Shopping: On-line & Dollar Store on Day 6

Shopping was the main focus for today's learning experiences in Education 5173.

During the weekend, we searched the iTunes store for Apps which would benefit a special needs student. Today, we put our plan into action and downloaded these Apps into the iPod Touch. Several of us encountered a few difficulties (such as the unreliability of the wireless internet). My successes today weren't in the purchasing the APPs but in becoming more comfortable with the iPod and understanding the process of downloading.

Shopping at the Dollar Store gave us an opportunity to look at inexpensive items to be utilized as an assistive technology tool.

"Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent."

APP Detective for the iPod Touch

Name	Geoffrey
Age	6 years
Grade	1
Specialists	Learning Centre Autism Team Behavioural Specialist School Psychologist for councilling only Speech and language (Low verbal)
Strengths	Good number sense Enjoys technology Likes animals Enjoys music Enjoys being near his peers Enjoys books/text with pictures/symbols Enjoys others reading to him Will follow visual schedule Uses his break card effectively 10. He will request to sit near a preferred peer 11. Music will calm him 12. He likes to draw
Challenges	Verbal communication is challenging Sitting in the classroom desk is sometimes challenging Staying on task for longer than 10 minutes is challenging Accessing language when he needs it. Communicating with adults and peers. Maintaining appropriate behaviour is a challenge.

The categories of APPs I felt would assist Geoffrey the most were:

The APPS that were chosen are in italics.

Category	APP 1	APP 2	APP 3
Phonetics	ABC Phonic Animals	ABC Phonics Sight Words for Kids	Phonics FreeABC Words
Reward Time	Games for Kids	iCopter Classic	Farm Story
Relaxation	Sleepmaker Pro	Relax Ocean Waves	Deep Relax

Phonics- ABC Phonics animals were chosen:

-To assist in the development of his reading/writing.

-'4+ suggested age' is an appropriate challenge.

-The game provided phonetic sounds of the letters in the words.

-The game showed a high public rating.

Relaxation- Ocean Waves was chosen because:

- Geoffrey struggles to maintain calmness.

- He likes ocean waves/music and this APP provided both.

- This should be a great tool when his level of frustration is mounting to assist in lowering his aggression/agitation.

Reward Time Game- Farm Story was chosen because:

- Applicable to the living things provincial outcome.

- It provides an educational reward time.

- Geoffrey may learn to show caring/consideration toward the farm crops and animals.

- This will be motivational to him due to his love of farms/animals/music.