DocScan HD

I find so many useful and great apps, but it is so hard to review all of them.  I recently was reminded of a fairly slick app, called DocScan HD, when I needed to quickly send a copy of one of my cue cards to a teacher who was working with a student.  DocScan HD is also free, with an upgrade purchase available. Why use DocScan HD?  It avoids running to the copier or scanner to scan the materials. Why not just use the iPad camera? Well...you could do that as well; however, DocScan HD allows you to 'play' with the document.  So instead of taking forever to try to position the iPad camera at the right angle (that you would need to do if sending a regular photo), you can just snap a pic using DocScan.  If it is crooked, oh well...you can fix that!  Here are some of the other things you can do:
--change color to black/white
--change document aspect ratio
--change the brightness
--change the rotation
--draw on the document (change pen size, hue, saturation, etc)
--highlight on the document (using the pen, you need to change the 'alpha' option)

Here are some screen shots of a quick cue card that I made for some students who were struggling with asking questions..not my best sample, but it will do!

 Begin by taking a picture of the document that you want.  I try to take a decent shot.

 

 Next, crop and adjust the lines...basically you are cropping out the background.

 

 This is how the document now looks after I cropped and adjusted it.

 

This option allows you to write on the document.

 

Above, I demonstrated how you can highlight words using the pen, just change the transparency (marked 'Alpha').

This last screen shot is a cue card that I made for a student who is learning to use Dragon Dictation to assist in the writing process.  I make these cards (and variations of them) for many of my students.

Here are some examples of how I use this app:
--Since I have access to 2 iPads, each student was able to use an iPad with the cue card displayed.  Yes, they could just use the cue card, but this was more novel...and saves paper on my end...especially as a traveling therapist!

--You can also access your camera roll...so I can use the highlighter and pen for other pictures/documents in my camera roll.

--You can save documents within this app...I save my commonly used cue cards and some other materials that I make.

--You can send any documents through email, or export to other locations: other apps, google docs, dropbox, evernote, etc.  You can also air print directly from this app...which I have done, it's great!

--I can easily scan articulation or language homework sheets...adjust the image...and send the document to parents for home practice.  Parents can choose to print the document, practice on the computer with their child, or if the family has an iPad, the child can practice directly on the iPad.  I have several students who complete home practice in this manner...they know where to find their homework in the camera roll on their home iPad!  The students really enjoy taking ownership in sending the homework to themselves and being able to access it from home!  Anything to increase home practice!

--My students also enjoy making their own cue cards...they can then scan the cue card or graphic organizer, crop/adjust the document and send it to their parent.  This in itself is a fun lesson for sequencing and retelling "how did we do that?"

--For home use, my husband and have used this app to scan/send copies of receipts or documents...including taking a picture of an official document, scanning it with the app, cropping it to make it look nice, and signing on the signature line...then sending the document back.  You can do all of this with a scanner or fax, but it's sometimes easier/quicker to use the iPad. 

Toca House

Yay! It's finally out!  Toca House was available for purchase today, February 23rd. It is priced at $1.99.  There are five main characters. As you would expect for a 'home' theme, there are different rooms and areas (outside) with 19 mini-games.
First Floor (front door): Knock on the door to access a mini-game...the child must decide which gifts/packages/items belong to each character. You must look at the expressions of the characters, the character who 'wants' the item will change their facial expression or eye contact VERY subtly (great for paying attention to subtle social clues!). Another mini-game includes a mailman dog...the child must sort and deliver the mail to the correct mailboxes (matching game). UPDATE: My son found a mini-game that I missed, eating/picking blueberries.  The character appears at random.  
Second Floor (laundry): Complete mini-games such as ironing clothes, hanging up clothes on a line, washing clothes, etc.
Third Floor (kitchen): Washing dishes, putting groceries/food away, vacuuming, mopping, sweeping, washing the windows, etc.
Fourth Floor (living room): Putting logs on a fire/lighting the fire, vacuuming, hanging pictures, mopping, sweeping, etc.  My 4 year old quickly told me that the match was 'just pretend' and that matches are NOT to play with...glad he beat me to that conversation!
Fifth Floor (bathroom): Cleaning up spilled shampoo/soap, mopping, giving a character a bath, mopping, vacuuming, sweeping, etc.
Outside: Mini-games include cutting the grass, sorting leaves (based on color), planting flowers (based on color), etc.

**You can go to any floor that you wish, you do not have to start at the front door or the first floor!  

How will I use this app? (just a few of my ideas)

• Language: 
• Vocabulary: Lots of great opportunities to label and describe household objects.  
• Following directions: give directions (from clinician or peer) to child, ex: "Go to the 3rd floor", etc.  
• Describing/Giving Oral Directions/etc: I had 2 students use this app to play "I Spy".  They needed to find an item somewhere in the house while their partner was looking away. The student then needed to describe the item to the peer. "It's in the room where people relax.  (other student would need to locate the living room) It's something you play with.  It's on the middle shelf. It has colorful arms and legs."  (Student hopefully guesses the robot).  We also reversed the activity and the students needed to ask each other questions. "What room is your item in? What category is your item in? What parts does your item have?"  "What do you use this item for?" etc.  This is a fairly complex task as it requires students to use a hierarchy (asking general to specific questions).
• Cause/Effect: Have the student identify what might have caused the spill, and identify what the effect will be after you complete the task. 
• Making Predictions and Inferences: Have the child make predictions about what jobs they might need to do in each room.  Ask questions such as, "What do you think will happen next?"
• Verb Tense: Discuss and practice verb tenses, ex: I will sweep the floor, I am sweeping the floor, I swept the floor.  

• Articulation: 
• Clear Speech: Have students practice using clear speech strategies (loud voice, pauses between words, all sounds, all words, big mouth movements) when producing sentences pertaining to each scene, "I see an ironing board", "The girl is unpacking the groceries". 
• Sound Production: You could use this app as an incentive following structured drill practice of target sounds. If targeting /s/, you could also do /s/ sentences: "I see a..."

•  Social Language/Social Skills/Pragmatics:
• Turn taking: Have students alternate turns to complete a mini-game.  Students can take the responsibility for whose turn it is. Many of the games involve moving items, such as tossing laundry into a dryer...this is great for rapid back and forth turn taking between students.
• Look at the characters for facial expression: What are they thinking? Who wants the innertube? How did you know? Who doesn't want the duck? Where might we use the spatula? Why do you think the girl wants the basketball? How did you know she wanted the ball (what clues told you)?
• Role play: Use this app and then do real-life role play with objects, great for social skills as well as expressive language skills. 
• Joint decision-making: Have the students discuss which floor they would like to try.  Great for teamwork, persuasion, turn-taking, and considering feelings of others.
• Non-verbal communication: Have the students use non-verbal communication (eye contact, head nods, facial expressions) to select levels and activities.  

Ok, that should keep my students busy!

I can't wait for my 2 kids at home to see that I bought it!  They have been earning stickers and *just happened* to earn the required amount last night! (Yes, that was cleverly timed on my end).  

Here are some screen shots:

The characters are interesting and unique as with all Toca Boca apps. My son likes to ask and make predictions about why they chose certain characters, or who the characters remind him of. I see lots of background features, such as another house in the distance and also a pond with a ball...perhaps these will be additions?  We can only hope!

Articulation Station Pro

Articulation Station Pro is a really wonderful app for articulation. Purchased for $49.99 (sale price, regular price is $89.99) for the entire set of target sounds. It is expensive, but extremely well worth it (try waiting for a sale). The app is very user-friendly...I have not noticed glitches and I have had zero occurrences of the app shutting down.

•  You begin by selecting the sound that you would like to target. Next you select the level: words, sentences, or stories. Each level has some additional options, such as flashcards vs matching game (word level);  rotating vs. unique (sentence level); and level 1 vs. level 2 (story level).  The level 1 stories have pictures. The level 2 stories do not have pictures and appear to be mixed positions (initial, medial, final).
• The data collection is very easy, you can select students before you start the session, or if just one student is using the app, you can wait until the end to save the data to a student's name.  
• Scoring each production is also easy, simply touch the check mark (correct) or x (incorrect). 
• The pictures (real pictures) are clear and appropriate for children.
• You can select multiple sounds (touch the conversation bubble icon with the plus sign).
• To review data, touch the clipboard with the person figure. You can then look at data for each student.  You can also touch an individual session to see which words were correct/incorrect.
• For multiple students during one session, go to: clipboard with person icon (data/names screen), touch the icon with 2 bodies at the bottom (multi-user icon), select up to 6 students from the list, touch begin...this will take you to the sound list page...touch a student name, select a sound target, then the level, and word position, touch begin....touch the next student name (along the top) and repeat the process. Touch 'begin'.  Touching the 'begin' button is key after selecting all of the levels for EACH student, otherwise you will have to re-enter the information. You can now begin the session...just make sure to touch the button to select which student is practicing for each turn...the app will switch to the right sound!  Very clever!
• When adding a student, you can even add an email to be associated with that student...so scores can be sent!
• I work with students K-8th grade. I am confident that the majority of my elementary and older elementary students would enjoy the background.  I am not sure if students grades 6th-8th would feel the background is too immature or not.  The pictures are appropriate, but the very cute background (which I love), might be too juvenile for my older students.  
• The /r/ sound is divided into initial, medial, final, and blends; however, when I target /r/ medial, I generally target words such as 'garage', 'giraffe', and 'carrot'.  While some of these are included in medial /r/ in the app, other words such as 'shirt', 'tart', and 'cards' are included, which I consider more of a final /r/ blend, not medial /r/.  That's just my personal view though...my students who are practicing medial /r/ find it easier when there is a vowel following the /r/ and then a consonant. I just skip the final blend /r/ words and only target the words I feel are truly medial /r/. It would be cool if there was a separate option for final /r/ blends. It's a very minor inconvenience for me considering the great value of this app.
• Additional settings (wrench icon) include: showing or removing the scoring buttons, playing or removing the scoring sounds, including audio (auditory models), and setting passing criteria (80% or 90%)
• My students have mentioned that they like the data collection...it is even simple enough for them to find their name and look at their scores.  They enjoy sending the scores via email to their parents.
• For parents, I think this is a good app for home practice.  The free version includes the /p/ sound, which may not be the target sound that your child is working on, but you can try the app out and see if you like the layout.  You can then purchase individual sounds that your child may need to work on. The Pro edition included the entire consonant inventory (very useful for professionals/teachers/etc).

Okay, now for some screen shots...normally, I just select screen shots from the itunes store; however, since this is a pricier app, I figured people might want to see lots of pictures, so I took screen shots, sent them to my email, and uploaded them here.

Lego 4+

Lego 4+ is a FREE app that my students and my son/daughter LOVE!  Legos are such a hit among kids, so pairing it with an app is awesome.  The app begins with the child making choices to build a vehicle.  Initially, there are limited choices, but as the child progresses through the levels, additional features are available. The child will need to pick a base for their vehicle, wheels (or feet, love the feet), a driver/front of the vehicle, and a back to the vehicle.  For students, I have them describe what they are picking and they must tell me why they picked a certain part. My daughter picks the feet because she loves the pitter-patter as they run!  She also picks the boy driver for the front of the vehicle, adding that it is her 'big brother'.  She picks the girl for the back of the vehicle, because obviously that is her! The next part of the app is a course where the vehicle moves and collects lego 'coins'.  Additionally, if you pick the helicopter vehicle, you can fly. If you pick the police vehicle, there is a siren, etc. After you finish collecting the coins, there is a gift...you build a lego structure.  These structures are later visible in the background during the course part of the app.  All in all, this app is a must have for lego-enthusiasts, students, and anyone with young children! 

Here are some shots from the Apple Store:

QuickVoice

I have been using QuickVoice quite a bit lately, I really like it. It is basically a voice recorder, but has so many uses! I use the FREE version...it completely suits my needs.  Here are some of the ways I have used it lately:

• Articulation:  I model the targets, the student repeats.  If an auditory model is not needed, the student simply says their word list on their own.  We record sets of words and use playback to score/identify correct productions.  I also email the recordings to the parent.  This way, the parent has an opportunity to hear how I model the word and how the student says their targets during production practice. This is my FAVORITE use of this app...it's great for showing others how to do homework/drill practice in other settings. I have also used this app for auditory bombardment for listening lists and minimal pairs.  The student can wear the earphones so that they are getting increased amplification.
• Language: The students and I use this app to record sentences, vocabulary lists, word banks, etc....you name it.  They can personalize their sentences or word banks by entering their names for the title.  A student could even record a short story or ideas...and then proceed to written form. 
• Auditory Repetition: For student working on memory or auditory processing, I can record sentences for them to repeat.  
• Auditory Listening Tasks: This app could definitely be useful for auditory training at any level: word lists, repeating sentences, listening to paragraphs, etc.  The clinician/teacher would just need to record the information in advance.
• Grammar: I have added a series of sentences that contain grammatical errors, the student can listen and then hit 'pause' when they hear a mistake. 
• Following Directions: Record a variety of oral directions for students to follow. 

This app is because the student can be in charge of hitting the play/pause button, or they could use earphones.

Other uses:

• Spelling Tests, Quizzes: could be recorded and a student could wear earphones to take a quiz 

To email the recording, simply touch the arrow button at the bottom left corner, a prompt will appear. 

Speech/Language Apps

Most of my posts review more of the non-traditional apps that I use for therapy; however, I own a large majority of apps that are specifically designed for Speech/Language therapy.  I guess, I assume that there is an abundance of S/L sites that review these apps, so I try to pick other non-traditional apps to discuss...especially those which might be popular for home practice or parent involvement. Here are some of the more traditional Speech/Language therapy-based apps that I use frequently.  For now I just listed them, and I will work slowly on adding some of my thoughts/likes/dislikes about each app. I won't type too much, there are too many apps!


Articulation:
Articulation Station Pro: By far, this is my favorite articulation app...it has all of the phonemes and you can select the hierarchy level (word or sentence).  The sentences provide multiple targets. Pictures are great. Speech is great...no discrepancy in volume like some of the other apps (not that I have noticed anyway). Very easy to use. This will probably be my recommended app to parents because they can purchase single sounds vs. the entire app.
Articulate It!:  I like this app, I use this one the most for students with articulation needs. I like that it has an auditory model if needed. My only concern is that the speech can be VERY fast at times...and the loudness varies depending on the speaker.  My students need a very reduced rate and consistent loudness.
Speech Trainer 3D:  I have used this several times, it's satisfactory for the price.
/r/ Intensive: It's ok, I tend to refer to my other articulation apps.
QuickVoice: I use this to record articulation practice to send for home practice, or for the student to listen/monitor speech sound production.  Great for auditory bombardment tasks too.

Language ( 'Builder' apps, general language skills, and other misc. language skills)
Language Builder (Deluxe): Love this app!  This is by far an app that I use weekly.  The students are able to listen to their sentences, which helps with self monitoring.  I use this app for grammar, increasing sentence length, articulation, on-topic sentences, etc. Hats off to the 'Builder' developer, he is great at creating lots of options in the settings area.
Sentence Builder: A nice app to address word order, grammar, and sentence-building skills.  For some of my non-readers, I wish that each word/phrase could be read aloud.
Sentence Builder Teen: This is a great app to have for my caseload as I work with many adolescents. There is a lack of apps for this age level.  My only 'wish' is that the sentences were even longer/more complex, or the option to have the words completely scrambled...that way the students would need to drag the words into the appropriate order.
Rainbow Sentences: 
Story Builder:
Let's Name Things Fun Deck: Just a different version of their card-based decks...nothing too fancy. It's nice to use this app for partner work, the students are more excited to use the iPad instead of my 'old cards'. 
Fun Outdoors: I thought I could use this for following directions, which I could, but it is not nearly as nice as some of the other apps, like 123 Sticker...so for $4, I was VERY disappointed with this one. =(
Categories Learning Center: I bought this for $9.99.  It has 5 levels of play: Sorting (1, 2); Where Does It Go?; Category Naming; and Category Selection. I like some features, but have some 'wishes' for other features.  I like that there is a quick play, sometimes I don't need to enter data and I just want to use the app.   In several of the levels, only portions of the task are voiced.  I like apps that allow me to turn voicing on/off.  That way, if my student is a non-reader, all of the names/items can be read to them.  In the case of this app, the category names are written but not read (Sorting - Level 1 and 2, Where Does It Go).  For the most part, the voices (children) are clear.  There are few items that needed to be repeated because the volume was too soft or the rate was too quick.   Overall, I like this app.  I'd probably buy it again; but ideally, I wish it had a bit more to it...for my students with more limited skills (non-readers), as well as higher level students.  I have many older students who still need practice with categorization, maybe sorting higher level vocabulary (states vs countries, etc) which might be picture or word-based.
What Are They Asking? Fun Deck:
What Are They Thinking? Fun Deck:
See.Touch.Learn (by Brain Parade): Free, or purchase the full version.  Great app for vocabulary and associations.  My favorite aspect is the ability to customize!

Vocabulary (homophones, synonyms, antonyms, etc)
Bluster: This is to target synonyms/antonyms...I wish it had more features/modes, but it is good for a basic synonym/antonym app.

Following Directions:
Lexico Cognition:  Awesome app, I only have the free version, but it's a great app for processing complex sentences with spatial concepts/critical elements.  One tip...I instruct the student that they get 1 try, if they guess incorrectly, they must listen to the direction again.  Otherwise, crafty students will just drag the picture around until it snaps into place. =)
Fun with Directions HD:  A very good buy. You can change settings, etc.
More Fun with Directions HD: Also a good app for following directions, you can change the settings, etc.

Semantic Relationships, Analogies, Associations:
Little Solver Preschool Logic:
Little Solver Figural Analogies:
ABA - What does Not Belong?
Clean Up:
ABA What goes together?
NLC Autism: Sorting items into categories, Free, so why not? 
Things that Go Together: Free.  Love it!
Little Matchups The Matching Game:   Free.
Categories Learning Center:  I described this app above (Language category).
See.Touch.Learn (by Brain Parade): Free, or purchase the full version.  Great app for vocabulary and associations.  My favorite aspect is the ability to customize! 

Word Order:
Question Assembly: So far, it's the only app that I have found that works on placing words in order at the question level.
Rainbow Sentences: Has multiple levels of play.  Students must drag words to correct order. Sentence fragments or words can be color coded. 

Verbal Reasoning:
Understanding Inferences Fun Deck:  Just a different version of their card-based decks...nothing too fancy.
Answering How Questions Fun Deck: Just a different version of their card-based decks...nothing too fancy.


Pragmatics:
Conversation Builder Deluxe: This is a good app for practicing conversation: looking at a picture and knowing how to start a conversation, etc.  
What Are They Asking? Fun Deck: Wish Super Duper would add the ability to record.  I bought many of these fun decks, but really they are the same as the actual cards.  Adding the ability to record answers would be a nice addition.
What Are They Thinking? Fun Deck: See my comment above.

Digital StoryTelling, Narratives, etc
Speech Journal:
Pictello:
QuickVoice:
 
Apps for Making My Own Materials
Phonics Genius: Love this app, it's free...but I make custom decks for vocab, synonyms, etc. quite often.
Custom Boards: Great app for building my own materials...I love that the student/I can build a board of their target sounds/words and send it to a parent for home practice.  It is definitely pricey though.
SeeTouchLearn:
Speech Journal:
Pictello:
See.Touch.Learn (by Brain Parade): Free, or purchase the full version.  Great app for vocabulary and associations.  My favorite aspect is the ability to customize! 

Scribble Press

Scribble Press was featured as a FREE app on App Friday (Jan. 13th, 2012).  I installed it and have just begun to look at it, but so far, I see some really great features.  It has several modes:  "My Books" (books that you created and can create), "My Drawings" (drawing/note pad type of feature with lots of neat choices), and a "Gallery" (download other people's creations for free).   So what does this app have to offer?

--My Books:  You can create your own book by choosing from a multitude of pre-made options, or start with a blank book.  Pre-made options include: About Me, Aliens, Family, Fantasy, Holiday, Humor, Most Popular, and School. Within each of those categories, there are sub-choices. For example, within "About Me" there are the following choices: All About Me, If I Ran for President, If I Ruled the World, My Book Favorites, My Day at the Beach, and My Vacation.  To get started, you choose a category, and then a book.  You then are presented with a format, like a Mad-Lib, in which you add certain words...and you go from there.

--My Drawings: When you open a new drawing, you are given a piece of paper and 5 marker tools.  There is also a large box of markers, if you tap on this, you can choose from tons of colors. Select a color, and you are then prompted to pick a marker thickness or stamp marker. These markers will be added to your tool box. You are also given an eraser, a text icon (for typing), a camera, background colors, and pre-drawn pictures.  The pre-drawn pictures are similar to little stickers or characters...I really like this feature!

--Gallery: You can pick from a really large selection of books/pieces of work created by other adults/students.  You can download them and save them to your gallery.  

So, how would I use this app????????


--My Books: Great for creating narratives,  retelling events, creating social stories, doing a "How To..." project, etc.  You can use a blank book, add a cover and as many pages as you want.  Create your own artwork or choose from the pre-made artwork...or take a picture with the camera. I really like the artwork that they include. You can also choose from the pre-made books.  This feature would be great for a cloze reading activity in which students need to consider the theme and use sentence context clues to complete the store by filling in the missing blanks.  Don't forget that students can publish/share the books that they create!!!  They should then be viewable in the Gallery.  I haven't tested this feature yet...but I can only imagine how excited students might get to see their/their friend's books in the Gallery!  The developer also noted that in the future, you will be able to print created works.

--My Drawings: I like the idea of using this as a note pad for something like a graphic organizer, word bank, etc.  I could easily have the students list words associated with a topic/theme (ex: words describing winter).  They could then refer to the notepad as they write descriptive sentences, etc.  This would be a great app to pair with a smartboard; unfortunately, I do not have one!!!!!  But you could project the notepad onto the smartboard for brainstorming sessions, spelling games, math facts, studying vocabulary, etc.  Again, I like the pre-made artwork...you could pick a clipart picture and have the students produce a sentence or story about the item. Again, a smartboard would be awesome with this!!!

--Gallery: This will be great for viewing created work.  I haven't yet found a way to 'search' the gallery.  You have to scroll through. It's great that there are so many stories to choose from for FREE!!!!!  I plan on using these for social stories, comprehension questions, retelling stories, sequencing, etc.