Info Exchange Magazine Apps Alert & Sensory Surprises No October 2014

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1 Info Exchange Magazine Apps Alert & Sensory Surprises No October 2014 Free or Lite indicates that the app is free today. Some apps may be for Android devices, as well as for ipads. Flock Da Sheep This app combines a basic sorting with simple touch controls. Simply select a sheep with your finger and drag it into the correct herd. The action gets more hectic as the sheep counts get higher and wolves appear! Lots of fun, a good leisure pursuit app. Watch the instructions on a short clip on YouTube: 1

Music Ball Free This is simply a visual app with modern sounds designed to relax. It is easy to operate - just tap or swipe. Open the app and a black screen appears.

When the dot reaches the bottom of the screen, an electronic, sounding note chimes. It will then appear as if the dot has floated into the background by becoming more translucent and smaller.

2 Music Ball Free This is simply a visual app with modern sounds designed to relax. It is easy to operate - just tap or swipe. Open the app and a black screen appears. Touch the screen and a coloured dot appears on the screen and slowly floats to the bottom. Watch carefully and track the dot. When the dot reaches the bottom of the screen, an electronic, sounding note chimes. It will then appear as if the dot has floated into the background by becoming more translucent and smaller. It then floats up the screen and then reappears at the top. It will then be back to its original size and opacity. As it falls from the top, it makes the same musical tone as it did when it hit the bottom of the screen. The same dot will rotate across the screen a few times, getting smaller and smaller, and quieter and quieter with each rotation. Each spot on the screen represents a different note that follows the basic musical scale. By touching the screen anywhere, you create complex patterns that reappear as the dots rotate through the screen, creating a beautiful and relaxing sound. Huff n Puff Brilliant! This is one of my favourites from Duckie Deck. Forget about age appropriate, there is a bit of imaginary magic each time I blow on the screen! All I have to do is puff and huff and blow to make planes fly, dandelions fluff, flags wave, candles blow out - a cause and effect science lesson in one app! It encourages exploration, using breath to move twenty-five objects on the screen, such as snowflakes or dandelion fluff, and also to spin a pinwheel. The visuals are clear and fun, with repetition to aid memory. Tap on the black bug each time to change the activity. The music is chirpy and rhythmic. It is intuitive and easy to use. Explore steam billowing out from hot chocolate to a feather that will float around the screen. Each area possesses small details seen corresponding to each breath. 2

Toonia Jelly An app with loads of wobbly jelly, musical theme, and simple to play.

It can also bounce off objects that are offered by the included physics engine.

v=vdsjxp_halu Broom Broom (Android too) A pointy finger is needed to make a long line, any shape.

3 Toonia Jelly An app with loads of wobbly jelly, musical theme, and simple to play. Just drag the blob around the screen so it can interact with the different brightly coloured instruments. It can also bounce off objects that are offered by the included physics engine. Have a quick look on YouTube: Broom Broom (Android too) A pointy finger is needed to make a long line, any shape. Wait a second and suddenly the line fills with cars and buses all busy filling up the road. Listen to a police siren. Draw some more roads and watch a HUGE traffic jam ensue. Here comes an ambulance! Lots of playful fun! 3

Apps about Emotions, Facial and Body Expressions Autimo Calm counter social Eye contact trainer Emotions with Felix Emotionary Emotion X Body puzzle Tap to smile Picturizr Touch

of emotions Swap faces imasked Funny face Emotions (kindergarten.com) Face cards Face card tap tap Talking Tyler Talking Paul Talking Panda Mime!

4 Apps about Emotions, Facial and Body Expressions Autimo Calm counter social Eye contact trainer Emotions with Felix Emotionary Emotion X Body puzzle Tap to smile Picturizr Touch and say Morfo Mr Potato Head Gaze game Look into my eyes Chain face Dusty ddawg has feelings too Peekaboo All the 'crazy face' apps Touch and learn emotions- Today I am - a book of emotions Swap faces imasked Funny face Emotions (kindergarten.com) Face cards Face card tap tap Talking Tyler Talking Paul Talking Panda Mime!!! Piano emotions Emotions and feelings autism Funny face maker Faces imake Kidoko Emoji rage faces ABA flash cards and games emotions Toca hair salon Finger face paint Lila the Fairy itouch ilearn feelings 4

5 INfo exchange Sensory surprises 5

Go-getters and clever little cookies : A summary of a multi-method study on playfulness and children with PMLD Debbie Watson - September 2014 http://www.debbywatson.co.uk/summary-passport-play.

The findings have just been released and make fascinating reading, as play and these children is not a well-aired subject.

6 Go-getters and clever little cookies : A summary of a multi-method study on playfulness and children with PMLD Debbie Watson - September Introduction from the Editor (Flo Longhorn) I was recently involved in a study on play and very special children (PMLD) undertaken by Debby Watson at Bristol university. The findings have just been released and make fascinating reading, as play and these children is not a well-aired subject. A summary of the study follows, taken from the introduction: The Passport to Play study was a multi-method, qualitative study carried out between It was a PhD study funded by the ESRC at the Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol. An on-line survey was sent out via the PMLD Network and visits to, and/or interviews at, eleven sites in the UK were undertaken where there were professionals and families who were knowledgeable about people with PMLD (including arts-based professionals). Following this initial stage, multiple observations of five children with PMLD aged 3 to 7 years old were carried out in three different settings. Alongside the observation sessions, interviews were conducted with the children s care-givers at home and at school. 6

Comment by the Editor (Flo Longhorn) The most positive element reflected in Debbie s study is that very special children do indeed have a strong urge to play, just like any other child.

The feel good factor of being in a close playful situation is there too, described as mindful interdependency.

7 Comment by the Editor (Flo Longhorn) The most positive element reflected in Debbie s study is that very special children do indeed have a strong urge to play, just like any other child. This may have significant impact on arousal, communications and responsiveness in their lives. The feel good factor of being in a close playful situation is there too, described as mindful interdependency. Actively playing (at the right level for the individual) both stimulated and excited and maybe linked to an increase in gaining strength in other life areas. There are several outputs from the research which can be taken on board in a very positive way, including a play passport and a very useful set of active and passive categories of significant playful activities (see page 5 of the report). Those who really know their special children will already be aware of, or intuitively use, these activities. They will also be sensitively aware of the little scaffold that may be needed for positive access to the play including graduated help. They include: exploring, slapstick, jokes, operating a toy or piece of equipment with enjoyment, making sounds (some calculated to annoy!), interacting with others, watching or looking at something/someone that is exciting. (Not forgetting the X factor, goodness knows what is exciting them! ) Well done Debby, it is so rare to find a very useful piece of research in a very neglected area of education! Read the full study at There are useful playful resources there too: an observation tool, play passport, ideas for playful activities, categories of playful activities, summary of the playfulness study. 7

The Apple Book linked to http://www.pathstoliteracy.

touchable forms. It was devised by a very clever person named J.

We all learn through repetition and also seeing and touching an object in many different ways.

For example, the left apple below comes with the scent of a cinnamon stick and a sprig of herbs, followed by a

8 The Apple Book linked to This is a very suitable sensory book for autumn, all about an apple, in many touchable forms. It was devised by a very clever person named J. Falcone and submitted to the Perkins School for the Blind literacy project. We all learn through repetition and also seeing and touching an object in many different ways. An apple is an apple, but it can be touched and felt through a variety of different textures and surfaces as suggested in Falcone s article. The apple is presented in different textures and surface as well as different colour shades. For example, the left apple below comes with the scent of a cinnamon stick and a sprig of herbs, followed by a balloon apple, a pipe cleaner apple - and a shiny apple! Credits: Images from the website above. Instructions are given in the article on how to create a book and also suggestions for extending book making into other fruits, for example, a pear or orange book. Don t forget - an apple book deserves to have a large fresh apple to eat while touching the creative apples! 8

For more information about the conference, visit the website below: http://www.scopevic.org.au/index.

9 There was a conference in Victoria, Australia, on 8 and 9 September, 2014, run by Scope (Vic), with more than 30 presenters. Mandy Williams has sent details that will be of interest to readers, especially those working with teenagers and older people. For more information about the conference, visit the website below: re/inclusionconference2014 Over the two days, there were 30 speakers and there is a variety of information from them on the website. For example, find out about their work through the speakers presentations, which can be downloaded from the conference website above, including: A picture speaks a thousand words Culture in good group homes Dignity of risk Dysphagia - it's hard to swallow Hang Out Program Health Matters for all Australians Listening to those rarely heard Somantics and ReacTickles Magic App Supporting adults with litte or no speech to have positive relationships Sustainable Communication Supports in the community There are also some useful articles regarding ICT that can be found in the Apps Alert section of this edition. Thanks for sharing Mandy and Victoria Scope Vic! 9

Sensory Items to Buy Create a box of balls to explore and play games Balls of all different shapes and sizes can make a good resource for exploration, hand play and for simple interactive ball games.

Now have a scout around for all the different balls you can find, different sizes, colours, textures, weight and you have an excellent maths lesson as well.

10 Sensory Items to Buy Create a box of balls to explore and play games Balls of all different shapes and sizes can make a good resource for exploration, hand play and for simple interactive ball games. All you need is a sturdy bag - one with a drawstring is handy to prevent losing any! Now have a scout around for all the different balls you can find, different sizes, colours, textures, weight and you have an excellent maths lesson as well. Here are some unusual balls to add to the collection. Sensory Discovery Balls These are palm size balls with interesting surfaces to explore and examine. Try one in each hand for a multi sensory input. They come in packs of three from the Early Learning Centre and cost Sensory Butterfly Light-up Ribbon Ball This is a clear ball that bounces and is filled with a range of iridescent coloured ribbons that glow with an internal flashing light. The butterfly also dances with the light. Available from at Boing Balls Rubbery light filled balls - squeeze and it changes colour. They cost 7.95 and can be found on

Stuffit Hide and reveal box for filling with balls - and then dump! Grab a big plastic ball, and have everyone lie down on the floor with their feet up.

Tell everyone you've got magical powers in your fingertips. Put a Ping-Pong ball in front of you on the table and make a big show of wiggling your fingers over it.

11 Stuffit Hide and reveal box for filling with balls - and then dump! Grab a big plastic ball, and have everyone lie down on the floor with their feet up. Hold the ball with your feet, and try to work together to throw and catch it. Available for from Simple Ball Games A bit of magic from you! Tell everyone you've got magical powers in your fingertips. Put a Ping-Pong ball in front of you on the table and make a big show of wiggling your fingers over it. Without touching it, it will magically start rolling away from you! The secret? While everyone is distracted by watching your wiggling fingers, quietly and gently blow on the ball, without moving your lips. Toss It Two people hold a bath towel in front of the thrower to catch a soft beach ball. Change the size of the towel and ball to suit the individual skills of the ball thrower. Waste Paper Basket We all do it, scrumple paper into a ball and toss into the basket! Apps to go with this: A paper ball throw into the bin Free Paper Toss 2 Free Play Footie - this is for ball experts! Grab a big plastic ball, and have everyone lie down on the floor with their feet up. Hold the ball with your feet, and try to work together to throw and catch it. Driving a Ball Make a simple ramp from the edge of a table or on a wheelchair tray. Mark roads on the ramp with bright tape. Have a selection of balls at hand. Now see how the balls roll down the roads. Watch out for crashes! Found at 11

A peaceful, happy and healthy new year to all our Info Exchange readers!

A peaceful, happy and healthy new year to all our Info Exchange readers! Info Exchange Magazine Apps Alert No. 22 2 January 2014 Free or Lite indicates that the app is free today. Some apps may be for Android devices, as well as for ipads. Editor: Florence Longhorn florencelonghorn@gmail.com