S.E.A.S.E.A.side News side News

This issue: Interactive

Whiteboard Launch

Final Reminders Picture This ... New Course

Offered July/August

Training sessions Learning Com-

munities Part-nership with Math Dept.

Summer Train-

ing for Parents Web 2.0 Tools

JuneJune 20122012

SEA—Special Equipment Amount

SEA Info and Forms http://tdsbweb/special_education/sea

SEA Interactive Whiteboard LaunchSEA Interactive Whiteboard Launch

Board the Bus!!!Board the Bus!!!

T he Special Education Assis-tive Technology SEA Team was excited to host six infor-

mational sessions aboard the Pro-methean Bus to provide information about the technology and support available for the SEA interactive whiteboard classrooms for 2012-13. Schools receiving SEA interactive whiteboard systems were invited to attend these sessions. The event was hosted on the bus and provid-ed either a school administrator or designate (teacher receiving the whiteboard) with information on the Prome-thean whiteboard system they will be receiving as well as information about the Learning Community Sessions that teachers will be attending next year. We would like to thank all SEAC members, 120 teachers and 120 students who took advantage of this opportunity to Board the Bus! A special thanks to Cosburn MS, Glamorgan PS and George R. Gauld PS for hosting the Promethean Bus at their schools!

Final RemindersFinal Reminders

Movement of Students and SEA Computers: SEA computers can move with students when they transfer schools in TDSB. The receiving school can decide whether or not to accept the equipment de-pending on its ability to provide “access” to assis-tive technology through other hardware in the school, without the computer in question. A school may also have sufficient furniture, such as desks and chairs, and peripherals, such as printers, and therefore, does not need to accept the equipment from the sending school. Please inform the SEA Consultant if there is un-used equipment. The sending and receiving schools should communicate regarding the move-ment of equipment. Please use the SEA Transfer form (found on the SEA web site) to document all movement of equipment. Please ensure that all equipment is locked in a secure environment over the summer months.

Using ActivInspire’s Camera Tool or SMART Notebook’s Capture Tool is a simple and fast way to get images or text into your presentation. TIP: when using the camera/capture tool, start at the top left hand portion of the image/text and then drag your mouse/pen/finger across to the bottom right portion of the image/text

For ActivInspire, go to Tools>Camera to activate the Camera Tool. Drag your mouse/pen/finger to capture the image/text. Once the selection has been made, choose where you would like the image/text placed.

For SMART Notebook, click on the camera icon on the toolbar to acti-vate the Capture Tool. Choose the type of selection you would like to make. Drag your mouse/pen/finger to capture the image/text. DO NOT release your mouse/pen/finger until the image has been com-pletely selected. Once you release your mouse/pen/finger, the image will be placed either on the current or a new page.

Picture This ...Picture This ...

Goods Receipts Please ensure that the Goods Receipts are completed for all individual SEA equipment that was ordered for students in your school. In order to receive Ministry funding for these items, we MUST ensure payment in a timely manner or items will be collected and returned to vendors. Please contact the SEA Consultant if you require further information.

New Course Added to Key to Learn!New Course Added to Key to Learn!

H ands-on workshops are being offered on Key to Learn by the SEA Team for staff looking for a no-cost alternative to other pic-

ture symbol making programs. These workshops will focus on using the features of Read and Write Gold v10’s Picture Dictionary and MS Word 2010. With these two programs, anyone can start creating communication books/boards and other educational materials for their students. Read and Write Gold is a readily available software title found on TDSB computers. Its Picture Diction-ary component is an easy to use symbol based word search device that draws from an on-line graphics database featuring widget picture symbols. The wide variety of symbols come in both colour and black and white. Accessing clip art and outside picture sources will also be discussed during the two hour workshops. Check Key to Learn for future dates, times and locations.

Create Communication Boards Using Create Communication Boards Using Read&Write Gold v10Read&Write Gold v10

Interactive Whiteboard Training for BeginnersInteractive Whiteboard Training for Beginners July and AugustJuly and August

W ill you be teaching with an interactive whiteboard for the first time next year? Do you want to engage and motivate your students? The SEA Team is providing training sessions for interactive whiteboard software the first week in July and

the last week in August. Sessions will cover the basic features needed to give you a head start in using your interactive whiteboard. Participants will work directly on the white-board exploring interactive activities on the Promethean Board using ActivInspire or on the SMART Board using SMART Notebook. Course descriptions are available on Key to Learn.

Right click below to open the hyperlink to register

SMART Promethean

Training will be offered at both our East (Terraview Learning Centre : Assistive Technology Training Lab) and West (Burnhamthorpe ALC : Room 116) training centers. Ses-sions are posted on Key to Learn under SSV-Special Education and Sections Programs: Course Name. The number of participants in each session is being kept to a minimum. Don’t delay your registration!

T he Learning Community (LC) model for supporting the interactive whiteboard

(IWB) group claims ran its third session. This session focused on using the IWB to support the math curriculum. Our LC teachers and SEA Team were fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with the Math Department, along with mem-bers from the DD and ASD Teams. The LC teachers were able to expe-rience math from the students’ perspective and were provided with strate-gies/scaffolding to support their learning. Afterwards, they had the opportunity to create lessons that their own students could partake in with similar scaffolding in place. As a follow up, the LC teachers had the opportunity to host or observe a math lesson co-planned/taught with the department specialist and the SEA Team. On behalf of the SEA Team, we would like to thank the various departments for their partnerships, along with all of the LC participants for embarking on this wonderful journey of learn-ing and exploration.

Getting Excited About Math Getting Excited About Math —— Learning Communities ContinueLearning Communities Continue

Students working through the “Action” part of the Three-Part Lesson on the IWB

Using Linking Cubes to create Math figures

EQAO Pilot SessionEQAO Pilot Session

T his year, the SEA Team ran an EQAO pilot project. Teachers and their group of grade 3 or grade 6 students from 24 schools across the TDSB participated in this pilot. During each half-day session,

students and their teachers were trained on how to use the features of Read and Write software along with a word processing program to an-swer EQAO questions. Students developed strategies using Read and Write software to help them respond to multiple choice, short answer questions and creative writing.

Students being shown how to set up Read and Write Gold 10

On Wednesday May 2, students at Weston Memorial participated in their third session of the EQAO pilot. The participating teachers shared the following reflections about this project.

Miss Suppa: "This EQAO pilot project has helped create a positive learning experience and attitude towards the

often challenging test.”

Ms. DiNatale: "Using assistive tech...it's like evening out the playing field...for these kids it's sometimes like running a race without the running shoes that everyone else has...the technology is the running

shoes for them..."

Training for Parents Training for Parents

We are pleased to offer free Assistive Technology training sessions for parents this August 2012. Training will be at two TDSB locations, Terraview Learning Centre in the east and Burnhamthorpe

Adult Learning Centre in the west.

To register call Learn Style LTD. @ 416-423-1441 Ext. 215

or

Email: Maddy@learnstyle.com to make booking arrangements

***Spaces are limited. Please register ASAP to ensure your spot for the session.*** Location Information: Terraview Learning Centre Burnhamthorpe Adult Learning Centre 1641 Pharmacy Ave. 500 The East Mall M1R 2L2 M9B 2C4 Assistive Technology Training Lab Room 116

Session Type Date Time Location

Read and Write Gold Aug 20 9:00 – 11:30 am Terraview Learning Centre

Read and Write Gold Aug 22 12:30 – 3:00 pm Terraview Learning Centre

Smart Ideas Aug 20 12:30 – 3:00 pm Terraview Learning Centre

Smart Ideas Aug 22 9:00 – 11:30 am Terraview Learning Centre

Session Type Date Time Location

Read and Write Gold Aug 21 12:30 – 3:00 pm Burnhamthorpe

Read and Write Gold Aug 23 9:00 – 11:30 am Burnhamthorpe

Smart Ideas Aug 21 9:00 – 11:30 am Burnhamthorpe

Smart Ideas Aug 23 12:30 – 3:00 pm Burnhamthorpe

Free Sessions!Free Sessions!

Training Sessions Receive Rave ReviewsTraining Sessions Receive Rave Reviews

I have been so inspired by these sessions. The instructors and course materials have been very

useful and inspirational. I truly appreciate this initia-tive and what I am learning to take back to my

colleagues. Thank you so much.

This training was amazing! So useful, straight forward, and I now feel very capable of using the Read & Write Gold program with my stu-

dents.

I liked the way that the class only had 10 participants which allowed the

trainer to answer all questions and make her way around to all the

computers.

Web 2.0 Tools for Supporting Students with Special NeedsWeb 2.0 Tools for Supporting Students with Special Needs

This reference web site has re-written Wikipedia articles to simplify content. http://simple.wikipedia.org

Word Hippo provides students with a simple and free tool that will help them quickly dis-cover new words. This will make their writing more interesting, fascinating, thought-provoking and attention-grabbing. http://www.wordhippo.com

This web site provides an alternative to bristol board poster projects. Users must sign up for a FREE account before being able to create their multimedia poster. http://www.glogster.com