Technology News & Resources
(In this section: AI, Best Apps for ..., Free Tech, From Apple, From Google, From Microsoft, Recommended Podcasts/ Social Media, Using Green Screens, Using Videos, Questions & Answers)
See also the Teletherapy page!
Artificial Intelligence
Enter a prompt, point to an article, or paste text and Diffit generates teaching resources. You can change the reading level and language, get a list of key vocabulary, and generate multiple choice and short answer questions.
Great for conversation to practice carryover skills, or story creation. Over 200 free images.
The free Brisk Teaching extension for Chrome gives you easy access to lots of AI tools, right from where you are already working.
Apple podcast about 10 ways to use ChatGPT for your therapy practice.
Instagram video showing how to use ChatGPT to analyze your language samples.
AI program to generate PowerPoint or Google Slides/Presentations. Free at time of posting.
THE BEST OF ...
From SpeechyMusings, this list includes suggestions for how to use the apps in therapy. Organized by category. Note - "free" usually means a limited version is free. (2020)
Many of these are very useful for SLPs as well! From Educators Technology, Feb. 2024.
FREE TECH
This is a .pdf of a presentation. Lots of great resources for anyone in the education field, including SLPs.
Phonetic studio that allows you to generate sets of words/pics based on specific consonants/vowels you want to include or exclude, syllable count, structures, categories, word length and more!
Here are tons of free templates for activities using Google Slides, PowerPoint, Canva, and Google Drawings.
Website where you can play your chosen questions and word lists in their 200+ engaging games such as Feed the Shark, Build a Monster and Quiz Wheel. Note: free games are limited.
FROM APPLE
Explore built-in iPad accessibility features that support all learners. Downloadable PDF. June 2023.
The Ultimate Guide for all the ways you can multitask on an iPad. From iMore, May 2023.
Chart of apps to meet all of the categories of learning. From EducatorsTechnology, June 2023.
Apple announced May 15, 2024 several new accessibility features, including eye tracking.
Using the Live Listen feature on the iPhone, you can use air pods and phone to create an FM system.
From the leading special ed center in Tel Aviv, this will explain the new accessibility features in iOS9+ for iPads/ iPhones.
The first-ever braille tablet has been developed, using a new liquid-based technology to create tactile relief outputting braille, graphics and maps for the blind and partially sighted. Article from IBT, June 2015.
Great tips from Israel's leading website for technology for special needs people.
Apple released several new features with iOS 17 for people who cannot speak or want to bank their own voice. May 2023.
FROM GOOGLE
Includes training videos for each feature. Oct 2016.
How to do live video calls, use Google Meet in the classroom, and other resources and tips. Aug 2020.
Quick reference for everything you need to know about Google Drive. Updated frequently. From EducatorsTechnology, May 2023.
Keep all your students' records organized and private. From SLPNow, Feb 2016.
Attach files, curriculum standards, print, export to Word or PDF, share with colleagues. Compatible with Google apps. Free version with limited features available.
From fellow SLP Ruth Morgan. ASHA Leader Live, Jan 2012.
FROM MICROSOFT
Microsoft's YouTube channel for everything educational. Follow latest developments, use the training tutorials, get some fresh ideas.
Check here for the latest updates to your favorite Microsoft programs.
Heather Aird has authored a series of quick guides for Microsoft Education products.
RECOMMENDED PODCASTS / SOCIAL MEDIA
Download this interactive document with many recommended podcasts in various categories. Keep it on your desktop for quick reference!
Download this interactive document with 20+ popular Facebook groups for SLPs. Some private, some public.
USING GREEN SCREENS
How to make and use gameboards for your online sessions. From Electronic-Therapy.com.
USING VIDEOS
(If your video doesn't work, check the format. I might need to be converted to MP3 or 4).
Always, always preview any video you want to show them. The WHOLE video!
Includes suggestions for using with artic & language goals. From TheSpeechExpress.com. NOT FREE
PDF download from the National Professional Development Center on ASD, 2010.
Remove ads from YouTube videos. To generate a safe view, copy the YouTube link into this website. The site strips everything away and leaves just the video. If teachers have streaming problems in their schools, or filters that block YouTube, they can download the video from SafeShare.tv and upload to Google Drive. NOTE: YOU are responsible for making sure you do not infringe upon anyone's copyright.
This Pinterest site has tons of quick 10-30 sec. clips to signal transition, provide a reward/brain break, or whatever. Lots of language opportunities.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Are electronic devices detrimental to my child?
From Maryville University, this article contains lots of research and statistics on device use, along with recommendations for limiting daily exposure.
How can I convert to/from .pdf files?
Merge, compress, convert, edit, sign, protect, number pages, and more. Anything you could want to do with a .pdf - ALL FREE.
Merge, compress, convert, edit, sign, protect, number pages, and more. Anything you could want to do with a .pdf - ALL FREE.
How Can I Get My Keyboard to Type Phonetic Symbols (IPA)
Enter your text, adding the IPA symbols, then copy/paste into your document or email. English only.
Quickly type phonetic characters, save as HTML code to embed in a website, or as an MSWord doc, or copy/paste into your document. Includes diacritics, suprasegmentals, and more.
Accommodates many languages, including Spanish and Korean. English is only "Old English" however.
How Can I Keep My Students Safe Online?
This award-winning digital citizenship curriculum for K-12 is free from CommonSense.Org.
This is a digital lesson available for FREE through TinyTap for ages 6-10.
How Can Parents Get Cheap Internet at Home?
If your household makes less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level (for example, $55,500/year for a family of four, $27,180/year for an individual) or you qualify for certain government assistance programs, you are a good candidate for getting help with paying for monthly internet service.
47 million people are simply offline because they cannot afford an available Internet connection. Download the report.
Where Can I Get Free Images to Use?
A simplified guide for students and teachers. Download for free.
Last updated June 2023. Many of these have photos and/or clipart available.
See also the Green Screen backgrounds mentioned above.
Which App is Best for Communicating with Parents?
Parents can sign up to chaperone a field trip or bring supplies. Has built-in behavior tracker.
Seesaw is a learning platform that includes a messaging function to contact parents, admin, and other teachers. Send your messages to parents in their own language. Many languages are supported.
Messages make it easy to communicate with teachers, families and staff anytime, anywhere—and are automatically translated into more than 35 languages