SETDirect

SETDirect - November 2006

Welcome to SETDirect, an electronic newsletter for educators on assistive technology events and resources. SET-BC publishes SETDirect to provide current information to support the implementation of technology for students with special needs in British Columbia.

Please forward SETDirect to other people who may be interested in this information.

SET-BC is proud to announce the launch of curriculumSET

curriculumSET is a repository of resources built to house and facilitate the sharing of customized technology-based content among educators working with students who use assistive technology. curriculumSET includes a searchable database that enables educators to find and download activities, templates and public domain accessible books pertaining to the areas of the curriculum (as set out by the BC Ministry of Education). curriculumSET resources are created and updated by dedicated professionals working with students in British Columbia. Thank you to all of the contributors. 

curriculumSET currently has 60 files, organized by grade level and subject. There are Clicker 4, Clicker 5, Classroom Suite (including IntelliTalk, IntelliPics and IntelliMathics), Boardmaker, SOLO, and jpeg files. Users must have the software applications loaded on their computer in order to view or use the files after they are downloaded.

Visit curriculumSET now, or enter it using the quick link on the front page of www.setbc.org, or via the Learning Centre - the Main Library or General Topics classroom @ www.setbc.org. 

What’s new in the Learning Centre?

After many months of hard work on the part of SET-BC consultants, the much anticipated Vision Technology Expanded Core Curriculum training resources are now available in the SET-BC Learning Centre. The resources, which form the backbone of an authorized, Grade 10-12 credit course on vision technologies, include an extensive print document as well as interactive webcasts. The ECC was enthusiastically received at the recent Outlook Okanagan 2006 Conference with BC vision teachers anxious to begin using it to support their students with visual impairments. To view this new resource, click here.

What’s new in the SET-BC Student Equipment Loan Bank?

Vision products

• MAGic - site license upgrade to version 10  MAGic 10.0 Features and Enhancements
• Duxbury – software license upgrade to version 10.6  Duxbury Products - Duxbury Braille Translator
• Romeo Attaché Pro – USB compatible Braille embosser Romeo Attaché Pro Braille Embosser

Access products

• Clicker 5 upgrade from Clicker 4  Clicker - About Clicker 5
• Kurzweil 3000 for windows license upgrade to version 10  Kurzweil Educational Systems Customer Support - Assistive Technology Software for learning disabilities
• Co: Writer smart applet for Neo Welcome to the Don Johnston Incorporated Home Page
• Jelly Beamer wireless switch  Ablenet - Real Life Learning

Communication products

• Speech generating devices from Prentke Romich have been upgraded, giving students new or enhanced features on their communication devices. Prentke Romich Company - Home
• Boardmaker (Mac) and Speaking Dynamically (Mac) now have versions which are compatible with Mac OS X.  Mayer Johnson

PSAP set to expand again

The Provincial Software Acquisition Plan had another busy month as school based teams settled into supporting their students with PSAP software and SET-BC staff worked behind the scenes to improve the program in general.  New resources for Clicker 5 have been posted and everyone is invited to join the Software Selection Discussion Forum to make final suggestions for additions to the PSAP list. 

Later this month, PSAP will move to offering online ordering making it more convenient for districts and teams to purchase into our provincial licenses.  To see what else is new with PSAP, check out our What’s New page.

SETinstitute is up and running!

SETinstitute is now up and running, having offered several courses in the early fall season.  More courses are now being compiled, including several courses in each of the three levels.  For those interested in direct training on specific software, courses in Boardmaker, SOLO, Writing with Symbols, Kurzweil 3000, Classroom Suite and Clicker 5 will be offered in early and mid winter. 

Some districts are now considering customizing a training program for their special education assistants.  For information on custom programs or on courses being offered in the future, check out www.setinstitute.org.