Welome to our ‘Back to school’ issue of AT News. September is a busy month for everyone: students, families, teachers and lecturers.

Here in Enable Ireland, we are acutely aware that technology is moving at a fast pace and that there are many developments which will be of interest to those involved in education, and this issue may go some way towards expanding all of our access to key educational resources. So look out for information on a new text-based tutor, SMS.com, as well as a range of new Eduapps. We get lots of enquiries from people who want to understand the pro’s and con’s of using laptops versus iPads, so we’ve got a piece focusing on that question inside this issue too. And for those of you with an interest in literacy challenges and dyslexia, we’ve got a piece on World Dyslexia Day, along with an update on our collaboration with the Dyslexia Association of Ireland to create e learning modules. Finally, we’ve included news of a forthcoming Entelis seminar, which is focusing on the role of education in reducing the digital divide. We hope that you’ll find something of interest in this issue.

Entelis

The European Network for Technology Enhanced Learning in an Inclusive Society is hosting a seminar in Dublin Castle on November 12^th 2015, with the following focus:

Reducing The Digital Divide: The Role of Education.

This is a question that we are commonly asked. Both devices have their good and bad points, but they are also very different, so a direct comparison is not always easy. Add into the mix other options such as an Android tablet or a Windows based tablet, a Chrome book, or a MacBook, and it can easily become very unclear as to which is the “best” device.

Enable Ireland AT Service and the Dyslexia Association of Ireland have collaborated to produce a learning resource for students, outlining free and low cost apps and software to support literacy.