Well-implemented technology gives classroom staff loads of tools for teaching students with a broad range of learning styles. The time investment in learning new technology will make teaching easier and assist students in advocating for their life-long learning. This newsletter PD is intended to help you learn new technologies at High Point a little bit at a time, slowly filling up your teaching toolbox throughout this chaotic school year.

For this short week, we will focus on a very simple technology... the Boogie Board. This is a simple e-writing board. Students and staff can write on the surface using the stylus, their fingernails or any other hard item. To erase, just press the circle button at the bottom. Unfortunately, there is not an option to erase only part of what you wrote. The button erases everything. It's like a small whiteboard, but without the mess of markers and erasers. These 11 inch screens are shaped somewhat like an iPad, but are much more affordable, not glass and don't have the blue light that irritates some users' eyes. There are no apps or power cords... just a simple, reusable writing surface.

Some other simple features:

• It reduces paper use.
• Use the stylus, like the picture above, to prop the Boogie Board up for better viewing.
• Use the magnets on the back to temporarily attach the board to a file cabinet or other magnetic surface. You could also add Velcro to hold it somewhere.
• The low-tech aspect of this board can be beneficial because there are no games or YouTube or other activities to distract the student from just writing and it frees the iPad to be used for their AAC program so they can talk about their writing.

The Boogie Board is for any student to write on or see writing from staff. Here are some ideas for use:

• For students who have troubles holding the stylus, you can build it up with a foam handle, or use a Universal Cuff to keep it in their hand.
• For students who write on an iPad using the Notes app or other drawing app, but are at risk of throwing the iPad, the Boogie Board is much lighter and less likely to hurt someone if thrown.
• Use the magnets or Velcro to secure the board to a wall for students to view while getting cares done so that time can also be instructional time.
• You don't have to draw on the board. You can just use the black surface as a background to make other items set on it show up for students with CVI.

Just use it! There's no setup... just write on it!

The Boogie Board has one small button battery that should last a very long time. You will need a small screwdriver to access the battery compartment. There will be extra batteries, screwdrivers and styluses in the High Point ATAC lab. Wipe it down with Clorox wipes if it gets dirty.