Participants in the iPod/iPad Use for Students with Special Needs Atomic Catalyst course are learning how iPads can help their special education students succeed. One recent participant had this to say: 

I knew I had a lot to learn about the iPad, but had no idea how much!  The feature I have been asking for, but apparently to the wrong people, is the guided access.  So many times students who don't have good motor control accidently get out of an app, and then there are the students who would rather be doing something else. 

Want to learn more about using the iPad with special needs students? Check out our upcoming free webinar series: Webinar Show & Tell: The iPad Meeting Special Needs. 

• Megan Shanley from Albuquerque Public Schools and author of assistivetechworld.net.
• Gayl Bowser Coordinator of the Oregon Technology Access Program and assistive technology consultant.

There is a lot of buzz about using iPads with special needs students, but what does it mean for your students? Atomic Catalyst offers 6-week long instructor-led course on using iPads for students with special needs. One participant in a recent iPod/iPad Use for Students with Special Needs session shared:

I have had my iPad for about a year and never realized there were so many accessibility features.  As a Speech Language Pathologist, I work with a wide variety of students, so I believe I would use several of the features with different students.  Those that I was most excited about were the Assistive Touch and the Guided Access features.

The iPad has been an inspiration for students with special needs. We have posted stories in the past of students unlocking their full potential with technology, and we want to continue to share success stories through a series of three free webinars.

The webinars will allow you to learn more about the impact of iPads on students with special needs, provide the opportunity for you to ask about implementation tips or app features, and share what you have learned from your experience. The stories being shared may be in the form of classroom experience, a white paper, or a case study about a specific student's special needs.

This new Atomic Learning training series introduces you to the great new features of iOS 6 on the iPad, including Siri, your virtual personal assistant and Apple’s all new Maps app. You’ll also learn about the new features in Mail and Safari including offline reading lists and syncing with iCloud.

Educators are finding innovative ways to supplement their lectures with the newest technology, and students are beginning to see their devices as essential components of their college experience."

The Atomic Learning App allows Atomic Learning subscribers and non-subscribers to access Atomic Learning content on an iPad.

All app users have access to certain features and content, while Atomic Learning subscribers have full access to all features within the app and the content available based on their subscription.

This session will cover:

• How to download and log into the App
• How to use the Search and Browse features
• How to access user favorites, certificates, assigned training, and downloaded videos as well as reporting!

Learn the ins and outs of the Atomic Learning App in this quick training session.

Register for a session now by clicking a date below:

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM CDT

Wed, Nov 7, 2012 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM CST

Everywhere you look someone is using a mobile device. So, it's no surprise that educators are needing to embrace these technologies as tools to impact teaching & learning. The "Going Mobile" course will expose teachers to a variety of tools and strategies to get the most out of mobile devices in the classroom.

There's still time to join the Atomic Catalyst course starting on October 29!

Colorado Tech Teacher Brad Flickinger shared how he's using the new Atomic Learning iPad App on his blog yesterday.

Since I have given up on the idea of lugging around my MacBook Pro in lieu of just my iPhone and iPad I was happy to see that the Atomic Learning app is now available in the App Store. Next week I need to teach my fourth graders the art of video game design using Scratch. So that was the first thing I searched for and look at all of the great tutorials I found…

Have you downloaded the free Atomic Learning App yet? Search for it in the iTunes store, or download now.

We found this article on educatorstechnology.com, and immediately thought of our educator friends! If you're working with students and iPads, check it out to help you integrate iPads into your classroom.

Atomic Learning is here to help you along the way, from iPad training tutorials to projects and workshops, we've got your iPad resources covered. Or, if your district is embarking on a mobile initiative, check out Atomic Learning's Atomic Mobilize solution to learn from educators and school leaders who have been there, done that.

Educators now have one-touch access to training and resources to meet district challenges and learning objectives with the Atomic Learning App – available for free download in the Apple iTunes store.

Users can search for training by a key phrase or browse by topic, application or category (projects, workshops, tutorials or custom training). Also available in the Atomic Learning App is a library of current professional development topics with the ability to activate push notifications to notify users of updates on featured and new resources.

With the rapid growth of mobile initiatives, Atomic Learning recognized the need for easy-to-access, high-quality digital training resources,” said Dan Meyer, CEO at Atomic Learning. “The app fulfills this need—for teachers and students alike. ”

Atomic Learning’s Atomic Catalyst solution has recently added a new professional development course featuring techniques for using mobile technology in special education entitled “iPod/iPad Use for Students with Special Needs”.

Using the iPod and iPad™ in special education is a growing trend. But how do you get started, what is the potential, and what strengths do students need in order to be successful users of this technology? This course will answer those questions and participants will walk away with an implementation plan for a student or classroom to ensure successful use of this technology.

Most successful initiatives are fueled by strong planning and implementation, but rooted in inspiration. The Success Stories section of the Atomic Mobilize solution shares key reflections from successful mobile programs to inspire school leaders and teachers to embrace mobile learning as an important part of a contemporary education.

For example, Atomic Mobilize subscribers can follow the journey of a junior high math teacher as he embraces technology and empowers himself and his students through incorporating iPads into his classroom lessons.

It has almost become an addiction, I'm always looking for new strategies, new things I can throw into the classroom to make the class more interactive.

In a recent article on edutopia.org, experienced administrator Ben Johnson shares how he feels the iPad can transform classroom learning.

Computers allowed students to word process rather than type, to do media presentations instead of show and tell, to find information on the Internet instead of encyclopedias, and to graph data electronically instead of with magic markers. Teachers depend on computers to do the same, as well as using interactive whiteboards to increase the effectiveness of presentations. The iPad can do all these things, along with many other capabilities, and it is super portable, and that might make all the difference."

The concerns outlined by a District Superintendent in a recent article entitled "Like Moths to a Bright Light?" are exactly why Atomic Learning developed the Atomic Mobilize solution.

"Districts rushing into large scale technology projects without careful planning can have some serious and wide spread consequences..."

Atomic Mobilize includes not only PD and planning tools, but also stories, examples and resources from fellow educators that illustrate how mobile devices can transform education and create highly personalized learning experiences for students.

Whether you're just starting to think about the concerns called out in this article or you've fully embraced the mobile revolution, we invite you to learn more about Atomic Mobilize by requesting more information.

What is your role in education? Stop by Atomic Learning booth #2623 at ISTE 2012, to share what motivates you. The I AM [an educator] sharing project was created  to acknowledge educators (as well as all those who inspire, encourage and support them), and honor all that they do to ensure today's students receive the best education.

When you stop by, not only will you get a free t-shirt, we'll also show you what's new at Atomic Learning. As you know, technology is constantly changing, so we're introducing some exciting new solutions to help you continue your quest to bridge the technology and curriculum gap. Come check out our new solutions to help you with mobile and Common Core initiatives (as well as learn about our new app!)

A few years ago, the Federal Communications Commission approved a pilot program focused on supporting school-issued mobile devices, so long as the programs could prove the devices would lead to increased achievement. What does that mean to your district? iPads, 1:1 initiatives, going mobile…these phrases are both exciting and intimidating. Where does your school start planning for a mobile initiative? For those schools that don’t want to reinvent the proverbial going mobile wheel, Atomic Learning can help!  Helpful tools include:

Atomic Mobilize: A repository of online professional development resources and planning tools to help educators realize the full potential mobile devices provide in the classroom.

Hey Atomic Learning subscribers! Have you entered this contest yet? There's still time, but why wait?

The details are quite simple, for each full series of Atomic Learning online training tutorials individuals view, they earn a Certificate of Completion. Between February 15, 2012 and March 15, 2012, each earned Certificate of Completion automatically enters that individual into a drawing to win a $500 Gift Card to Amazon.com.

That’s enough to buy an iPad, load up your eBook device,fill a bookshelf or purchase any number of things.

There is no limit on times you can enter, just be sure to view each tutorial in full and complete the entire training series.

Ready to get started? Simply log in at www.AtomicLearning.com (or your institution's custom login portal), enter your unique username and password, and begin!
 

An article we found on eSchoolNews from awhile back hasn't lost its luster. If you're planning a 1:1 initiative at your school, you may want to take note. By simply adding new technology to your school the program may not be effective, but when paired with teacher PD on the technology—it's a win-win for all.

"...a big mistake that both researchers and educators make in talking about 1-to-1 computing programs is assuming that by adding computers to the classroom, nothing else has to change."

Read More.

If you'd like to learn more about iPad and laptop programs, check out these free ebooks we've developed to help guide you:

Repurposing Funds to Shift Curriculum

Check out this new tech integration project, "Documenting Kitchen Science" featuring the iMovie for iPad app. This project involves creating a short "documentary" about a dynamic "kitchen science" experiment that uses milk, food coloring, and dish soap to learn about surface tension and convection. 

Your students will learn how to capture raw video footage and still shots with the iPad that will be brought into a new iMovie for iPad project.  And, how to edit clips, add titles & transitions, and add voiceover narration and music to our movie before exporting the finished product to share with others. Ready to start? Learn more.

As stated by Apple^®: "iPad^® isn’t just the best device of its kind, it’s a whole new kind of device."

Your new iPad is a mobile device that you can use to watch movies, create documents, surf the Web, check e-mail, use as an eReader and more! Atomic Learning's online training series will introduce you to the basic features and functions of iPad and iPad 2 in either iOS 4 or iOS 5.

Wonder which version of the iOS software your iOS device is running?  Watch the tutorial Getting general information about your iPad to find out how to check your own device.

This online training tutorial will show you, step-by-step, how to transform shapes within Pages^® on an iPad^®. Though demonstrated in Pages, the operations covered are similar for all iWork^® apps on the iPad.

This video tutorial was developed in response to an Ask AL question. Do you have a question you didn't find answers to on Atomic Learning? We invite customers to let us know what training questions they have by simply emailing askAL@atomiclearning.com.

Atomic Learning recently added new content to the online professional development  collection which includes an expansion of its iPad^® /iPad^® 2 training which now supports both iOS 4 and iOS 5 users. Both of the training series provide a tutorial on how to find what operating system the device is using for accurate series viewing.

As stated by Apple^®: “iPad isn’t just the best device of its kind, it’s a whole new kind of device.” iPad is a mobile device that you can use to watch movies, create documents, surf the Web, check e-mail, use as an eReader and much more.  And now, with the introduction of iOS 5, you don’t even need to have a computer to set-up or manage your iPad.  This online training series will introduce you to the basic features and functions of iPads and iPad 2s running iOS 5.

iOS 5 introduces PC-free setup and managing of your iPad data. A new service called iCloud includes 5GB of storage space to back up your data to the cloud without the need of a computer.  View this short tutorial to learn about backing up your iPad to iCloud.  Watch for more iCloud training as part of the iPad/iPad 2 (iOS 5) training series coming soon to Atomic Learning.    

Atomic Learning President and CEO Dan Meyer recently spoke at the Little Falls Community Schools kick-off event introducing the district's iPad 1:1 initiative into the 5-12 classroom. Meyer recognized the staff and students as pioneers - those who are first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry - as they embark on their iPad journey and challenged them to achieve success.

Watch the event here, or to find out more about the Little Falls Community Schools iPad initiative, read this e-book.

Register now for this hour-long training session to learn the basics of using Atomic Learning on your iPad. The training session will include how to:

• Add the Atomic Learning app on your iPad
• Log into Atomic Learning
• Use My Training Area – assigned/ tracked training
• Review Spotlights – National trending professional development topics
• Search for specific technology tutorials

Register by clicking on the date and time that is convenient for you:

Tuesday, October 4, 2011 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

Thursday, October 6, 2011 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT

Monday, October 17, 2011 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM EDT

Thursday, October 20, 2011 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM EDT

Today, the local middle and high school in our area launched a 1:1 iPad initiative with the distribution of student devices.

Many people have probably questioned why these and other students need the bells and whistles of the iPad or various other types of technology. I have heard comments from parents that go something like this – ‘schools just need to focus on reading and math.  That is how it was for us and we turned out just fine.’ These skeptics could argue that an iPad or other technology is a distraction or a frivolous addition that brings little bang for the buck.

And if the iPad or any technology is viewed simple for its features, it probably fits that definition. As Dan Meyer, CEO of Atomic Learning and one of the speakers from this morning’s kick-off session at the school shared, “there are probably people who are asking, will an iPod or iPad make you a better learner? I would say no. The iPad won’t make you a better learner, any better than riding in a car makes you a better driver…It’s a device. But it’s going to give you an opportunity.”

You read that right! Over 40,000 of our tutorials are now compressed and play on iPad*. Check out these stats:

• All workshops play on iPad
• All 21st century skills projects play on iPad
• Nearly all Tech Integration projects play on iPad

*Be sure to choose Quicktime as your player in the My Profile and Settings area when using your iPad.

I've learned more in the pre-work and the first 2 hours of this class than I have in the previous 3 iPad training sessions I took, and I've had the iPad all year.

This was overheard from a participant in a recent Atomic Learning “iPad for Students with Special Needs” Blended Professional Development course. All participants in the course were enthusiastic and many of them had never used Atomic Learning prior to the course. Several asked if they could continue to access the Atomic Learning tutorials once the course was over. They wanted to be sure they could refer back to the tutorials in the future if they had forgotten how to do something. Participants were also very interested in sharing those tutorials with other team members, including students’ parents so everyone knew how to support the students in using the iPad.

Atomic Learning's Blended Professional Development courses are a hybrid of traditional stand-up professional development and online instruction, and are focused on classroom application. This involves: