ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY BLOG | INVENTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

I have always been a big fan of graphic organizers and mind mapping for brainstorming and presenting information. I find it a lot easier to get my ideas down using these tools as compared to straight outlining or creating lists. This past week I was invited to be part of a Private beta test for Mindmeister, a new online mind mapping application. Mindmeister lets you upload your Mindjet MindManager Mindmaps or you can create your own from scratch right within the browser. The program feels fast even though it is coming off the server. There are limitations in terms of the number of icons that are available to use and the fonts. Other than that it is a really useful tool that also allows for collaboration. You see I could easily invite others to both View or Collaborate on my mind map which is really an exciting feature. Imagine all of the possibilities as you are planning your project. When you are finished using Mindmeister you can Export your mind map to a RTF file or to GIF file format. This is really a very cool tool and gives you access to a graphic organizer when connected to the web. It will be interesting to see how this tool develops and the new features that are added based on the early feedback from users.

One of my colleagues at the College of St. Elizabeth was kind enough to send me a link to You Tube that was not only humorous but really hit home. For any one who does technology support and training we must remember the importance of professional development and training. In the video one monk is transitioning from using a scroll to using a book and asks for assistance to use this "new technology" by calling the Help desk. As teachers, we must remember that when we introduce new technologies that we must build in support and training opportunities and the application of the technology. Likewise, we must also be cognizant of the learner's learning style as we present the new information. The video really hit home for me and I wanted to share it with you. Let me know what you think.

I'm sitting here thinking about the start of the new semester as I return to teaching graduate courses in assistive technology at the College of St. Elizabeth. It is a very exciting time to be in this field and to think about all of the possibilities and how we can assist students with the use of technology. A lot has changed over the years and with more free software and applications that run within the browser students can now have access to tools as long as they have an Internet connection. As I think about the syllabi for the courses that I will be teaching I want to ensure that my students can take advantage of what the web has to offer not only for the students that they work with but for their own professional development. Using tools like Bloglines and Google Reader is one sure way to keep teachers up to date in their field. Using RSS feeds is imperative for any professional in helping to keep abreast in their field. Likewise, their are a host of podcasts and blogs that consistently deliver on content to help them to reflect on their teaching and to give them new ideas to bring into the classroom. Yes the times they are a changing, and for teachers to keep up in their fields they will need to jump on the Internet and learn how to hone and to keep their skills sharp. It should be an exciting semester as I integrate various Internet based projects so that my students can keep on the top of their game.

If you use Instant Messaging then you must take a look at Meebo. Meebo makes it easy to launch any of your IM accounts right from within the browser. So if you have collected a slew of IM accounts then you should take look how easy it is to start IMing by launching a browser and going to Meebo. It will certainly make your life easier. If you use Meebo then you may want to consider placing a Meebo IM widget on your website. Take look at the widget in this post to see what I mean. If I sign on to Meebo then anyone can message me. It makes it easy for anyone to contact you. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

There are a lot of new start-up companies on the web that are bring us Web 2.0 functionality at little or no cost. With more training opportunities being available on the web companies are trying to carve out space on the web for content and desktop sharing. One interesting software application that runs within a browser can be found at Vyew. Vyew is a service that will allow you to share your files, pictures, maps, as well as your desktop using any standard browser. Individuals who are hosting a session can set up their presentation ahead of time and then invite users to share their Vyewbooks with the information. The Vyew service offers users the capability to annotate on the screen as well as the ability to chat once guests are logged into the Vyew room. Hosts can upload Powerpoint, Word, and PDF documents to their Vyewbook so that viewers can have access them during a web conference. I found the environment very easy to navigate and while Vyew is a application that is constantly being upgraded it has proven to work well. Vyew also offer free conference call numbers for those who need to talk one another. Vyew also offers desktop sharing so that you can demonstrate applications on your computer. While not as full featured as dedicated sharing applications Vyew will allow you to demonstrate any application that you have on your computer screen. I am amazed that applications like this reside on the web at no cost to the user. Considering the features and the functionality I think that you will find Vyew
one site you will want to visit. Let me know what you think once you have had a chance to use Vyew.

Skype just released version 3.0 for Windows which adds some really nice features. While the Skype interface has remained the same they have made it easier to access many of the audio and sound features without having to go into the pull down menus. One of the new features which is really cool is the ability to share a whiteboard with the person that you are connected to. From a drop down menu you can select Do More and see a host of new extentions that you have access to. The whiteboard is a really nice feature and each person's pen color is different so that you know who is writing what. The first time you select one of the add-ons it downloads it to your computer and then once you use it it invites your guest to open it up. There is also the capability of recording your audio session as well as an add-on for sharing documents. Try it out you will be glad you did. The new Skype architecture is sure to get developers thinking about other applications that can be integrated into the Skype. If you haven't done so go to Skype and download the latest version you will be glad you did. Skype continues to break new ground for educators as figure out how to use this application in the work that we do. Skype makes it possible to do global projects with minimal costs. I would be interested in finding out how you are using Skype in the classroom.

Google has so many services these days that it is hard to keep up with them all. However, one of their new services is called Google Alerts which allows you to create a customized search on a particular topic of your choice. Just go to www.google.com/alerts and register for the service. After you register you can create an alert and Google will then deliver to your email address a list of URL's that have your search keyword in it. You can determine how often you would like Google to deliver these alerts. This service is helpful if you are tracking companies, products or services on the web. Give it a try and let me know what you think about the service. I for one find it to be helpful to track different technologies and applications.

In my effort to find tools that are both fun and engaging to use, one that stands out is Visual Thesaurus. Visual Thesaurus is like no other thesaurus you have ever used. Just type a word into the text box and watch as an animated web is drawn with your word in the center with related words connected to it. Different colored links depict synonyms or antonyms and students can click on any word to see another whole set of related words. Just hover your mouse over the word and the definition appears. It is easy to drag the definition to Microsoft Word if you need to capture it for a written assignment. Students can try out Visual Thesaurus at ThinkMap. Give it a try on the web and let me know what you think!