teacher
Who has heard of Squag?
Today I was introduced to Squag and wanted to share it with you. Here are two posts I liked. They are not long or detailed but gives us all a little something to share.
“SquagTM [skwag] is a curated, online experience for kids on the autism spectrum (and their siblings!) that allows them to initiate, explore, and self-discover. Our SquagpadsTM give parents an opportunity to learn about their kids and give kids a new way to learn about themselves, making screen time more meaningful.”
Communication and Friendship
written by Chloe Rothschild on December 30, 2012 –
Something you should know before you read this post:
I communicate better through typing.
Imagine living life, knowing that some people may never know how much you really know, or how smart you really are, because when they talk to you, all you usually say is ‘I don’t know’. But – if you talk to that person on Facebook, Instant Message, e-mail, or texting then you have so much more to say!
There are some people in this world that I may never have the chance to type with on Facebook, e-mail or text. And then those people may not get to have those in depth conversations with me and see how much I really do know, and they may not get a chance to see that I really can be a very good friend.
I may have Autism, but I consider this so much a part of me – just as important as all of the other characteristics that make me who I am.
I am creative, smart, kind, caring, loving, helpful, and so much more. Having autism may make things a little difficult for me sometimes, but it is a big part of who I am.
Chloe Rothschild. is a 20 year-old, self-advocate who is passionate about educating others about autism. She is a young leader for the Autistic Global Initiative, a program through the Autism Research Institute. She writes about sensory issues and differences, communication difficulties, meltdowns and debunking autism myths. In her free time she enjoys drawing and painting monsters, both on paper, and on the computer.
To see the original article click here.
Wireless Keyboard for iPad
Logitech came out with this ridiculously cool keyboard for ipads everywhere. Love that the ten-digit typing (when done properly) promotes inter-hemispheric integration in the brain, making us more regulated and mindful as we type instead of swipe.
To see original article click here.
What is Pinterest?
What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.
Would you like to learn more about Pinterest, set up an account and start to use it?
Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favourite recipes.
If you are a visual learner…this workshop is for you. We can teach you how to browse boards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.
You can use it for business, pleasure or both. We also offer Pinterest Intermediate, Pinterest Advanced and a more detailed Pinterest for Business course.
Pinterest for Beginners Workshops
On completion of our Beginners workshop, students should be able to understand:
- What is Pinterest?
- What is a Pin and how to use it
- What is a Board and how to use it
- How to sign up for a Pinterest account and a basic view on how to manage it
- How to make a good pin
- Manage your pins and boards
Pinterest for Business Workshops
Business Accounts vs. Personal Accounts
Business Accounts are FREE.
- Are you already a member? We can teach you how to convert them
- No Cost to change them over or to use them at the moment
- Pinterest users spend on average $180
- Facebook users only spend on average $85
- Pinterest influences 10% of transactions online
- Facebook only influences 7% of transactions online
Why not come to one or both of our courses.
Come and join us for Fun, balance, sharing, collaboration
How do I get started?
Join our 2 hour hands on Workshop and have fun with friends.
- Leave with an account and your first boards
- Share with other people in the class
- Bring along yourself, sense of humour and access to your email account
- Where- Newmarket
Call Zoe on 905 235 2269 or 289 716 1491 to reserve your space today.
Those with a Compulsive nature….
iPad Typing
The biggest hurdle in making the iPad a true replacement for a laptop is having the right keyboard.
What options do I have when Touch Typing on my iPad?
It is impossible to Touch Type using the touch screen keyboards on the iPad. Using just a few fingers (hunting and pecking) leads to inefficiency when inputting data and incorrect posture. There are other solutions now available.
Any numbers of manufacturers sell cases that have Bluetooth connected keyboards but watch out which one you choose. The problem with some cases is that by essentially attaching the keyboard to the iPad, it eliminates the ability to adjust the keyboard’s distance/placement with respect to the iPad. This makes for wildly bad ergonomics, and leads to inefficient/uncomfortable typing. Compound this with the fact that most of the keyboards that are connected to these cases lack the necessary tactile responsiveness, and you end up feeling like you’re typing on a toy.
Always look for a keyboard that is comfortable to the touch and that can be detached from the case.
Here are some options:
Use a Bluetooth Keyboard – If you’re planning on typing anything of length on an iPad, do yourself a favour and just connect an external Bluetooth keyboard to the iPad. It’s very easy to do, turn on Bluetooth and find the keyboard:
- Open Settings and tap “General” then “Bluetooth”
- Select the keyboard to pair
Use a Mac Keyboard – Don’t have a Bluetooth keyboard to spare? No problem, you can use a Mac keyboard to type on the iPad itself with the help of an app called Type2Phone. Type2Phone costs $4.99 on the Mac App Store, which is about $45 less than the cost of a new Bluetooth keyboard, not a bad deal when you consider that. You can copy and paste from a Mac directly to the iPad.
Trust in Auto-Correct – Auto correct can be a source of frustration, but it’s actually very smart, and learning to trust it a bit can really speed up typing on the iPad. While you’re typing and you see a disaster of letters that isn’t even close to what you intended to write, just keep typing, chances are good that it’ll auto correct to the proper word. Make sure auto correct is enabled:
- Open Settings and tap on “General” then tap “Keyboard”
- Swipe “Auto-Correction” to ON
For more information go to www.touchtyping4life.com or contact Zoe Clements
Computers and the Hidden Dangers
Welcome to my very first Blog. I have so much to share with you all.
I have developed a touch typing program to teach children and adults how to touch type correctly, giving them a skill for life. In this blog I would like to educate you on the science behind why Touch Typing is so good for you and why there are so many hidden dangers from using computers incorrectly.
Computers and the Hidden Dangers
At least 70 percent of Canada’s elementary school students are using computers at home and at school. As a result in the increase in usage more young people are suffering from the effects of working at computer stations that are poorly designed for adults. Doctors and Chiropractors are noticing a huge increase of children as patients. Children are already suffering from Repetitive Motion Injuries (RMI) such as carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic pain in the hands, back, neck and shoulders.
How can I help my child?
- Teach your child how to Touch Type correctly, ensure they are using muscle memory
- Provide proper placement of equipment and furniture to promote good posture and proper hand position
- Encourage activity breaks
- Arrange regular eye exams
- Drink plenty of water as your child’s muscles need adequate hydration to work correctly and avoid injury
It is far easier to teach good computer habits at a young age and make it an ingrained habit.
At Touch Typing 4 Life we do not just teach typing/keyboarding skills. We also teach computer ergonomics for kids within our program. Our program is specially designed for students with a wide range of abilities.
Learning to type is simply the best skill anyone can have: ask everyone who can touch type and they will tell you that, along with driving, it is the most useful skill they have acquired.
Qwertynomics 
