Senin, 27 April 2015

MindView 6 from Matchware- Solid Upgrade

When I heard that Matchware was releasing MindView 6, I was excited to find out its new feature set and how it would help me to do my work. For the past several years I have been using MindView 5 to craft my very structured consulting reports that I deliver to the schools that I work with. Over the years I have developed some templates that really have helped me to communicate ideas in a very clear fashion. One of the chief reasons that I go back to MindView time and time again is because I have always found that MindView has some of the best Microsoft Office integration when exporting mind maps to Word, Excel and PowerPoint. 

The timing of the release for MindView 6 could not have been any better for me since I needed to complete a Request for a Proposal (RFP) for an assistive technology grant that the state was offering. I decided that I would test out the capabilities of this version by using MindView 6 to write up the proposal and estimate the costs for the proposed project. MindView 6 has a much cleaner look and 
toolbar in MIndview 6
now adheres to the user interface conventions set forth by Microsoft. Users of previous versions will feel right at home using MindView 6 since the Ribbon structure has not been changed. When I am developing an RFP, I really like the ability to brainstorm ideas and what better way to do but in a mind map. Using MindView 6, I can get all my ideas down quickly and then begin to organize my ideas and activities. Moving ideas around MindView 6 is fast and intuitive and the interface shows you exactly where your idea will land-no guess work here. Once I had roughed out my ideas I was able to attach notes to my activities which would become the body of my RFP. The interface of MindView 6 to create notes feels as if you are in a mini version of Word, complete with a full array of formatting tools at your disposal.

One of the requirements of any grant is to spell out the costs and this is an area that you would not normally think of using a mind map for but in the case of MindView 6 you would be wrong. MindView 6 has powerful calculation features which enables the user to create formulas that automatically update throughout the mind map. The ability to see your costs roll up on any activity in 
the mind map works really well and it lets you do what if's in real time. Using the SUM feature you can easily roll up cost for a particular activity and see the impact it has on the overall estimate for the grant. In MindView 6, like it's predecessor, there is a Calculation panel that lets you create items, cost and formulas. Once you get the hang of it you will find this a handy feature when you need to work with numbers inside your mind map. With the release of MindView 6 you can now enter and edit 
Excel Export dialog box
numbers directly on the item itself without the need to go into the Calculation Panel which saved me and inordinate amount of time. It is now easier then ever to set currency defaults-which saved me some time as well. While there were certainly a large number of improvements and features in MindView 6 most users will find them to be very subtle and well integrated into the application without feeling overwhelmed by feature creep. Once I had entered all my costs into the mind map I was able to export the financials into a well formatted Excel report that I could attach to the RFP. Hopefully, if I am successful and receive the grant I will be able to monitor the activities in the project management side of this application.


All in all my experience with MindView 6 was very positive in future posts, I will highlight some of the features that would make this an ideal tool for students.
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A Week with the Surface 3 – First Impressions


A couple of weeks ago out of the blue I received an email invitation from Microsoft to attend a party in New York City on March 31st. For the life of me, I could not figure out what this event would highlight-you see, it seemed like the timing was all off for a big announcement. But then on March 31, Microsoft announced the Surface 3 tablets which caught us all off guard. Microsoft announced the new Surface 3 with the latest Atom “Cherry Trail” processor, which would run Windows 8.1 and
be upgradeable to Windows 10 when it is released later this summer. The specifications noted that the Surface 3 weighted in at 1.37 pounds with a 10.8 diagonal screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1920 x 1280. The Surface 3 has a built-in kickstand that can be locked into 3 different positions and has a micro –SD slot. By all accounts the Surface 3 is a lightweight tablet with enough horsepower to run Office, legacy Windows software, surf the web and promise great all day battery life. My expectations were running high for a tablet with this form factor and one that could utilize the Surface touch type keyboard and digital inking pen. Having a mobile and a light weight tablet to run Office and some of the specialized assistive technology software that I often use is important for me. To say the least there was a lot of excitement leading up to the Launch Event of Surface 3 in NYC! 

Having arrived to the event a little early, I walked into the Microsoft loft and was really excited to see all of the new Surface 3’s on display to touch and play with. Picking up the tablet I was amazed just how light it was and typing on the touch type keyboard was a great experience. The Surface 3 looked great with a wonderful build quality and feels great in your hands. Having had my hands on one the screen is really gorgeous and very bright with excellent contrast. During the event, I had a chance to speak with many of the Microsoft engineers that were on the Surface Team which was really great. As the evening came to an end one of the Microsoft engineers announced that we would all go home with a Surface 3 to test and kick the tires-which created quite a stir. So for the past week I have been using the Surface 3 with different applications to get a sense of how it handles itself.

Having used the Surface Pro 3, I was excited to learn that the Surface 3 starts at just $499 for a 2GB RAM and a 64 GB SSD. For another hundred dollars you can double the RAM to 4GB and the SSD to 128 GB and will pay $599. Bear in mind that educators can get a 10% discount when purchasing the Surface 3. When purchasing the Surface 3 you will probably want to invest in the Touch Type keyboard which will cost you $129 dollars and the pen will set you back $49 dollars. To be honest, you will definitely want to invest in these accessories which will give you the full Surface 3 experience. Having a touch keyboard that you can pop in and out with a click is great and adds very little weight to the package. 

If you ever thought about moving all your note-taking to the digital realm, then you have to experience OneNote and the Surface 3 pen. The digital inking experience on the Surface 3 is exactly what you would experience on the Surface Pro 3. With palm rejection and the silky feel of the pen on the screen you will feel right at home taking notes using OneNote. The Surface experience is probably one of the best writing experiences you will find on any tablet. One of the nice tricks when using the pen is that you can tap on the eraser and this will automatically open a blank page in OneNote ready for you to start writing. Even when your Surface 3 is asleep tapping on the eraser of the pen will automatically wake up your Surface 3 and open OneNote. 

The Surface 3 supports Miracast and I was able to quickly connect it to my HDMI TV with the Actiontec ScreenBeam Pro Education Edition. This combination of Surface 3 and OneNote with the 
Actiontec ScreenBeam Pro Education Edition is an ideal solution for the classroom-giving teachers the freedom to move about the classroom without being tethered to the projector. The Surface 3 just needs a case which would allow teachers to securely support the tablet-but since it is so light this will make for a great solution.

Having learned that the Surface 3 was using an Intel Atom Cherry Trail processor I was initially concerned about the speed and responsiveness of the tablet. However, after using it for a week I would have to say that it feels zippy and responsive using a wide range of applications. From opening web pages to word processing to utilizing mind mapping applications the Surface 3 handled it well without a hiccup. For educators who are not doing processor intensive tasks like video or photo editing the Surface 3 should meet all of your basic computing needs. Given that the Surface 3 is a full Windows 8.1 device, there are no limitations with regard to installing Modern apps or full Windows legacy applications. 

Some other nice touches you find on the Surface 3 is a full USB 3.0 port a mini-display port and a micro-USB port. Being able to charge the Surface 3 with a micro-USB cable is ideal since you can always find one in your bag. The Surface 3 Pro had used a proprietary cable which, if you left it behind when you traveled you were sunk. So Microsoft listened to their customers and resolved this issue by providing micro-USB for charging. By the way I did learn that you can use the micro-USB port for transferring data, as well. 

The Surface 3 specifications should hit that sweet spot for educators and consumers that are looking for a portable Windows tablet that can quickly transform into an ultra-light laptop by clicking in the keyboard.  I found the Surface 3 to be a responsive tablet that exceeded my specifications. Like all new devices I did find some quirkiness with the Surface 3 recognizing the keyboard in certain instances. I’m sure there will be firmware updates shortly to address some of these issues. Having the Surface 3 in my bag will allow me the freedom to have a full featured Windows device that can run specialized software when I need it. The Surface 3 has a good price point which should make the Surface 3 a big success in the marketplace. The Surface 3 will go on sale later this week and will ship on May 5.
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Using Vernier Go Wireless Sensors in the Classroom


I have always enjoyed my science classes when I was in school, especially when we did hands on labs. Unfortunately, as I reflect on my education many years later, there just were not enough labs integrated into my science classrooms. In retrospect, with the equipment we had in the day, it just took too much time to set up and labs took an inordinate amount of time which were always thought to take away from the instruction at hand. Nothing could be further from the truth-but it was the best we could do at the time when I was in high school science classes in the early 1970s. Jump to 2015, and there is a vast array of technology that science teachers can use in their classrooms to help students to better understand key scientific concepts. 

Giving students the opportunity to experience firsthand how to collect data with science probes and sensors lets them quickly and efficiently collect real time data very much as a scientist would. While we often struggled to collect accurate data when I was in high school this factor is eliminated when using digital probes and sensors. Now students can spend their time analyzing and making sense of the data collected instead of expending all their energy in pursuit of recording the data. Using probes and sensors with the iPad has revolutionized the way students can collect data in real time and now with the advent of a family of probes with built-in wireless technologies fromVernier Software & Technology, students don’t need to be tethered to the device to collect data during an experiment. I recently started to use the Vernier Go Wireless Temp and the Vernier Go Wireless pH with my iPad Air and want to share my impressions.  


Plotting Temperature Data Using Vernier Go Wireless Temp Probe
The first thing you will need to do before using the Vernier Go Wireless Temp ($75) and the Vernier Go Wireless pH ($99) is download the Vernier Go Wireless app from the Apple App Store. To use the probe you simply hold down the power button to turn it on and then launch the Go Wireless app. Select the sensor that you are using, in this case we will start off with the Vernier Go Wireless Temp. Once you select the sensor you are ready to begin collecting your data. To switch between Centigrade and Fahrenheit simply tap on the oval with the current read out. To begin your data collection simply press on Collect which is at the top of the window. As soon as do this you will begin to see your data points graphed against time. For me, what is really exciting is how this technology allows students multiple representations of the data as it is being collected which is really important for the type of students I work with learning differences. It can provide a digital read out in a numeric format, and as visual bar chart and in a graphical format. Students can click anywhere on the graph and find out the temperature value at a specific time. If a student is using VoiceOver ton he iPad it will read aloud the data value on the screen. For students who would like to do further analysis they can always email the data set and open the file in Excel. 

Using the Vernier Go Wireless pH sensor it is just as easy, select the sensor from the Vernier Go Wireless app and place the probe in the liquid solution and press on the Keep button which will then allow you to record the pH for the sample. When you press the Keep button a small dialog box opens up that lets you enter a description and your observation along with the pH reading. Students have the opportunity to enter a note in the Observation field which would be a good place to record their observations. If you like students could also record their observations using the built-in speech recognition feature found in the iPad. Again, students are given a clean and simple interface to record the pH of the solutions that they are working with. The pH readout is clearly delineated on the top left of the screen along with a bar that runs along the left side of the screen that clearly marks the pH 
ph Data
Recording pH with Vernier Go Wireless pH Probe
range which goes from 0 to 14. A demarcation line makes it easy for students to clearly see the pH of the solution. Students can export the data table to Excel for further analysis. As you can see in the screenshot, I recorded the pH of tap water, vinegar, shower cleaner, and bottled water with my observations. Recording the pH of the solutions was very quick and straight forward. For advanced data analysis and graphing capabilities with the Go Wireless sensors on the iPad you can download the Vernier Graphical Analysis. Using the Vernier Graphical Analysis students can annotate their graphs and obtain statistical data on their data set.

From my perspective, Vernier has spent a lot of time making the experience of using the wireless sensors as full proof as possible so students can spend their energy collecting and analyzing the data. Setting up the Vernier Go Wireless sensors were a breeze and were immediately recognized on my iPad, without the need for me to manually pair them in any way. This point is important because it is these little details that can bring a lab down when you are using technology in the classroom. If you are not using sensors in your classroom you need to take a look at the Vernier Go Wireless sensors to get you started. Having access to tools like the Vernier Go Wireless sensors will empower your students and let them have hands-on experience collecting data as a scientist would do. So jump in and see how you can provide your students with experiences that can transform their understanding of scientific concepts withVernier Go Wireless sensors for more information go to Vernier.com 
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Grants


Many people have asked me how I ended up with 32 iPads in my classroom. Simple Answer: I wrote a grant (with the help of my good friend Amy Jarrett-Clancy!). So then you may ask - where can I get a grant to purchase iPads or other technology for my classroom? Hopefully this post will aid you in your quest to tech-nify your classrooms.

First, try contacting your district's technology education department. In my travels and work, I have heard that many school districts are allocating funding for technology - some specifically for iPads. If your district is not doing this, then consider these fundraising and grant opportunities:


Once you have chosen a grant source, begin to consider how you can integrate the technology into yourdaily instruction. Grant readers often want to know that the technology being provided will be used long-term - not simply for a one-quarter or even one-year unit. Take a step outside of the box and consider how the specific technology can support each subject in an effective way. Understand that this may mean a complete change in the way you teach - and it will be quite an adjustment for you and your colleagues. Expect a period of long nights, trial and error, more error, more trial, interspersed with moments of "Oh wow! That makes so much more sense!"

Some details that could be helpful to include in your technology grant:
  • Daily schedule including activities- How will the technology be used throughout your daily instruction? Be as detailed as possible - even including a rough lesson plan. Focus on sustainability of the activities - is this an activity that is a one-time deal, or can it be repeated throughout the year as a routine or an avenue to assess/learn/teach etc.?
    • Activities' alignment to standards - Both State/Common Core content standards as well as ISTE technology standards 
    • Assessment of activity - How will you assess student progress in content objectives? Can you use the technology to assess? (Google Forms,Schoology etc.)
    •  Apps / Programs you will use - Why are you using these apps / programs? How will they improve student progress?
  • Technology Assessments - How will you assess student progress in technology standards?
  • Collaboration - How will you share / disseminate your experience using iPads in your classroom with colleagues? (blog, school-wide PD, etc.)
  • Project evaluation - How will you evaluate the effectiveness of your grant? How will you track growth in student achievement with and without the iPads?
Here is a link to the iPad grant we wrote at my school: http://www.msmagiera.com/ipad-grant
Note that what we wrote and what has actually happened vary greatly. Since we were one of the first schools to try using iPads in the classroom, we didn't have a lot of resources from which to draw when researching how we would use this technology. As we learn from trial and error, and our colleagues at other iPad schools, we are evolving our practice and trying new and exciting teaching techniques, apps and technology applications.

After the original grant, we wrote an expansion grant to acquire additional carts of iPads. This grant was even more detailed than the first (including then-called NETS standards) and chronicled our progress thus far (much of which I've described on this blog). Happily, our expansion grant was approved and in the next month myself, our music teacher and middle school special education teacher will be receiving iPad carts - loaded with iPad2! Hopefully I can convince them to write a blog post here about their progress :)....

Finally, consider what it means to truly redefine and innovate in your classroom.
Here are two posts about my journey in figuring this out for myself...
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Trial Tech Tips - Courtroom Equipment Specs for Large Venues


If you were assembling a new trial presentation equipment set today, it wouldn’t be all that much different from what would have been done several years ago. Even with advances in video format and display technologies, it often comes to the lowest common denominator – which is still, by the way, 4:3 standard format video. Most trial presentation providers can now connect to and accommodate a wide-screen 16:9 HDMI system, and that is what you’ll likely find in a recently updated courtroom. Even in these new installations, you are likely to find “legacy” 4:3 VGA connections, to ensure that everyone truly has equal access to anything installed in the courts.

With the exception of “special” videos, such as “Day-In-the Life,” Visibility Studies, Site Inspections or other animations, the real need for the extra video width doesn’t really exist. For the most part, we’re not watching movies in court. For example, the only thing gained by watching a wide-screen video deposition would be the extra space covered on the table. This might include such items as coffee cups, water or soft drinks. During trial, it might also include exhibits which have not yet been admitted – which could be a serious issue.

This article is number 6 in a series entitled “Trial Tech Tips.” Focused on the crossroads of law and technology, and in no particular order, we will share a collection of proven and tested methods for accomplishing a wide variety of common and/or critical tasks encountered during trial preparation or presentation. We will also try to rank them from one to ten on a “geek scale,” with one being not too technical, and 10 being very technical.

On a geek scale of one to ten, this article would be rated at about a 7 or 8.

There are many excellent choices for equipment, and you are free and encouraged to share some of your favorites at the end of this article. I will offer is a few examples of equipment we are currently using regularly in our Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area courtrooms, all of which I would gladly recommend.

  • Projector – We used to follow a 3000 lumens rule – anything lower than that would not be sufficient in a “typical” courtroom with lights on and/or windows. Although that is still a reasonable low-end brightness, you should consider going with at least 6000 lumens for larger venues. This will allow you to present a clear, bright image with normal lighting. For special videos (not deposition video), you might still want to request that the lights be dimmed. This should be done sparingly, however, and only when really needed. Don’t bother the clerk or bailiff when you just want to display documents. A couple of 6000 lumens projector models we currently use are the InFocus IN5142 and the Eiki LC-XL200A.
    XL200A
    IN5142


  • Screen – The Da-Lite 100” Deluxe Insta-Theater is still my favorite screen for a quick and easy install in most courtrooms. At 7 feet wide, it’s large enough to do the job nicely. A larger courtroom will benefit by additional screen size, such as 10 or even 12 feet wide. The Da-LiteFloor Model C works nicely, and doesn’t require a tripod. A separatefloor stand base is used, taking up a smaller footprint. These large screens really make it easy for your jury to view the evidence clearly. 
    Insta-Theater
    Floor Model C
     
    • Audio – There are a good number of amplified speaker sets on the market, and we’ve had a few over the years. One we’ve been recently using is the Samson Expedition XP150. It is a portable PA set that has enough power for normal trial use (150 watts), and includes a mixer for easy connections and control. You can place these on the floor, or on stands if you prefer.
      Expedition XP150

    • Tech Table – In most cases, one thing that hasn’t really changed much over the years is the limited amount of space we have available to set up our work area. You’ll need as much room as possible to accommodate laptops, switchers, and a preview monitor. The nicest thing I’ve found recently is the Iceberg Resin Folding Table, measuring 29"H x 60"W x 18"D. This fits comfortably behind the gallery rail in Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area courtrooms, with enough room to slide in and out, using the installed gallery seating. I’ve used Project-O-Stands and have seen some nice custom-built tables, but this is lightweight and simple.
            Iceberg Resin Table

    Now you don’t need to run out right away and purchase all of this, since we’re talking several thousand dollars for just the basics. We haven’t even covered things like switchers, distribution amps, video cables, monitors or power strips. Unless you’re using this equipment on a full-time basis, you may want to consider an equipment rental outfit such as Aquipt, SmartSource, Visual Word or Connect Litigation. These are a few we've had good results with. There are others – running a Google search in your desired area may be helpful. 
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    Google Chrome and Assistive Technology Applications

    What is Google Chrome and how can it benefit Assistive Technology? 



     There are 4 parts to the Chrome world:
    1. Chrome Browser
    2. Chrome Operating System
    3. The Chromebook  (hardware)
    4. and of course, Google Docs should be thrown in here too
    The Browser:
    Google Chrome, an Internet browser designed by Google, Inc., is one of the newer additions in the competitive Internet browsing market. It is the Google version of Internet Explorer... with so much more. There is also a Chromebook (type of netbook) which is advertised as, "Boots in seconds. Nothing complicated to learn. Comes with your favorite Google apps. Built for everyday use and perfect for sharing with others." BrowserInfo provides great information if you want to understand it more.

    From CNET: "Google Chrome has matured from a lightweight and fast browsing alternative into an innovative, standard-bearing browser that people love. It's powerful enough to drive its own operating system, Chrome OS. The browser that people can use today offers highly competitive features, including synchronization, autofill, and standards compliance, and maintains Google's reputation for building one of the fastest browsers available."  To learn more about how it works, continue reading on the CNET site.

    The browser is very simplistic in its appearance, but that is by design. According to the Web site for the browser, "Like the classic Google homepage, Google Chrome is clean and fast. It gets out of your way and gets you where you want to go."

    Google Chrome is among the first to offer a number of different features. For example, their tabbed browsing takes tabbed browsing a step further. Instead of just opening up a blank page, the browser opens a page with thumbnail shots of the most visited sites. This allows you to quickly navigate to their desired pages. Think how powerful this can be for our population!

    So, how can Google Chrome benefit us? Well, first let's look at their statement about:
    Chrome for Inclusive Education
    "As educators we believe that students with vision, hearing, physical, communication, and learning challenges have the same potential to learn as anyone else if the "mechanical" impediments to participation in the classroom are removed or lessened. Note-taking, spelling, organizing, reading, and mathematical constructions all require mechanical skills. Thinking, although reliant on these input and output constructions, is not tethered to anyone way of receiving or expressing. Often mechanical demands (visual tracking, decoding, handwriting, etc.) get in the way of these students developing critical thinking skills because of some old-fashioned perspective that regards the manner of learning as a strict path toward educational outcomes. We have attempted to collect many of the available apps and extensions which we believe could foster alternative forms of access for real learning to occur, with the ultimate hope of extending the definition as to who can be a learner in any particular setting."

    Hint: Install Chrome extension Adblock Plus to automatically remove ads that may be inappropriate in a school setting.

    What are the tools available through Chrome?
    If you download the Chrome Browser you can install free extensions or apps. While in Chrome, click on the "apps" icon in upper left corner, then click on the store, then search for the apps/ extensions. 

    Resources Lists:
    Staying true to this site, below is a list of resources that I have found worth reading that will help to acquaint you with some of the tools and apps provided in Chrome:
    Keyboards:
    Shelley Haven has shared that there are at least three different virtual keyboard extensions available in Chrome, and they all work differently.
    • Chrome Virtual Keyboard - When enabled, a tiny keyboard icon appears next to the star at the far right of the Chrome address bar.  Click that icon and select whether you want the keyboard to appear Always or On-Demand.  Under the Extension settings for this extension, you can click "Options" and select a smaller keyboard that can be moved around the page.  
    • Virtual Keyboard Interface - Double-clicking a text-entry area (search boxes, password fields) displays a re-sizable keyboard directly beneath that area.  Also has a hide-able number keypad and over 90 international layouts in different languages.  
    • Virtual Keyboard for Google Chrome - Their original version; now "deprecated" by Google, but some people may still have it and it still works.  Little keyboard icon also appears at far right of the address bar.
    Google Resources worth Exploring:
    Chrome has apps for your classroom designed for elementary, middle and high school, including apps such as (for more, please seeAZTAP's Symboloo on Google App Attack):
    • MeeGenius Children's Books which allows you to read each book with audio playback, word highlighting and automatic playback.
    • MindMeister which is a mind mapping app that raises student achievement through brainstorming and real-time collaboration. 
    • Pixton Comic Maker where you can create comics with characters, speech bubbles, background, images, voice-over and more.     
    • ScootPad which provides you with Math and Reading practice with data through a personalized and self-paced learning experience. 
    • Stupeflix where you can turn photos, videos, text and music into beautiful videos that tell meaningful stories.
    • Typing Club so you can practice typing skills and track performance through an admin interface.
    Google Chrome AT Toolbox 2.0 has a database with the reviews being community contributed.  They want you to help out and write up your favorite tool while also exploring what others are saying!  

    The Chromebook
    • Looks like a laptop computer 
    • Is light weight, thin
    • Provides for immediate connection to the Internet 
    • Uses the Chrome Web Store (to get extensions and apps)
    Pretty much anything you can do via the Google Chrome Web Browser on Macs/PCs, you can do with a Chromebook. Here are links to a couple of videos from Google that you may find helpful to begin to learn about Chromebooks:
    The Chromebook has become very popular. At less than $300, how can it not be tempting?  So, what is a Chromebook? A Chromebook is a personal computer running Chrome OS as its operating system. The devices are designed to be used while connected to the Internet and support applications that reside on the Web, rather than traditional applications that reside on the machine itself. Chromebooks are primarily sold online, both directly from Google and from the company's retail partners. By 2012, schools had become the largest category of customer.

    Chromebook Features was initially created by Nicole Lakusta in response to conversations and questions asked by the staff and students she works with. (The framework for this list is presented in the same format as the iPad Features to ensure consistency.) This is a good resource to help you through Chrome General and Access Features. 

    To iPad or ChromeBook?? 
    It really depends on the student's needs. They are different tools. Refer to the iPad Features Chart and Chromebook Features for guidance.  Look at the pros and cons from the accessibility standpoint, and perhaps a framework for decision-making in general.

    The other side of the story! Assistive Technology and access tools- not so easy!!!  
    The Chromebook is not a real intuitive tool at this point, so buyer beware. Google Chrome OS is relatively young compared to the far-more-refined Mac and Windows operating systems (remember, Chrome is only a few years old). It takes a lot of searching to find out how to "activate" a Chrome extension (or even what that means), and then you still have to dig through Chrome to find the setting. You will need to have a lot of perseverance and determination along with some technology skills to really make this work. I am hearing a lot of frustration out there. Remember: it is another system! We have Windows, Mac/iOS Systems and now Chrome. But, if you are willing to learn...

    The National Federation for the Blind challenged the use of Chromebooks:
    "Because use of the Chromebook technology and Google applications would discriminate against blind and print-disabled children by denying them equal access to educational programs, and because public schools must not deny students with disabilities the benefits of their programs and activities, those of your districts that choose to use Chromebooks will be violating federal law, specifically Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Thus, when a school district selects inaccessible technology and a blind student subsequently enrolls, it is too late and the district faces the costly and undesirable imperative of ridding itself of technology it may not use…" Hmmmmmmm.....

    So know, the Chromebook is not appropriate for all students. Looking at the functions before deciding on the hardware is a good idea. Nicole Lakusta's Chromebook Features Chart provides us with a good place to start with this.

    Chrome AT Toolbox: Chrome Toolbox is a resource site that highlights free accessibility apps and extensions for Google's Chrome browser.  It was designed by Mark Surabian, an Assistive Technology Practitioner, and John Calvert, a K-5 Technology Learning Facilitator.  The site includes links to the free downloads and is arranged in several helpful ways. "This collaborative space was created to celebrate the many Apps and Extensions made by developers which serve the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities. Although Google already highlights accessibility features built into the Chrome browser or through add-ons, we have collected numerous other free tools that we feel further contribute to that mission."
    Stay tuned. I think Chrome will continue to grow and be innovative.  If you need more, see my Pinterest selection, "Chrome and Google in Education" and AZTAP's Symboloo on Google App Attack.

    For many how to guides on Google Drive in education and more on Chrome, check my Pinterest Page: "Google in Education (with a smattering of Chrome)
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