portability and "cool factor" of the iPad. When my
first grade student was exploring the magnification app for distance, he was able to access the
teacher's chart of "table points," saw how many
his group had earned, and knew he could expect
a reward at dismissal. A fifth grader who is also
hard of hearing was fascinated to see his
teacher's facial expressions during whole group
instruction. My ninth grade student who uses a
wheelchair was able to see which peer buddies
were across the room, giving him time to practice
his greeting before heading over to say hello to
them. My fourth grader enjoys using his iPad to
create video tours of his school and other buildings he visits, so I will plan to incorporate this into
his future O&M lessons. The students overall
seem very motivated by this technology!
Another feature of the iPad I find useful is
scanning. With a scanning app, the teacher or
classroom staff can use the camera feature to
scan a document as a pdf file and then the student can zoom in as needed. Some apps have
the option for the student to use his finger or stylus to mark his answers (or highlight) directly onto
the worksheet. The student can take a screenshot once he finishes the assignment, and email
the teacher, or share it via dropbox. This is especially helpful for my high school student who does
not have the motor ability to maneuver a traditional cctv while using pen and paper, but is able
to interact directly with the iPad on his wheelchair
tray. Similarly, I sometimes take a photo or scan
the print of a poem or short story that coincides
with the braille version that my fourth grader is
learning and email it to his parents so they can
follow along as he reads the braille and make corrections on the spot.
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