous case studies.  Early adopters may have had lots of good ideas and these have been disseminated.


What has changed?
The arrival of the internet-enabled smartphone and tablet is increasingly helping to create  a culture in which it is possible to make some concerted efforts with mobile learning in the classroom. The accessibility features, particularly on Apple devices, have been a boon to some learners with dyslexia and visual impairments. The help and advice of JISC TechDis has been at the forefront in this area.

What is accessible for one learner may well be inaccessible to another so there is no single answer. Smartphones will be inaccessible to many with motor impairments. Android phones are not yet as replete with accessibility features as are the Apple devices.
There are both benefits and constraints. The learner is always the best judge, though there is a role for practitioners in guiding and providing opportunities for real learning with handheld devices.

If you would like to share what you have been doing with mobile and handheld learning please get in touch. You might be using voice recorders or digital cameras. You might be supporting learners with dyslexia: have you investigated multimedia options eg audio clips, animations, video clips or text-to-speech. Multimedia is a reasonable adjustment for inclusion.
SMS messaging and email can help deaf learners work on collaborative tasks. Bluetoothing is great for collaborative tasks.

TechDis recommendations on accessibility and mobile and wireless technologies:
Explore the benefits of mobile and wireless learning – mobile devices provide another tool in the toolbag.
Encourage learners to feed back on the accessibility of learning activities. Oh, and feed some of that back to your friendly regional support centre.
There is never a 'one size fits all' solution so you might need to target particular impairments.
 
For more information see the links below.

Mobile technology for inclusion http://moodle.rsc-em.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=255

Why would you want to invest in iPads? Is it always practicable for students to bring their own equipment? What are the benefits and constraints and what activities are possible with mobile and handheld devices in the classroom? Who is using assistive technology for inclusion and independence?

If you wish to showcase please get in touch.

LINKS

Doug Belshaw: How to teach using Mobile phones http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/may/10/mobile-phones-teaching-device  


Go Mobile http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/assets/Documents/goingdigital/Go_Mobile.pdf


Upwardly Mobile http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/UpwardlyMobile/
Innovative Practice with eLearning http://www.elearning.ac.uk/innoprac/starting%20point/opening%20the%20box.html
http://www.elearning.ac.uk/innoprac/challenge/accessibility.html
case studies on Excellence Gateway http://delicious.com/elearningcasestudies/accessibility
Molenet
Using iPhones and Moviemaker Using iPhones for NVQ assessment http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=N4UUI
Using iPhones for Literacy and numeracy http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=3BNJD
QR Code Treasure Hunt http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=OMXXV
Voice recording of session using a variety of Apps to recognise different birds http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=IY7VG
student using the iphone for the first time http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=TPV63
Students selecting alarm sounds from the iPhone in order to time brushing their teeth for one minute http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=PATVC
iPhone in swimming sessions http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=ZTQZP
Staff Feedback from Shuttleworth College on taking part in the iPhone  http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=TCZZH
Student using bubble wrap app as a hand desensitising activity in order to allow greater hand function. http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=2IK3I
Entry level students using iPhones for flower recognition as part of personal development projects. http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=LNY37
usefulness of music technology apps on iPhone http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=FJZAG
iPhone in media workshops (D/deaf) http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=JBSPD

Using the iPhone to Support Numeracy (D/deaf) http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=O27XL

Using an iPhone App as an Ice Breaker http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=BWQP4

voice-over on iPhone http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=Q4KKL
accessibility features on iPhone http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=RHC42
memory aids using smartphones http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=XFUEJ

Dyslexia provision http://www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=XFS43

Specific Learning Difficulties crystal model

Crystal Model: spld (Specific Learning Difficulties) presentation

Some of you may have come across this crystal model as a CPD activity using a giant jigsaw. I gather this is no longer available? 

Here is the interactive online version. 

A couple of issues: the text is small and browser zoom does not help, but if you are showing it on an interactive whiteboard it is not only plenty big enough it’s also interactive. 

It would be useful to be able to pause the presentation especially when looking at the characteristics of a particular difficulty. The intro is good but you don’t need it every time. 

Still, however, a very useful resource. 

iPad apps for accessibility

NB      There are numerous Android tablet devices coming out with their own apps. There may be features of these devices that will make them useful alternatives to Apple products.

There has been a sudden avalanche of information about Apple products for accessibility. We are already approaching supersaturation point and there will be more apps to come, so it might be helpful to have some pointers.

iPads have been taken up by special education because the accessibility features lend themselves to learning and provide ways of accessing their multimedia possibilities.

Where to start? Use Kevin Hickey’s mindmap as a jumping-off point.

http://www.mindmeister.com/81453198/ipad-iphone-for-inclusion

how accessible is the iPad?
http://rscemaccessibility.blogspot.com/2010/08/accessibility-features-of-ipad.html

iPod accessibility
http://www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/case_studies/docs/Central_iPhone.pdf

http://www.evengrounds.com/blog/how-accessible-is-the-ipad

· VoiceOver: gesture-based screen reader: touch the screen to hear a description, then double-tap, drag or flick to control. 

· zoom :any portion of the screen can be magnified up to 5x

· Closed Captions: subtitles and closed captioning 

· White on Black 

· Triple-Click to turn VoiceOver, White on Black or Zoom on and off. 

Lists of Apps

Eric Sailers, an American Speech-Language Pathologist

http://www.scribd.com/mobile/documents/24470331 

CALL Scotland –communication apps

http://bit.ly/hvhzjJ

ACE Centre comprehensive list of communication apps 

http://www.appsforaac.net/applist

Apps for Children with Special Needs http://a4cwsn.com

Google Doc list of iPod Touch apps for Literacy, Numeracy and Accessibility ( MoleNet project) - needs updating (feel free to add/delete).

http://bit.ly/gtMjo5

Blogs and web sites

iPads for education

http://www.ipadsforeducation.vic.edu.au/

Fraser Speirs - Blog http://speirs.org

Therapy Box

http://www.therapy-box.co.uk/  Working with students who have communication difficulties at basic level - cause and effect plus picture/symbol recognition. 

http://learninginhand.com/

http://www.ipadineducation.co.uk/iPad_in_Education/iPads_in_Schools.html

http://ipodtouchconf2010.ning.com/forum/topics/ipad-literacy-project-forum

http://ipadeducators.ning.com/

http://www.digital-teacher.co.uk/ipadding/

http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=26195

http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=36989

 http://teachwithyouripad.wikispaces.com/

MoLeShare on using the iPod touch in FE

http://www.moleshare.org.uk/search.asp?k=ipod&z=2&s=3

James Clay reviews Apps on his blog.

http://elearningstuff.net/category/iphone-app-of-the-week/

http://elearningstuff.net/app-of-the-week/

iPad Academy

http://bit.ly/f7CwSj

iPad, iPod and iPhone in AAC.

http://appsforaac.net/content/ipad-ipod-and-iphone-what-can-i-say-presentation-bett-2011

inc section on how the appstore works, and some advice on purchasing

http://bit.ly/gEbIzE

Translation app

http://gregatkinson.com/this-app-will-blow-your-mind-and-could-save-a-life/

Apple Digital AV Adapter

The new Apple Digital AV Adapter mirrors exactly what you see on your iPad so that you can view on widescreen TV, video projection screen or other HDMI-compatible display.

http://www.apple.com/uk/ipad/features/mirroring.html

iPhone/iPad Apps

BSL Finger Spelling

Simple app to learn finger spelling

iBooks

iBooks app for reading and purchasing ebooks using VoiceOver.  

Kindle App

SayText

ICanSee 

Dragon Dictation

free dictation app and no training required.  Send the dictated text directly to a text message, email, facebook, twitter or copy it into another app.

Dragon Search

Speak a search term - results from Google, Wikipedia, Youtube and Twitter.

Ideas Sketch - simple mind mapping tool. 

Dropbox – sync and share your files online.

BBC News - mobile version

Globe - countries of the world on a 3D globe

Wikipanion - bookmark topics and review browsing history. 

Sounds right - British Council pronunciation chart

Dictionary.com - Dictionary & Thesaurus 

Disclaimer

The Regional Support Centre (RSC) supports the development of educational elearning. We may refer to specific products, processes or services. Such references are examples and are not endorsements or recommendations and should not be used for product endorsement purposes

Sip & Surf

Sip&Surf opens December 2010

Homefield College have a new internet cafe in Loughborough:

Sip and Surf, Market Street , Loughborough

6 hot desks from i-Desk solutions - check out the transparent desktops.
There is no kitchen as at Barrow (Barrow of Treats) so they are serving only drinks and cakes – but lovely stuff and very nice service.

Upstairs is the ebay business (transferred from Aladkins factory in Sileby).

Tardis-like there is actually more room than at the factory.
They are very welcoming so drop in sometime.