Another three cool things

I was inspired by Amanda’s recent blog posts that introduce a three cool things that she’s been learning or trying out in her work practice. You never know whether something you share will be just the thing that someone else was needing to know. And we definitely don’t want to be secret geniuses any more now that we are post ILT 2014!

Cool thing number 1

I’ve been using Twitter for a number of years and I find that my usage definitely increases at conference time. I’ve recently found a great way to follow things on a regular basis and jump in and use Twitter for a defined period of time. I find that I can contribute and receive great content by joining live chats. As a speechie I’ve been tuning into #wespeechies chat which is from 8-9pm (AEST) on a Tuesday night. They have a different topic that they set for the week. And If I don’t get to sit in on it live there is always the wrap up that I can access through Storify. This link takes me to a wrap up of  Using Video in Clinical Settings and Video Blogging. I love that you can be chatting to people from all over the world and sharing and gaining ideas on some excellent topics relevant to your profession.


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I’ve also joined in with #ATchat on a Thursday morning. #ATchat is a weekly professional learning experience that allows educators to collaborate through the use of the twitter social media platform and is hosted by @KarenJan

I’d encourage you to try them out. You might have some great ideas to share and you’ll certainly make some great connections and learn some great stuff too!

Cool thing number 2

I don’t know about you, but my charging cables are forever on the floor and out of reach when I need them. I recently discovered a solution that has saved my sore back and kept things organised a little better AND it’s even cooler because it uses LEGO!

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Easy to put together with some of my LEGO from the good old days and now I have somewhere to put my iPad charging cable and my phone charging cable and no longer do I pick them up off the floor!

Cool thing number 3

Most people know that they can take a screenshot of their phone or tablet. For the iPad or iPhone you can hold the home button and the sleep/wake button at the same time and whatever is on your screen will be photographed and will end up on your Photo app on the Camera Roll. For Android devices you hold the volume down button and the on/off button at the same time and photos are saved to your Photos app or Gallery.

But I want to share how I use this cool feature in a handy way. I’m often reading Facebook groups on different special education topics or seeing links in my newsfeed to great blog posts and videos. Sometimes I don’t have the time to go and read them then and there.

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So I take a screenshot which will then serve as a reminder for me later as to where the post was so I can look it up again later. Basically I am visually bookmarking it so I can find which group or person posted it and check it out when I have more time. Perhaps you already have a great way to remind you of posts for later reading but that’s what works for me 🙂

 Have you got 3 cool things you can share with others?

 

Charlene Cullen

Charlene has worked as a speech pathologist, supporting people with complex communication needs and learning disabilities for the past 15 years. She has worked in a variety of roles within the Disability Services of Western Australia, including Senior Speech Pathologist, Rural and Remote Resource Therapist and Regional Team Manager. Charlene is a trained Key Word Sign (formerly Makaton) presenter, certified Hanen It Takes Two to Talk presenter and a member of the Apple Consultants Network. Charlene is also an official Proloquo2Go / Proloquo4Text trainer, and TBoxApps Trainer for Therapy Box. Charlene has developed strong skills in and a passion for, the area of AAC and assistive technologies. She enjoys presenting workshops and providing consultancy services to support and educate parents, teachers and therapists in the use and application of inclusive technologies. Charlene has been a full time member of the Professional and Consultancy Services Team at Spectronics. AGOSCI State Representative for Victoria (2012-present); Key Word Sign Victoria committee member (2012-present).

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