Innovations_Picture_it_2

__ Picture It! & PixWriter __ Created by: Julianne Jennings, Alicia Bender, Elayne Jackson & Angela Gonzales Innovations Mini Teach for Fall 2010 Tel 313, Prather, Tuesday-Thursday 1:30-2:45 October 19, 2010

** What is Picture It! & PixWriter? ** Picture It! and PixWriter are two similar programs developed by Slater Software Inc. Ideally designed to help students with special needs. These two programs help students with moderate to severe cognitive delays, speech/language disorders, hearing impairments, learning disabilities, visual disabilities, fragile X, TBI, severe speech and physical impairments, autism, and English a second language. Not only does Picture It! and PixWriter enhance the learning experience of those with disabilities, but students at all elementary school levels are also capable of benefiting from the use of these programs as well. This software has a range of students starting from the early pre-kindergarten level to grade five; adults can use it too.



Picture It! & PixWriter PowerPoint

** What do you need to know? **

Both Picture It! and PixWriter are very user friendly. Simply type in a word, and a picture of the word will come up on the screen; a cartoon character will say the word this is typed in. These programs particularly help with students who have difficulties with letter formation, sound-symbol relationships, and fine-motor skills

// Options- the user has the capability of changing: // · the gender of the voice · language from English to Spanish · the speed in which the word is spoken

There are some words that do not have a picture; however, they do have a sound to them. These words are: · BUT · HOW · LIKE · AND

PixWriter includes more than 1800 age-appropriate symbol/word pairings; this is the perfect resource to take advantage of in a classroom because it will help with development of phonics and proper pronunciation. __Most importantly, these two programs aid and tailor specifically to the learner so that learning is effective for all students.__



** Prices ** · PixWriter for a single unit is $199, and for five unites is $696.50 · Picture It! for is single unit is $295, and for five units is $1032.50

** How to Create Your Own **



· Type a word into the large, white box · The word you just typed will be accompanied with a picture · For example, if you type the word “cat,” a picture of a cat will appear above it   · The Merlin (or whoever you have chosen to be the voice), will appear and speak the word you have just typed · Under options, you can change the font, language, number of buttons, and the gender of the voice speaking to you

Picture It and PixWriter are compatible with Mac and Windows computer programs. Step by step instructions are listed below for the user to get started with the programs.

PixWriter Tutorial __ Picture It! Tutorial __

1. Mac: [] 2.Windows: []

__ PIX Writer __

1. Mac: [] 2. Windows: []

** What else can PixWriter and Picture It! do? What are other learning benefits? **

· Aids non-readers · Supports text with pictures · Motivates students to write by pairing words with pictures · Built-in speech ability gives immediate feedback · Allows students to write whole words, sentences, stories, and express original thought · Built-in Spanish capacity · Ability to save and print documents displayed on computer with the text and pictures · Easy accessibility for all · Adapted keyboard and mouse availability · Flexible for people of all disabilities and educational levels · Ability to create picture cue cards, picture directions, and shopping list generator · Teachers and parents can set up PixWriter vocabulary to prepare lessons · Helps teach phonemic awareness and boosts vocabulary, reasoning, and comprehension levels · Simple display options let teachers keep up with student’s needs as they grow from beginning skills to more word choices · Motivates students to write by pairing words with pictures

** What are the Teacher and Student uses? **  · Students use PixWriter · Teachers use Picture It!

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** Teachers can use the programs in their everyday lessons to help all students improve their literacy skills!!! ** Helpful for students with: · Cognitive delays · Speech/language disorders · Hearing impairment · Learning disabilities · Visual disabilities · Autism · English as a second language ** How can PixWriter and Picture It! help students with disabilities? **  · Allows the user to compose written materials even if his/her knowledge of spelling skills, sound-symbol relationships, or the alphabet is not fully developed. · You can easily customized and organize the setup to fit a student’s ability, IEP objectives, and language along with writing levels. · Students with disabilities may lack beginning writing experiences because they can’t hold a pencil, draw pictures, or make letters. ** How can parents use it to help their children with disabilities at home? **  · Can be used to help their children with math through the use of pictures (Ex. 5x2; Could use pictures to demonstrate 5 rows containing 2 oranges) · Parents of ELL students could use the program to supplement instruction at home with the built-in Spanish speech capability. · Parents could use Picture It! to print out practice flash cards for math or reading vocabulary to assist their child = Helpful links: = = · Free stuff: []  = = · Free stuff for kids with Autisim: []  = = · How to install Picture It! in Windows: [] = = · How to install Picture It! in MACs: [] = = · References for PixWriter in MACs: []  = = · References for PixWriter in Windows: []  = = · Software for special need students[]  = = ** This wiki was adapted from ** TEL 313 Elementary Education - Innovations Mini Teach-FALL 09 (Wetzel), Spring 09 (Wetzel) and Fall 08 (Wetzel). = ** References: **

Don Johnston Incorporated. (2009). PixWriter. In //Don Johnston//. Retrieved October 6, 2010, from Imaginary Landscape, LLC website: [] products/ access_solutions/software/pixwriter/index.html

Internet Special Education Resources. // Special Education & Learning Disabilities Software Resources: An International Directory. Retrieved October 7, 2010 // [|//**http://www.iser.com/special-needs-software.html**//]

Picture it quick start for win. (n.d.). //Slater Sofware inc.// Retrieved October 6, 2010, from, [|**http://www.slatersoftware.com/Picture%20It%20Quick%20Start%20MAC.pdf**]

Picture it quick start for win. (n.d.). //Slater Sofware inc.// Retrieved October 6, 2010, from, [|**http://www.slatersoftware.com/Picture%20It%20Quick%20Start%20MAC.pdf**]

Picture It v5.0 and PixWriter 3.WOW // by Slater Software. Assistive Technology. Retrieved October 7, 2010 //[|//http://www.acciinc.com/Test/test/Slater_Picture_It_Pix_Writer.htm//]

Picture Powerpack. Retrieved October 7, 2010.@http://www.synapseadaptive.com/donjohnston/picture_power_pack.htm

PixWriter quick start for win. (n.d.). //Slater Sofware inc.// Retrieved October 6, 2010, from [|**http://www.slatersoftware.com/PixWriter%20Quick%20Start%20MAC.pdf**]

PixWriter quick start for win. (n.d.). //Slater Sofware inc.// Retrieved October 6, 2010, from [|**http://www.slatersoftware.com/PixWriter%20Quick%20Start%20WIN.pdf**]

Pixwriter. Retrieved October 7, 2010 @http://assistivetech.sf.k12.sd.us/pixwriter.htm

Pixwriter v 3.0. Soft Touch. Retrieved October 7, 2010 @http://www.softtouch.com/pixwriter30macintosh.aspx

PIXWRITER: SUCCESS FOR BEGINNING WRITERS. Disability Information Resources. Retrieved October 7, 2010. [|**http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/Us_Eu/conf/csun_99/session0123.html**] //Slater Software//. (2009). Retrieved October 6, 2010, from [|**http://www.slatersoftware.com/index.html**]

Slater Software, Inc. (2008). PixWriter v.3.0. In //Picture Assisted Literacy//. Retrieved October 6, 2010, from [|http://www.slater] software.com/index.html Special Needs. Vincent J. Russo&Associates. Retrieved October 7, 2010 []