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Are Ipads an asset to a special education classroom? There is some research out there on Ipads in the classroom however there has only been about four years of research done because Ipads are a new technology in the classroom.
Anya Kamenentz in the article iPads in special ed: What does the research say? states that iPads are a good tool to have in the classroom of students with disabilities. The iPads are touchscreen so they are easy for the students to use. Even a student that had control over only one finger was able to communicate using an iPad. The Ipads are making it easier for students to communicate because they can use pictures to describe how they are feeling or using the pictures instead of words. Furthermore, students can hear what they are reading which is a text to speech feature that the iPad has for these students.
I have an iPad in my classroom for an ASD (autism spectrum disorder) student. I believe that it helps the student to communicate. It is also teaching him basic skills that he needs for reading and writing. The iPad keeps him engaged in the curriculum. It is very hard to keep him engaged in the classroom however the iPad is very engaging for him.
Anya Kamenetz states that the iPads may be engaging however she wonders if it is just because they are a new tool for students to use. This will need more research as time goes on because the research sample size is small and the advantages have mixed feelings. Teachers did report that they have more independent workers and less behavior problems when they used iPads in the classroom.
Kamenetz, A. (2014, June 13) iPads in special ed: What does the research say?,npr Ed How Learning Happens. Retrieved June 17, 2014 from http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/06/13/321058641/ipads-in-special-ed-what-does-the-research-say
I personally believe that the iPad has huge benefits to the special education classroom in different ways. The educational apps alone are worth the investment. There is an app for just about any activity/skill that you would want to cover in a K-12 classroom. While I agree that they can be a distraction if boundaries are not set, the benefits greatly outweigh the issues.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of new technology available for people with disabilities that can enhance learning in special education classrooms. iPads are a great tool for these students. Just as iPads work well for teaching young and old, they can serve many degrees of disability. I can see how iPads can encourage more independent work and reduce behavior issues. With new apps continually being developed (some with certain disabilities in mind), the benefits of using the iPad in special education are endless.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you. I think iPads are an asset to the special education students. They can be differentiated to the students needs.
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