EDT+604

=EDT 604: iPad Class= Start: 10/8/10 End: 11/20/10

**Assignment 1:**
This article makes a concise argument for the switch to digital learning in the educational setting. As the article points out, hardcopy textbooks become outdated and obsolete rather quickly, and it is not a very cost-efficient solution for acquiring updated information. With a tablet like the iPad, schools are able to obtain updated textbooks as the information becomes available and, for a fee, borrow the books rather than purchase them. This also opens up more options for material storage, which is especially pertinent for schools that are over-crowded. The article also emphasizes that the best and most current learning is cooperative learning, and tablets provide several cooperative and interactive learning opportunities. Tablets provide meaningful learning experiences and tools that are easily relatable to students because many of the skills involved will translate into their everyday lives and future education. How will the ipad change education? [Web log message]. (2010, January 27). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/blog/2010/01/how-will-the-ipad-change-education/ In this article, the anticipation of the iPad sparked discussion from students, educators, and analysts as to its application in the classroom. Being part of the digital generation, students seem excited about the iPad, but are also quick to point out its flaws. Students are so used to having the latest technology at their fingertips, that they have high expectations of new technology. Educators and analysts were more excited about the educational implications of the iPad. The innovative design of the iPad opens up new possibilities for e-textbooks and educational apps that are ever-changing and up-to-date. McCrea, B. (2010). Measuring the ipad's potential for education. //THE Journal//, Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2010/01/27/Measuring-the-iPads-Potential-for-Education.aspx?Page=2 The nation's first iPad Social Studies curriculum has been developed in the Commonwealth of Virginia for seventh and ninth graders using Pearson's U.S. History and World History programs, using apps and a digital curriculum designed by Pearson. This new program will be tested out in several Virginia classrooms beginning on November 1, 2010. The curriculum includes an app for interactive learning games, an eText that gives students access to the curriculum and allows them to create their own text, and individualized review and testing. This pilot program will provide information as to the usefulness of digital learning with this new technology. Wolfe, L. (2010, September 29). Pearson and commonwealth of virginia launch first-ever ipad social studies curriculum. //eSchool News//, Retrieved from http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/09/29/pearson-and-commonwealth-of-virginia-launch-first-ever-ipad-social-studies-curriculum/ The weblog, "Teaching All Students," is devoted to assistive technology used by students with special needs. In this particular post, author Patrick Black reviews the usefulness of the "TapSpeak Button" app by Conley Solutions. Black indicates that the iPad is a wonderful platform for communication and, although it may not be usable by all, is accessible to most. This particular app is very simple to use. It involves a large button that speaks one message when pressed. The app stores the messages that are created, so they may be used over and over. There is also a "TapSpeak Sequences" app, which offers a step-by-step programming interface. Black, P. (2010, August 23). Appmonday - tapspeak button [Web log message]. Retrieved from [] This web page is in support of using iPad apps with students in conjunction with physical therapy. Students who are in wheelchairs often work with a physical therapist on weight-bearing activities in a standing frame. These students generally have a tray on the standing frame so that they are able to complete other activities while in physical therapy. The author suggests utilizing the iPad as a motivational tool during PT sessions. There are also apps listed on this page that are great for sensory activities that include visual apps, auditory apps, art, games, and communication. Kaufenberg, J. (2010, May 3). //ipad apps for kids with special needs//. Retrieved from [] The author of this blog entry has high praise for the iPad as an engaging and meaningful educational tool, especially for students who are in Special Education programs and may be struggling learners. First, the iPad is a new, popular piece of technology that has a "wow" factor. This can be very important to the self-image of students with special needs who use it. Second, some students have trouble expressing themselves through handwriting, some may be unable to access a traditional keyboard, some students require assistance for spelling, and some students struggle with finding the motivation to write. For students with these unique needs, the iPad presents fun, interactive, and adaptive ways to input text. Third, although the iPad does not currently have a camera to contribute to allow students to create and upload content, it does offer access to content that reduces or eliminates the need for heavy printed textbooks. (The author also mentions the iPad not having text-to-speech capabilities, but I'm not sure what the author means here because VoiceOver is Apple's text-to-speech accessibility feature. There are also other text-to-speech apps available now, that may not have been developed at the time this article was written.) Fourth, the iPad can be used in place of traditional paper notebooks for those students that find pencil-and-paper learning to be non-motivational, or have trouble reading their own handwriting. Fifth, the iPad may not be able to do several things on the screen at once, but for some students, it is actually easier to cut down the amount of multitasking they do and helps them focus on the task at hand. Lastly, the iPad is very time-efficient, whereas the laptops most schools use waste important learning time to unplug, pass out, power up, log onto the network, and finally locate and load the webpage or program. Janowski, K. (2010, April 10). Why i love the ipad for education: initial observations [Web log message]. Retrieved from [] Lori Thompson, a teacher of students with special needs in Colchester, IL, has several students in her classroom with autism. Autism creates difficulties for students when trying to communicate or socialize with others. The teacher has begun using the iPad with her students, and has noticed improvement in their handwriting and self-esteem. Thompson also has her nonverbal students use the iPad as a communication device because it is lighter and more cost-efficient than traditional electronic communication devices. There are other apps that her students with autism have found helpful, including apps to help them participate in calendar and weather discussion, phonics and letter-writing, social cues, and Thompson uses apps to create specific skill-based content using her own recorded voice. The iPad can be used as a helpful assistive technology tool because it reinforces classroom learning. Steelman, L. (2010, October 7). //Autistic students find help with the ipad//. Retrieved from http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2608570/posts
 * How Will the iPad Change Education?**
 * [|Measuring the iPad's Potential for Education]**
 * [|Pearson and Commonwealth of Virginia Launch First-ever iPad Social Studies Curriculum]**
 * [|AppMonday - TapSpeak Button]**
 * [|iPad Apps for Kids with Special Needs]**
 * [|Why I Love the iPad for Education: Initial Observations]**
 * [|Autistic Students Find Help with iPad]**

**Assignment 2:**

 * __Educational Applications__**
 * 1) __[|PseudoChromatic Color Test]__ This app provides plates from the Ishihara Color Test in which the viewer is supposed to distinguish a number. Following each color plate, this app provides an explanation of what type of color deficiency may be present if the viewer is unable to read the number on the plate. Part of my job is to conduct informal assessments, called Functional Vision Assessments, to determine how students function visually within their environments. This app is a GREAT way to provide useful feedback regarding color vision.
 * 2) [|Braille Driller] Since Braille is a tactile reading code, it may seem odd to practice it without the tactile element of raised dots, but this app is very fun and motivating for my students who are dual media learners. Some of my students are currently large print readers, but due to increasing difficulty in reading print or a degenerative visual condition, these students are learning Braille. As a fun way to reinforce the Braille Code, this app utilizes their residual vision to help them recognize Braille letters and numbers with greater automaticity.
 * 3) [|Awesome Memory] Visual memory skills are a very important area of my instruction. This app is a fun way for students to work on hand-eye coordination and increase their visual memory. The app allows gameplay for 1-4 players and in three different layouts (3x4, 4x5, and 5x6), so it can also be used as a tool to facilitate social interaction, and can be used with players of varying skill levels.
 * 4) [|Chronolite - Timer] I work on visual efficiency skills, such as tracking and visual discrimination, and some of these activities are timed. Students like to visually see how long it took them, rather than hear me announce their time, and this app allows them to do just that. It is large, clear, and has good contrast. It has four different timers that can all work simultaneously. Some students find a count-down to be motivating because they are better able to budget their time in a given task, so this aspect will also come in handy.
 * 5) [|Spot the Difference! 2] This app is WONDERFUL for visual discrimination activities. Students with visual impairments can often miss information in pictures simply due to their visual impairment, but if they can't see it, they aren't aware they are missing it! This is why it is important to teach students how to utilize visual strategies to identify information they may otherwise overlook. I also love that this app has REAL photographs. Real photographs provide a meaningful learning platform that is much more useful than cartoon drawings.
 * 6) [|Bug Squash Lite] This app not only provides a fun and motivating way to hone visual-motor skills, it also provides an opportunity to practice positional language terms, i.e. "The bugs are starting at the TOP and going to the BOTTOM!" or "The large bug is NEXT TO the fork!" or "The fast bug is TO THE RIGHT OF the slow bug!"
 * 7) [|IEP Checklist] This app was created with teachers in mind, but I find it to be a helpful tool to use with high school students. I try to involve my high school students, not only IN IEP meetings, but PREPARE them for participation in the meeting, to give them a sense of ownership in the process, to help increase self-advocacy skills, and to help students create a better understanding of their individual learning needs, accommodations, and materials. This app has a detailed breakdown of the IEP itself, and is a great way to help students prepare and understand this educational process that is centered around them.
 * 8) [|Letter Tracer] This app is a great tool for younger students learning the alphabet. It offers extremely large print letters that can either be solid-colored on a white background, or as outlines that the students can trace lines inside of. The app allows the user to change colors and thickness of the drawing lines, and provides clear auditory feedback that announces each letter as it appears on the screen. It's a GREAT visual-motor app!
 * 9) [|Vocal Zoo] Real photos of animals play clear sounds corresponding to each animal when touched. This app is very easy to use for young students and is a fun way to work on listening skills or sound localization.
 * 10) [|TapSpeak Button] This app was actually described in one of my chosen articles for Assignment 1 - it is a communication tool that, when pressed, speaks a predetermined statement. I have nonverbal students on my caseload that this would be very useful for!


 * __Personal Applications__**
 * 1) [|Social] Social is an iPad application that gives easy access to the popular social-networking site, facebook. I will use it to quickly retrieve any updated notifications on my page, without having to go on Safari and log in to facebook. (This app is not currently available on iTunes, so the link is inactive.)
 * 2) [|The Weather Channel] I am an itinerant teacher, so I like to know what kind of weather I will be traveling in to best plan ahead. I check it several times a day, so I appreciate the easily-accessible and up-to-date information.
 * 3) [|To Do's List for iPad] My whole professional life exists in my planner, but as soon as I fill up each day with writing, I start layering post-its on top of the pages. It can get pretty cluttered and, as you can imagine, things sometimes get lost and forgotten. This app keeps me on track and is MUCH easier to read than my messy post-it notes!
 * 4) [|VoxTrek Navigation GPS for iPad] This GPS app has text-to-speech directions, which would be very helpful to me. Since I am legally blind and do not drive, I rely on a network of drivers to get me where I need to go. When I need a driver to take me to a school that he/she is not familiar with, I usually print off directions from the Internet, but if the driver loses those, it's nice to have an alternative plan. Also, sometimes my usual drivers are unable to drive me, and they have substitute drivers for that day. I've been in situations where the substitute driver gets lost and we have to stop and ask for directions because, since I don't drive and only visit some of my rural schools twice a month, I am not able to help out with directions. This app would solve that problem.
 * 5) [|Amazon: Hidden Expedition] Sometimes you just need a game app! Since the iPad has the Zoom accessibility feature, I am able to access one of my favorite types of hidden picture games from the company, Big Fish. This is my fun, relaxing, I-work-hard-and-had-a-long-week-so-I-deserve-this app!

**Assignment 4:**
[|Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille] by Russell Freedman was the book I found for educational use. This book covers the life of Louis Braille and the invention of Braille, and although it was written more for a 3rd grade to 8th grade audience, it is a well-written story that anyone can enjoy. It is important for my students to understand, not only Braille, itself, but how it was developed and who it was developed by for them to truly appreciate the skills they are gaining. This book is a Kindle Edition and it works with [|Kindle] for iPad. It is also text-to-speech enabled, so that students can access the book auditorally. Freedman, R. (1999). //Out of darkness: the story of louis braille// (Kindle Edition), Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Out-Darkness-Story-Braille-ebook/dp/B003KGAUSI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1290055948&sr=1-1 [|Mockingjay] by Suzanne Collins was the book I chose for personal use. I am currently reading the Hunger Games trilogy, and while I have just started the second book, I do not have the this book - the third and final one in the trilogy. Collins, S. (2010). //Mockingjay// (Kindle Edition), Retrieved from []
 * __Educational eBook__**
 * __Personal eBook__**

Assignment 5:
[|Exploring the Frontiers of Assistive Technology] is a vidcast that has case studies of how people with different disabilities utilize assistive technology in their daily lives. It was difficult to find a vidcast that applies to working with students who are blind or have low vision, but I do have students on my caseload with multiple disabilities. I feel that this vidcast would be very inspirational to those students, as well as their peers and teachers.

Even though the assignment was to find a vidcast, I also found a podcast that I felt would be helpful to some of my high school students. Since the demograhpic that I teach is visually impaired, the content that applies most is not video-based, but auditory. Therefore, I also subscribed to the [|LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Podcast] because it offered auditory descriptions of different daily living tools and technologies that would be very beneficial to my students.

Assignment 6:
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B. media type="custom" key="7594701"

=﻿Assignment 7:= ** Journal Reflection  ** The iPad is a revolutionary tool that involves multisensory input and output and has an interactive platform with accessibility features that allow people with varying learning styles and abilities to utilize it. Since I work with students who are blind or low vision, the iPad’s multisensory, interactive nature is extremely engaging. Sometimes keeping students interested in the material is half the battle, so the “wow” factor of the iPad goes a long way to facilitate meaningful learning. There are many apps that make use of auditory input and output and are especially helpful to students that need that type of feedback. The VoiceOver accessibility feature that comes standard in the iPad ensures that my students who are blind can still take full advantage of all the iPad has to offer. This piece of technology not only engages students, but includes learners of all ability levels and learning styles. When it comes to organization, I have a hard time letting go of my paper-and-pencil planner. I have become very attached to my planner and make generous use of post-it notes when I have filled up the allotted spaces in the planner itself. Using the built-in notepad and other organizational apps, I plan to utilize the iPad in an organizational fashion for both professional and personal use. Keeping all of my notes in one place would be more helpful than sticking post-its all over my life! Since things are typed in on the iPad, notes and schedule are much easier to read. I also appreciate the interactive nature of the iPad because it will remind me with alerts and sound notifications of my scheduled appointments and/or to-do lists. As much as I love my current paper-and-pencil planner, it certainly doesn’t remind me of my tasks of its own accord! I also LOVE the triple-click home feature that toggles between the different accessibility options of the iPad. Triple-click home allows you to quickly switch between Zoom, VoiceOver, and Black/White accessibility options from wherever you are, without having to return to the Settings menu, turn one feature off, turn another feature on, and then get back into your previous activity. I have already found this helpful in using Zoom to locate an article for this class, switching quickly to VoiceOver so I can have the article read aloud to me, and then switching back to Zoom to locate another article… all without having to leave the screen where I found the article! I will DEFINITELY continue to make use of the accessibility options in this manner. During today’s presentations, I took notes using the notepad feature of the iPad, and there were a lot of notes to take! From listening to other presentations, I have compiled an extensive list of applications that I would like to try, both with my students and in my personal life. For example, one app that was presented by a classmate was Cookie Doodle, and I plan to use this with one of my students who has multiple disabilities and is nonverbal to work on sequencing and visual-motor skills. I would also like to try the Audio Memos app, not only to make quick, verbal notes to myself when I do not have time to type something in, but also as a way to provide auditory feedback for some of my students who learn best through hearing. Today, my presentation involved the presentation of ten educational apps that were geared towards students with special needs. I found applications that applied both to my younger students and my high school students, as I am certified to teach grades Pre-K through 12th. The app I presented is called Braille Driller, and it provides fun, interactive reinforcement of the dot-configurations comprising the letters of the Braille alphabet. This app is particularly useful to my young students who are currently utilizing large print, but learning Braille at the same time.