How to use iPads in the Classroom

LeBaron, 12/13/10

A Keynote presentation created on an iPad.

Target areas for iPad use

Language ArtsMathematics

CommunicationOrganizationWork habits

Social and fun

To use the iPad to it's fullest potential...

Put it in the hands of the students!

I want to get away from just thinking of the iPad as a reward during the last 5 minutes of class.

This is about how students can utilize the iPad across the school environment.

Language Arts

• Intuitive way to present information.

• Provides multiple opportunities and incentives to practice phonics skills, sentence building, mind mapping.

• Increased access to individualized literature and independent reading. *

• Flash cards

• Personal whiteboards

• Reference tool

Creating and adapting written

language

• Students can use Storykit to create their own books.

• Teachers can use Storykit with students to simplify grade level text.*

• Applications such as Sentence Builder encourage students to create full and complete sentences.

Mathematics• Discreet and immediate access to

manipulatives and tools

• Provides incentive to practice skills

• Allows independent exploration of virtual materials.

Speech and Communication

• It doesn't have to be an education app to be useful in the classroom.

• Use Make an Martian to encourage specific verbal description of attributes.

• Students can work on receptive language with flashcards that include emotions, actions, household objects.

• With ArtikPix students can hear models, record and match sounds.

Text to speech• With Speak It students can

paste documents and web-based text into application and have it read to them.

• Students can save pre-typed phrases or passages to be read outloud.

• Applications such as this can be used for research projects and as preparation for verbal presentations.

• The iPad can potentially replace clunky, single-use aug.comm. devices.

iPads as a replacement for Augmentative

Communication devices• Traditional aug comm

devices are cumbersome, only designed for single function, require isolated skills and make the user stand out.

• Applications such as Proloquo2go, TaptoTalk, Speak It allow iPad to support communication without negatives of aug comm devices.

Organization and scheduling

• Applications such as iStudiez allow students to program their daily schedule into iPad and receive alerts for transitions, assignment deadlines.

• IStudiez can be customized to provide information on class location and class description.

• Applications such as First Then Visual Schedule can be useful for students who require a step-by-step breakdown of tasks

Fostering independent work

habits

• Applications such as TenPlusTwo, Task Timer, Visual Timer, First Then enable students to work independently and give themselves a work-break schedule during longer work periods.

Social and entertainment

• It's hard to forget how much entertainment an iPad can provide. Give students the opportunities to have fun independently too!

• YouTube favorites

• iBooks and other ebook applications

• Games

• iTunes

• Children think with their fingers. The iPad is an intuitive interface that allows users of all abilities to access the technology to it's fullest.

• Affordability- with so many apps being available for $.99 teachers are empowered to acquire, explore and provide diverse and current software for their students.

• Universal Design- Everyone benefits from using an iPad. When using it to foster independence in the school and broader community, students not only want to but are able to without standing out from their peers.

Why is the iPad so suited for student use?

Links and resources

• http://www.iear.org/iear/2010/7/4/ipadipod-touchiphone-apps-for-spedspecial-needs-by-david-lig.html

• http://speechlanguagepathologysharing.blogspot.com/2009/12/iphone-and-ipod-touch-apps-for-special.html

• http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703945904575644940111605862.html