Something so simple

I recently went on vacation and observed a family who travelled on the same flight and to the same resort as I did. They had a teenage daughter who was (I'm assuming) Autistic. She wore an iPod on her arm during most of her holiday and I noticed that when she had to remove it to go through security at the airport, or during safety procedure on the plane, that she became quite agitated. I thought about how something so simple as portable music has likely made it possible for this family to travel together knowing that their daughter was happy and filtering out the noise that likely caused her to become agitated when the music was removed.
This, of course, got me thinking more about how other forms of technology can make our lives so much easier. For example, that something as simple as an app called PicCollage can help us to create ways for students at almost any level of ability to demonstrate their knowledge to us about almost any topic. With PicCollage (which is only one example of an app that can teachers can use for various learners) a teacher can create a board on any topic that students would be able to manipulate with the touch of a hand to demonstrate what they know.
Raeann and I created a number of PicCollage examples in class that could be incorporated into a number of classrooms, or settings, for students of just about any level of ability. Something so simple can save so much time and allow us to learn so much about our students.

This PicCollage could be saved on an iPad/iPod Touch for students who need reminders and personal strategies for calming down.

 

We created this one as an example of a character trait chart that older students could use. The original would be blank with just the headings: Likes, Dislikes, Traits and Goals for students to fill in with images or words that they create and find.

 

Our other examples include a sorting collage for students to demonstrate knowledge of healthy/unhealthy foods by moving the images to the correct half of the picture; a temperature collage for students to demonstrate knowledge by organzing images from coldest to hottest along the thermometer and a sequencing collage asking students to show the steps in making a sandwich.


What struck me about using PicCollage to create these various templates was that it was so simple to do, and could be used in so many ways to support students whether it be for their routine, expectations, demonstration of knowledge or even for personal enjoyment. Why use paper?!