Schools

District Special Education Teachers Receive iPads

Almost 300 iPads have been distributed to special education teachers for student use funded by a federal grant.

The following article was submitted by the South Orange-Maplewood School District.

Nearly 300 iPads have been distributed to special education teachers for student use throughout the district. The iPads were purchased through a federal grant to support the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act and AARA.

All special education teachers could apply for iPads by writing a proposal to Dr. Patricia Barker, Director of Special Services, detailing how they would use the new technology in their classrooms.

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“The proposals were exciting and innovative,” said Dr. Barker. “They included ideas that would help struggling students improve their skills in core subjects, learn to take better notes in class and enhance their organizational skills. Other proposals included helping speech-language students with varying needs, providing a multisensory learning approach across all content areas, offering more differentiated instruction and improving communication and social interactions.”

The recipients of the IPADS were more than enthusiastic about receiving these new learning tools and some of them went to workshops over the summer, with no compensation, to learn more about the new and constantly evolving use of the IPADs.

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One of the workshops was called PadCamp and was held in Galloway Township with more than 130 educators from around the state in attendance to watch and learn about the new tablet technology and how it works best in schools.

Primary organizer of PadCamp Kevin Jarrett said that one of the most important concepts for educators to learn is “how to use the tablet in the classroom to get the most value for the students. The curriculum has to drive the technology.”   

“The possibilities are endless,” said Dr. Barker. “I was furiously taking notes to keep up with all the ideas and names of apps I heard at the workshops. One of the many apps that intrigued me recorded the student’s voice and turned what was said into a song.”

Mr. Terry Woolard, Supervisor of Educational Media and Technology and Coordinator of Online Learning, has also been involved in the training of the special education staff.

“The introduction of iPads in our district is an exciting occurrence. By using the iPads, the teachers will be able to customize learning for each child,” said Mr. Woolard. “There are many applications for the iPad that will enable the teacher to speak to the child's needs, address their IEPs and provide a richer learning experience.”

 

Mr. Woolard has worked with several teachers on the use of the iPad and was impressed with their wide scope of ideas, which ranged from using the tablet as a recording device, enabling students to practice reading fluency, to letter and number recognition. The applications teachers plan to use display videos, enhance writing, create story boards, and allow for practice in a myriad of subjects.

 

“I really believe this device will help bridge the achievement gap between our regular education and our special education populations,” added Mr. Woolard.

 In one summer training session with Mr. Woolard, three teachers, Mr. Joe Ferriero and Ms. Mara Leibowitz from Clinton School and Ms. Lucille Mungiello from Tuscan School, relayed their thoughts about recieving iPads for their students.

“These iPads will surely enhance learning,” said Mr. Ferriero. “They allow a student to touch, see and hear a variety of lessons. It is quite an instructional tool.”

Ms. Leibowitz agreed and added, “I think iPads will cover everything Special Education students need to be successful.”

“This new technology helps to ensure that all kids are included and fully engaged in all lessons,” said Ms. Mungiello. “The iPad is a great tool and I know that it will be very successful in the classroom.”

All three teachers fully agreed that “iPads will help inclusion, which in turn will save the world.”


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