The article Build an Assistive Technology Toolkit, did not address the use of iPads for more personalized toolkits. iPads are not only equipped with apple software, but have the additional benefit of offering thousands of apps to personalize tablet use. Dragon Dictation types what students verbally say, which can benefit students with disabilities that effect fine motor skills like typing. TapToTalk is
an app that gives a voice to nonverbal students by showing thousands of pictures that students can click on to communicate for them. For example, if a nonverbal student wanted to eat, they could click on an icon with food on it, and the icon would verbally state to others that the student wanted to eat. Therefore, this app allows nonverbal students to verbally communicate their thoughts and needs to others. The app store on iTunes offers apps for students with learning disabilities, autism and
Aspergers, communication and speech disabilities, and more. The advantage to using iPads as a tool
for assistive technology, is that it can be personalized to an individual user according to his/her needs. Although computer software offers many tools for students with special needs, it does not cater to the needs of individual students, which can impact the success of inclusion within the classroom. The only downside to using iPads as assistive technology, is that they must be personally purchased in order to be effective personalized tools. Even if schools could afford classroom sets of iPads, students still would not have the freedom to personalize their iPad for their own use. Therefore, individual students would have to purchase their own tablet device in order to benefit from its personalization.
This article meets NETS-S student standards 3c, 5c, 6a, and 6b because assistive technology allows students to evaluate and use "digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks" and helps students learn to use technology systems productively and effectively. In addition it helps set students up for lifelong learning. It also meets NETS-S teacher standard 2c and 3b because it allows students to personalize their education in a way that supports their learning styles and unique abilities and requires collaboration with parents, students, and IT members. Most importantly, the assistive learning technology toolkit allows teachers to meet standard 4b: "Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources" (NETS-S).
an app that gives a voice to nonverbal students by showing thousands of pictures that students can click on to communicate for them. For example, if a nonverbal student wanted to eat, they could click on an icon with food on it, and the icon would verbally state to others that the student wanted to eat. Therefore, this app allows nonverbal students to verbally communicate their thoughts and needs to others. The app store on iTunes offers apps for students with learning disabilities, autism and
Aspergers, communication and speech disabilities, and more. The advantage to using iPads as a tool
for assistive technology, is that it can be personalized to an individual user according to his/her needs. Although computer software offers many tools for students with special needs, it does not cater to the needs of individual students, which can impact the success of inclusion within the classroom. The only downside to using iPads as assistive technology, is that they must be personally purchased in order to be effective personalized tools. Even if schools could afford classroom sets of iPads, students still would not have the freedom to personalize their iPad for their own use. Therefore, individual students would have to purchase their own tablet device in order to benefit from its personalization.
This article meets NETS-S student standards 3c, 5c, 6a, and 6b because assistive technology allows students to evaluate and use "digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks" and helps students learn to use technology systems productively and effectively. In addition it helps set students up for lifelong learning. It also meets NETS-S teacher standard 2c and 3b because it allows students to personalize their education in a way that supports their learning styles and unique abilities and requires collaboration with parents, students, and IT members. Most importantly, the assistive learning technology toolkit allows teachers to meet standard 4b: "Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources" (NETS-S).
Ahrens, K. (2011). Build an assistive technology toolkit. Learning & Leading with Technology, 39(3), 22-24.
NETS-S (2014). In ISTE NETS-S Advancing Learning in the Digital Age. Retrieved February 12, 2014
NETS-S (2014). In ISTE NETS-S Advancing Learning in the Digital Age. Retrieved February 12, 2014
I thought your post was very interesting! The advantages of Ipads is so amazing with children that need that individual work. I feel that if we as teachers take advantage of our devices around and us and use them for our students that it can help prepare them in a road to success. Students sometimes need the individual work to get more hands on and I feel that using our new resources can help with that.
ReplyDeleteHailey it looks like we did the same article, which is my fault for not communicating which article I was doing and not checking which ones my group mates were doing. But, I actually found it helpful when reading your post. Since I read the same article, I'm familiar with the topic. I agree with you fully that this is a great option for disabled students. I hadn't thought about the lack of a personal device though, and I think it's really important that you brought that up. School's are trying to accommodate students who need some extra help, but is it still helpful if it's not personalized? I was thinking about your Ipad suggestion and how each student would need to buy his or her own. This might be a far fetched idea, but I was thinking maybe there could be a grant that people apply for in order to purchase an assistive device. Maybe schools could host fundraisers specifically to be able to offer these grants or scholarships. I don't know if that would work, but I feel that schools should work toward offering more personal devices since they can be extremely helpful.
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