[senco-forum] Alpha Smarts

It is good to hear such positive feedback from the classroom!
If needed, Don Johnston SN adapted versions of the Neo will run Cowriter
and the Dana will run Write Outloud - these are really useful additions
to foster more independent learning

KAZ can be a very effective typing trainer, but does not work for all
learning styles

Cheers
Judith
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Judith Stansfield
SEN ICT Consultant
BDANTC (Associate member)
Farm Cottage, 24 East Road, Melsonby,Richmond DL10 5NF
stass at onyxnet.co.uk 
01325 718139   07990572365
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Tenhaaf,
Mick
Sent: 23 November 2006 00:25
To: Anne Oliver; senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: RE: [senco-forum] Alpha Smarts

We use the Neo with a number of our students who have dyspraxia. Has
made a world of difference to their confidence, also to the mainstream
teachers, who had concluded that the kids had ID. We went with the NEO
rather than the Dana because of the simplicity of the Neo and the lack
of distracting features. If there's a button, the kids think you have to
push it, poke it, squeeze it, pull it or suck on it! And the kids
sitting nearby are not distracted by it, there is no big screen with all
sorts of zips, bopps and whirrs to concentrate on.

Also considerably cheaper to replace! We tried a laptop with one of the
students but it only lasted about a month before meeting an untimely
fate.

Thus far, about six months, we have had no problems. The machines are
still running on their first set of batteries although used daily. They
have taken a bit of a battering, but still keep going. They haven't been
stepped on yet, so I can't comment there!

I wouldn't bother with getting the rechargeable model. The Neo is so
power efficient that it doesn't make economic sense. 

I'm very pleased with it, have recommended it to others.

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Anne Oliver
Sent: Thursday, 23 November 2006 4:07 AM
To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: [senco-forum] Alpha Smarts

I am thinking about purchasing an ALpha smart for use by a couple of
dyslexic students. We have no students
using laptops and I thought this would be a useful start. I'd be
grateful
for any advice from SENCos who are currently using them. Last time I
looked
they were called ALpha Smart 3000, but now there is a Dana and a Neo,
how do
I choose between them?!
I am also trying to persuade the Head to purchase a whole school site
licence for the Kaz typing programme -any comments?
Anne Oliver
SENCo
Aylesford School
Warwick