iPad pilot program brings new ideas to special education
by Sue Austreng
Staff writer
Apple’s iPad may have been the hot item of 2010, but special education teachers in the Anoka-Hennepin School District saw the technology as more than the latest must-have gadget.
The iPad’s larger screen plus a number of existing applications means that special education teachers can use them to target specific student learning needs.
Using federal stimulus funds – which must target innovation and education reform – five Anoka-Hennepin schools plus two dozen itinerant teachers (teachers who travel between schools) will pilot iPads and iPod Touches specifically for special education.
Schools piloting the iPad/iPod Touch technology in the classroom include Adams Elementary School, Oxbow Elementary School, Northdale Middle School, River Trails Learning Center at L.O. Jacob and the Washington campus of Anoka Middle School for the Arts.
Classroom uses of the technology are specific to students’ educational needs.
Students in special education have an individualized education plan (IEP) that requires teachers to customize their learning.
At Northdale Middle School, for example, special education teachers will use a communication software that allows students with low language skills and cognitive disabilities to express their wants and needs.
Current adaptive devices that do this cost several thousand dollars, compared with the iPad’s several hundred dollar price tag.
“If an iPad can accomplish the same thing as the more expensive device, then we have another option,” said Dr. Jennifer Babiracki, special education consultant for Anoka-Hennepin School District.
“Anytime we put technology in the classroom – especially a special education classroom – we want to see results in learning and development.”
To that end, Anoka-Hennepin’s Special Education Department required any school interested in using iPads or iPod Touches to make a specific request and to monitor the technology’s effectiveness.
In all, 39 iPads and 11 iPod Touches will be in use by staff and students this winter and spring.
“We brought in our assessment experts – the district’s Research, Evaluation and Testing Department – to help us collect and analyze the data on student learning,” Babiracki said.
“We think there are many areas in special education where this kind of technology can be successful, but we need data to make good decisions.”
Other pilot programs this year are as follows:
• Alternative test formats will be developed for the iPad and used for special education students who are “mainstreamed” into regular education classrooms.
• Students with cognitive disabilities will use specific applications to target their reading, math, writing and social skills.
• Various high school curricula will be put on the iPad for older students who need to learn or review specific content.
• Special education staff who travel between multiple sites can check out an iPad or iPod Touch and use them for specific learning needs.
Sue Austreng is at sue.austreng@ecm-inc.com
Why hasn’t any of this information been forwarded to the parents of Special Ed. students? I’d be willing to pay for any technology that can help my son. Their regular processes have done nothing for him since we moved here. He has actually regressed.
Have you expressed your concerns in a non-accusatory manner to the special education teacher? I’m sure if you think it would be beneficial you could purchase one and try it at home. Then contact the teacher and let him/her know about the successes, then they could reinforce those things/or build on them in the classroom.
@Bob,
I wish I knew the name of the product off the top of my head but one of the school districts in my area is making extensive use of all-in-one touch screen pcs for special education. Apparently they also looked at tablet computers and found that the full sized touch screen monitors were a lot more effective. I think there is already fully developped special education software on the market for use with that type of pc. If you are going to buy something for use at home I would suggest at looking at a variety of differenct options and not just go out and buy an ipad since that may prove to be unsuitable.
Incidentally tablet pcs are already extensively used in many school districts, but they’re not ipads. Ipads are very much overpriced and lack some of the most important technical features needed in the classroom. One of the school districts near me is making extensive use of the Dell Streak and are quite excited by it. They “test drove” a number of tablets and aside from the price found the ipad too cumbersome, etc, etc. I know that many of the other local school disricts have been making use of other tablets since early last decade, but to this point mainly by teachers and administrators. Given the need for all levels of government to make the best use of what’s probably going to be less money hopefully school disricts will take a close look and buy what gets them the most bang for the buck and not just go out and buy what’s “hot”.
Your taxpayer dollars are going to … Apple!! So that’s how they’re the world’s biggest tech company…