Digital Wish - Putting Technology in the hands of teachers to prepare today's students for tomorrow

Excellent funding sources for educators.

CK12.org-Flexbooks

CK-12 Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in the U.S. and worldwide. Using an open-content, web-based collaborative model termed the "FlexBook," CK-12 intends to pioneer the generation and distribution of high quality educational content that will serve both as core text as well as provide an adaptive environment for learning.

Scelero Pics

a collection of images that is easy to search.

Dipity

Fabulous timeline application that allows you to import from social networking sites as well as from other sources.

Tux4Kids - Projects

a collection of free software including drawing, math, and typing with simple interface.

Indicator 13 Transition Plan

Training and information on the Transition component of the IEP.

New Copyright Ruling- eSchool news

New copyright ruling affects educators

Higher-ed students, faculty can legally ‘rip’ portions of DVDs for use in media studies

By Meris Stansbury, Associate Editor

Communication and Collaboration, Higher Ed, Top News

"The Copyright Office deemed K-12 teachers and students ineligible for the exemption, and instead indicated that they should use only screen captures of a film, because K-12 education doesn’t need access to visually high-quality clips, officials ruled."

Free Graphics

Open Icon Library-  wonderful collection of icons, flags, information symbols

Gimp Savvy- a collection of copyright free photographs

Grunge Textures- free texture graphics

Icon Finder- another icon collection website, very easy to search

Top 40 Nature Photos- this is on Flickr so if you district blocks this site, you will have to wait until you are home!

Citrify-a photo editing website, free.

Font Squirrel- collection of free downloadable fonts

Pics4Learning- large collection of photos, well organized

Free Clip art by Phillip Martin- very educationally focused clip art, appropriate for grades K-3.

History

Enchanted Palace- interactive website taking reader through Kensington Palace.  Very simple language and clear directions.

Debating Emancipation- interactive that examines issues that faced the president and country when debating emancipation.

Best of History web sites- an EdTechTeacher.org resource history games and animations

Finishing the Dream- videos and pics from to help learn from the Civil Rights Era

SepiaTown- view and share mapped historical images from around the world

Our Story- American History Stories and Activities

My Audio School- "My Audio School exists to provide children with excellent audio content on a variety of school subjects in a format that they can easily use all by themselves."


Discovery Channel Top 25 Greatest American- pictures and links to write ups on American Icons and leaders.


Our Courts- 21st Century Civics - interactive lessons on civics and law.


Historical Scene Investigation- explore interactive historical crime scenes


The Brick Testament- have to include this on my list..the bible told with simple language and legos.  Can be a little graphic...but it is Legos...


Museum of Online Museums- a great collection of a large number of on-line museums, some a lot of fun.


Footnote- collections of historical documents


The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History- lessons, interactives, and documents

Autism Resources

Austism Buddy- AutismBuddy aims to provide a FREE user-friendly website that provides high quality pintables and resources for teachers and parents for use with children with Special Educational Needs.

Autism Women's Network-The mission of the Autism Women's Network is to provide effective supports to autistic females of all ages through a sense of community, adv
ocacy and resources.
Practical Autism Resources-  Free printable photos, clocks, schedule help and much more

PlanetMouret- video created by an Autistic student to help explain how she experiences the world

Temple Grandin talk on Autism TED talks

Kansas Autism Society-resources to be used with autistic students

Emotions Vocabulary Chart

Mrs. Riley's Page Builder

ProxTalker- augcom device for PECS communication

Use Visual Stategies with Students with Autism

Speaking of Speech 

Literacy Instruction for students with Autism, Cerebral Palsey, Down Syndrome and other Disabilities

Free Social Stories

Library of Social Stories

Augmentative Communication

Ipod and Ipad resources- presentation of apps that can be used for communication and other tasks useful in EC Classrooms

Communication Boards for Students with Disabilities- from Indistructables website, instructions on how to make simple communication board.

SymbolWorld- a website from the UK that uses symbols and text for students with cognative disabilities.  Current events, stories, and curriculum sections

International Society for Augmentative Alternative Communication- Organization that is focused on sharing information and ideas regarding Aug Com and Alternative Com.

Askability- symbol based site by The Children's Society with current events, recreational resources, and fun stuff!

YAACK- covers issues that effect children who use AAC

Kansas Autism Spectrum Disorder- Good social stories and visual supports

Safety for People Using AAC

Dynamic Therapy Associates- Downloads

Math and Science

Plus Math- real life applications of math problems and puzzles

Mr. Rob's Math - YouTube videos of Math Algebra 1, 2 and some calculous.

What's the time Mr. Wolf- Sequencing and telling time kindergarten through first grade

IXL Math- math resources for elementary age students organized by curriculum area

Webmath- from Discovery Education is a great resource that covers math concepts from kindergarten through trig and calculous.

MathMovesU- game based math skills resource

Playing Fraction Pies- connects fractions and equivalency to reading music

SeeingMath- series of interactive software dowloads designed to clarify algebra ideas

Math Movies- applies math to real life scenerios through games and movies

Design Science Resources for Math on the Web- a collection of math resources and links that can be found on the internet

edustock- site that teaches about the stock market, how it works, and how to choose stock.

Tools for Understanding-resouces for secondary school teachers who teach math

Interactivate- a collection of activities and lesson plans that encompass a wide range of math skills

Screen Clock- an onscreen clock that  students can manipulate hands to show time.

Time for Time- website that focus on teaching time materials and on-line activities

Math Mania- Study guides, online and printable activities of basic math facts and concepts.

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives-  Designed for grades Pre-k - 2 an excellent collection of online math manipulatives such as clocks, spinners, attribute blocks.http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/grade_g_1.html

KidsNumbers-  a collection of interactive games and worksheet generators that work on basic skills from addition to algebra.

Journey In Time- a lovely resource devoted to time, including history, types of clocks, how clocks work etc.

BBC education Snapdragon Set the Clock- students have to set the time on the clock, would be great for a smartboard activity

ClipArt Clock Menu- Clipart ETC online service of Florida's Educational Technical Clearning house

On-Line Stop Watch- a number of different timers, clocks and stopwatches

Access and Assistive Technology

AccessApps, LearnApps, TeachApps, My Study Bar-  This series of downloadable FREE (that is right, you heard me..FREE) apps are absolutely wonderful and more useful than many programs that can be purchased.


AAC Keys- AAC Keys is a keyboard and mouse emulation program for Microsoft Windows-based and Macintosh computers.  AAC Keys receives commands through your computer's serial port and translates them into keystrokes and mouse moves, giving you full control of your computer from another device. 


Ergonomic Keyboards Mice, Smartfish- keyboard adjusts itself to your typing motion and adjusts itself while you type.


AirMouse- mouse that is worn on your hand as a glove


WebAnywhere- screen reader requires no special software to be installed on the client machine and, therefore, enables blind people to access the web from any computer they happen to have access to that has a sound card


ClickCutter- freeware that cuts down on the time and clicks required when doing research on Internet.


Emotive- This is a computer access method that uses a persons thoughts to control the computer. can be used for controlling an electric wheelchair, mind-keyboard, or playing a hands-free game. Not free, but sooo cool.


Enable Viacam (aka eViacam)-is a mouse replacement software that moves the pointer as you move your head. It works on standard PCs equipped with a web camera. No additional hardware is required. Based on the award winning Facial Mouse software.


Point-N-Click - FREE stand-alone on-screen virtual mouse designed for anyone with a disability that makes it difficult or impossible to click a physical computer mouse. As long as they can move a mouse, trackball or other pointing device, they can send mouse clicks to virtually any Windows application or DOS application that can run within a window and even many that are full screen.

OpenEyes-toolkit for low cost eye tracking

ITU Gaze Tracker - an open-source gaze tracking application that aims to provide a low-cost alternative to commercial gaze tracking systems and to make this technology more accessible.

Wii Remote Ideas-this site has different ideas on how to adapt the wii remote for access

FreeTrack is a free optical motion tracking application for Microsoft Windows, released under the GNU General Public License. 

Facial Mouse is a mouse replacement software that moves the pointer as you move your head. It works on standard PCs equipped with a web camera.

eyes free- speech enabled android application

DUO incorporates next generation technology to convert almost any laptop or computer LCD into a touch screen with full tablet functionality

CURB CUTS: Assistive Technology on TV- video of people using different types of Assistive Technology

CAP- Computer/ Electronics Accommodations Program browse Assistive Technology Options.

Assistive Tech Net- The National Public Website on Assistive Technology

AbilityNet GATE- Assistive Technology Wiki.  Great Resource

One Hand Typing and Keyboards- site discusses options for students with keyboard access difficulties and gives options of materials to be purchased.


OATS open source assistive technology software-find the best free AT software


E-Grips- non slip strips 

Interactive and Adapted Book Resources 11-20

Librovox Audio Books- recording of books in the public domain-all audio. updated often.

Epub Books- thanks to iLearn technology, this is a collection of free books for e-book readers

Weekly Reader Ablenet Edition- this is not free, but looks really interesting!

SET Special Education Technology British Columbia- nice collection of books in various different formats

Browser Books- books that can be accessed through the web browser

Children's Storybooks On-Line- Illustrated books for various ages, some with audio support.  Lovely.

Tar Heel Reader- Wonderful resource for creating adapted books or if you are looking for something already made.

CAST UDL editions- good examples of how to adapt text AND don't forget about UDL Book Builder for making your own.

Tumble Book Library- amazing collection of on line children's books.

StoryLine On-Line- Online stories read by actors.  Very enjoyable.

Interactive and Adapted Book Resources 1-10

For this post I am considering adapted books to be books that are written in a format that is easy for students with cognitive or physical disabilities to access/understand.  Not all sites will fit both criteria but hopefully this will be a useful list.

NYC Department of Education Adapted Books-This site has books in a variety of formats including Boardmaker (must have program to run) on a wide range of topics that would be appropriate for learners from K-12.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh My StoryMaker-Fun way for students to create own books.  They can move the characters and assign them actions, the program writes the story.  This cannot be done independently with non-readers but would be very fun as a collaborative project or as a SmartBoard/SmartTable activitiy.

Story Maker Myths and Legends- You can read one of the already made stories or make your own.  Audio Support available for most stories.

Very Emergent Readers Bookshop- this site is exactly what is says, a place to download printable materials for emergent and not so emergent readers.

StoryBird- a great place for you to create on-line stories or read stories that others have written.  Graphic choices are fabulous.

On-Line Bookshelf- a collection of adapted book sites.

The Art of Storytelling The Delaware Art Museum- this site uses are as inspiration for people to write.  I particularly like the Picture a Story section where students can follow a template to create a story and record it when they are finished.

MSNucleaus Storybooks- free storybooks that teach science, very appropriate for students with more intense cognitive disabiliites.

Beowolf for Beginners- Beowolf told in a way that is much easier to understand

The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling University of Houston- a resource that gives examples of and takes you through the process of using Web2.0 applications to create digital stories.

E-Text Options

With all of the new ways to access computers and manipulate text using computers E-Text is a fabulous tool for classrooms.  Here are some links to E-Text Options that I have found in my searches for materials:

Just Free Books-JJustFreeBooks is a search engine that searches through most of the e-book libraries that are on-line, including gutenburg and wikibooks.  This is a very easy way to find free text on the Internet.

The Free Library by Farlex-Free full text versions of both literary works and periodicals.  


Alex Catalogue of Electronic Books- Collection of public domain and open access documents focused on American and English Literature and Western Philosophy.


ALA Great Web Sites for Kids- A large collection of resources for younger kids

You can also get alternate text versions of most books and textbooks through Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic, Bookshare , National Library Service for the Blind for students who are visually  impaired or have a physical impairment that prevents them from being able to access print as their non-disabled peers can.

Now of course there are MANY sites that have free e-books, and many others that you can purchase e-books.  Since I am a school employee who has to make a limited budget I really really prefer free!

These links are to pure text versions of original works with no adaptations.  Adapted Books will be in another post!

In the Beginning

This blog is being set up to give access to information on how to use technology to assist students access curriculum and give teachers ideas on how to use technology for instruction, with the focus being on students with disabilities.  I hope to share links and ideas that I have learned from my Professional Learning Network, workshops, and just trial and error in a way that is useful to teachers and staff that work with exceptional children.