In a previous post I recommended
conducting a writing activity as a
followup to an Animated Step-by-Step project (recipe, craft, or science project).
This involves taking digital pictures of
each step in an ASbyS project, then importing those images into a writing
template. http://bit.ly/1oiN5sY
An iPad app called Pictello (by AssistiveWare) is another great resource for adding a followup writing component to your ASbyS projects.
The software is described as a
‘talking visual story creator’. The program sells for $19.99 … a relative
bargain. Pictello is a great way to help students review the steps of the
project they just performed. It provides a wonderful, experience-based writing
opportunity and can provide the Speech-language Pathologist with an excellent
vehicle for emphasizing verb tense.
Depicted below is Pictello page created as a followup to an ASbyS craft activity, Baggie Butterflies.
Simply use your iPad to take
digital photos of your students performing each step of their ASbyS project. Later you will import these images
into the Pictello app, ready to add a written caption. An onscreen keyboard is
provided to facilitate the writing process.
You may also opt to use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to add some symbol support to the images BEFORE
importing them into Pictello. Although it does add an extra step, it is well
worth the effort, if your students can benefit from symbol support.
The program allows you to use
a natural voice or a digital voice when reading. Selection of the latter allows you to
highlight each word as it is spoken (great for literacy).
The program also allows you to add short
video clips (up to 30 seconds which you can trim within the program). You can use the video clip audio or you can read the added caption using text-to-speech or
recorded voice.
When the story is completed,
you can create a .pdf of the story to send home or you can use the program’s
dropbox link to share your story with other iPads possessing the Pictello app.
Pictello can be purchased
from the apple app store.
Happy writing!
…’til the next post …
(new posts every Monday)
Follow me on twitter @AnimStepbySteps
Email me canadiangoosse@gmail.com
©2016 Carol Goossens’,
Ph.D.
Augmentative Communication
Consultant
Speech-Language Pathologist
Special Educator
