Creating a visual representation to compare attributes can significantly enhance the clarity and understanding of complex information. Canva is one tool available in Loudoun County Public Schools which invites users to design a two-set Venn diagram that effectively illustrates similarities and differences between two categories. With Canva, customize colors, add text labels, and adjust sizes to ensure your diagram matches your specific needs. Whether you’re a learner preparing a research project or a professional delivering a presentation, leveraging Canva’s tools for Venn diagrams can elevate your ability to communicate complex comparisons effectively. To learn more, visit Canva’s webpage on creating Venn Diagrams.
Category Archives: Executive Functioning
Supports to Improve Executive Functioning
Exploring Vocabulary With the Frayer Model Using Lucid
Originally designed as a tool to enhance understanding of vocabulary, the Frayer Model encourages learners to delve deeply into words by defining them, providing examples and non-examples, and connecting them to their own experiences in a consistently organized way. Lucid is one example of a tool available in Loudoun County Public Schools that can be used to create a document where learners can interact with the Frayer Model. These documents can be used individually or collaboratively to explore vocabulary and define concepts.
Frayer Model Template Made Using Lucid
The video titled How To Use the Frayer Model by TeachLikeThis provides a description of the Frayer Model.
Prioritizing and Completing Tasks with Checklists
Learners can use technology to create a checklist of tasks to accomplish and put them in order based on what needs to get done first. Checklists provide a visual reminder of what needs to be accomplished. Checkboxes can be used to indicate when something has been completed. Digital checklists can often be shared with educators to provide guidance and feedback. Digital checklists are also often flexible, allowing items to be re-ordered, read aloud with text to speech, and edited. The following are a list of potential tools that could be used to create digital checklists.
Managing Time with Alerts and Alarms
When diligently working on a task it can be easy to lose track of time. An alarm or alert helps learners know that something is coming up that needs attention. Learners can set an alarm to go off at a specific time. Educators might need to provide guidance with regard to how much time might be needed to prepare for the transition to the next experience. The following website provide free, programmable alarms.
Managing Time with Timers
Knowing how much time one has left before a transition takes place helps learners understand when the task they are working to complete will come to an end. Educators can guide learners to set their own timers to help them learn self-management skills. Learners can also challenge themselves to complete tasks accurately within the given time frame. Timers can have both visual and auditory components as a cue to the learner about how much time is left like the Candle Timer.
Managing Time with Google Calendar
Learners can use their Google accounts to create and manage multiple calendars. It has color coding, collaboration, and reminder features to help individuals never miss another event. Different views allow the learner to see a schedule for the day, week, month, or even more customized options. At first, educators might need to provide guidance about what types of events should go on the calendar. Over time, using the calendar becomes habitual and part of one’s daily routine.
The video below titled Google Calendar: 8 Little-Known Google Cal Tips shares ideas about how to use Google Calendar.
Defining Executive Functioning
Executive functioning skills are a set of cognitive abilities that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control used daily to learn, work, and manage everyday life. People can use technology to help learn how to manage and develop these abilities. This blog often shares specific strategies to people learn how to use technology to build executive functioning skills all of which can be accessed by using the Executive Functioning category on the right.
The video titled “What is Executive Function?” further explains executive functioning.
Using the iOS Notes App to Scan Documents
Sometimes individuals encounter hard copies of documents, such as a paper-based form, that need to be scanned and converted into a digital format. Some individuals might need or prefer to annotate a digital version of that document.
If the individual has an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch running iOS version 10.0 or late, the iOS Notes app can be used to scan documents. Here’s how:
- Open the Notes app
- Select the camera icon at the bottom of the screen.
- In the menu that appears, select Scan Documents.
- Position the document in view and select the white shutter button to scan the document.
- You can choose to Retake or Keep Scan. Drag the corners to crop the scan if needed.
- If you choose to keep the scan, a prompt will appear saying Ready for next scan. If it’s only a one-page document, select Save. If it has multiple pages, repeat steps 4 and 5 for each page.
- You will see thumbnails of your scanned pages at the bottom of the screen. When you have scanned all of the pages, select Save. Then, select Done.
- When you look at your Notes, you will see your scanned document, which is automatically saved as a PDF file. You can Send a Copy via email, text message, or AirDrop. Your copy can then be uploaded to Google Drive or Schoology. Another option is to Save to Files, including your iCloud account.
LCPS staff and students have access to TextHelp’s OrbitNote Chrome extension. If your scanned PDF is uploaded to Google Drive or Schoology, you can use OrbitNote to edit the document by adding text, drawings, and more.
Check out the following videos for more information on using the Notes app for scanning, including some advanced features.
Happy scanning!
Audio Recording and Transcription in Google Keep
Google Keep is a note taking application available to any student in Loudoun County Public Schools. One way users can take notes using a mobile device is by recording audio. The recorded audio is both saved and transcribed so the user can access the note again in their preferred modality. They can listen to the recorded audio, read the transcribed text, or do both! Watch this video titled Google Keep: Voice Notes and Transcription.
Organizing Information Using OneNote
OneNote is a tool included in the Microsoft Office Suite of programs. It acts as a digital binder where a user can keep notes in a variety of formats. Users can include text, audio, or photos and organize them using colored tabs in sections within a binder. Additional tabs and sections can be added and then rearranged as necessary. Every student in LCPS has access OneNote. Watch this short introductory video titled “What is OneNote?” to learn more about OneNote to decide if it might help you or a learner you support.
OneNote in Microsoft Office 365