New Features in Boardmaker Plus!

The new Boardmaker Plus allows educators to make customized computer activities for their students. I have been offering hands-on training to staff in my schools and it is always fun to see faces of teachers when they realize all they can do with this version of Boardmaker. From basic matching and sorting games to reading, writing, and word processing you can really provide access to all kinds of activities for different levels of learning. And, with switch access, students who have limited fine motor skills can use switches to interact with the programs. There are templates for making accessible books, too!

Want to learn how to make your own materials? Go to www.mayer-johnson.com and check out their recorded webinars - watch a demonstration and then try it yourself. Don't have this version? You can download it for free from their site for 30 days. Another great new product is the Boardmaker Player - through the end of March you can get if for FREE if you upgrade to Boardmaker 6 or Plus ($129.00)
The player will enable you to open Boardmaker Plus created activities on a computer without having to have the full version of Boardmaker - so it is a more cost effective option for classrooms and familes.

Little is the new big!

Great things come in small packages. One of the newest computer crazes is the invention of the netbook - mini laptop computers weighing about 2 pounds. I recently got an Acer Aspireone and I love it. It is easy to carry and I can run powerpoint presentations and any application I need. Another model I've recently tested is the 2goPC - it is designed for children and has an even smaller keyboard. It is rugged and seems durable, but the cramped keyboard makes it difficult for larger hands to use. Thes computers do not have built-in CD drives so an external one is required in order to install software (unless you download programs from a website). Costs run from around $300.00 and up for the computers and external drives are about $75.00 and up. Compact flash cards can extend the memory of the computers (beware some models have very limited internal memory).

ATIA - Great Ideas

I just got back from the Assistive Technology Industry Association Annual conference in Orlando - it was great timing, since at home all left behind experienced 10 inches of snow!

One of the coolest things I learned was how to make in interactive "Smart" board for about $50.00! Using a WII remote, LED pen, free download software and your LCD projector connected to your computer, you can have an interactive white board for classroom use. For more information, go to alltogetherwecan.com.