Sharing Sites

On the suggestion of a colleague, I thought I would check out Classroom Suite 4 from Intellitools.  I have heard about this software and had seen it as supporting file on the Unique Learning System dashboard.  Because ULS also offered the file as a PowerPoint I never paid much attention to the CS4 version. 

While waiting for the Classroom Suite 4 software trial to load I decided to take some time and look around some different sharing sites that are out there for special education teachers.  

I checked out Boardmaker Share at http://www.boardmakershare.com/ .   I signed in and did a search for ULS grade level 6-8.  My search returned 7 files uploaded, most recently uploaded 10/25/2009.   I tried to adjust my search to unique and came up with 29 files, some referring to Unique Learning Curriculum, some not.  Because I did not have my Boardmaker CD at home I could not open the files, but a few of the previews looked like activities that could be adapted for upcoming units in the Unique Learning Curriculum.

I also have a subscription to Pogo Boards. www.pogoboards.com When I searched ULS one file came up, which was one that I uploaded with support icons for Unit 18.  A few more files came up when I searched for Unique, some were files that I had uploaded but others were files that others had created, I could not exactly place the Unit that the files corresponded with.

It would be nice if N2Y would have a sharing site where users of their curriculum could sign in and share resources that they have created.  

At this point I am still waiting for CS4 to finish downloading and unzipping.   I started checking out Classroom Suite’s Activity Exchange.  http://aex.intellitools.com/  When I searched ULS I came up with 6 activities.  None were listed to accompany the middle school lesson.  When I searched Unique I got back 35 hits.  None of the files were for the middle school level but the ideas gleaned from the files I did look at look like they might have potential to work for my students.   I will have to make use of this 30 day trial to see if I can create activities to support the free summer curriculum from Unique Learning. http://unique.n2y.com/

        I then signed back into ULS and my dashboard, and attempted to open the CS4 file under the supporting files.  I eventually was able to open the file.  When looking at it from the perspective of a teacher who works with students with limited reach, I would prefer to have the controls that are at the top of the page at the bottom.  I would think that my students would become frustrated when trying to press the buttons and instead they activate the words on the screen.  I will have to try this out when I start summer school and begin to work with the TAP·it®.   Until then I will be creating activities and playing with the CS4 software, to see if it is something my students can use to help them reach their full potential.