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iPad becoming valuable learning tool in region's schools - News - The Times-Tribune
Josh Evans scrolled through a few pages of photographs on his iPad, trying to find what he wanted to express.
The 9-year-old student at the Scranton School for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Children has autism, and the iPad is able to communicate what Josh is unable to verbalize.
At the deaf school, and at least two Lackawanna County school districts, Apple iPads are becoming a valuable learning and communication tool.
"I think it's going to be another cutting-edge piece for education," said Joseph Daley, superintendent at Valley View School District, which has ordered 80 iPads.
The tablet computer, designed primarily for multimedia content such as music, books, games and the Internet, is capturing the attention of students. Downloadable applications allow students to practice math, spelling and other skills, and many applications are designed specifically for students with autism and other special needs.
With a base price of $499 - plus the cost of insurance, programs and a case - the iPad is not cheap, but is an investment worth making for some students, school officials said.
Along with 80 iPads for students in life skills and gifted education classes, Valley View has purchased 80 iPod Touches for other special-education students, Mr. Daley said.
The iPod Touch, which is smaller but still has some of the same capabilities as iPads, will also enable students to have the benefits of certain applications, Mr. Daley said.
"I think it will help these kids quite a bit," he said.
A representative from Apple will make a presentation about the benefits of iPads at February's monthly superintendent's meeting at the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit, Mr. Daley said.
Abington Heights has also recently purchased several iPads, which are being used by special-needs students with communication difficulties, Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D., said.
The deaf school has seven iPads, and for Josh, an iPad can replace a bulky communication or sight board.
The $5.99 application he started using last week lets users upload photos. He can then scan through the photos and touch the desired action.
On Friday, after browsing through the photos, he found a spelling game, which instructed him to trace over letters.
"It has a great benefit for all students," said Nancy Benham, principal.
In the school's science classroom, when it was time for the class of seventh- and eighth-graders to pull out their periodic table, they turned on their iPads.
Teacher Kelly Somers said the applications capture her students' attentions. She can also receive immediate feedback on her own iPad to learn how students are performing.
"We're still learning, but it's a fun experience," Ms. Somers said.
Eighth-grader Madison Kober, through a sign language interpreter, said learning on an iPad is "more fun."
"There are a lot of interesting apps," she said. "There are a lot of things you can do to learn."
Josh Evans scrolled through a few pages of photographs on his iPad, trying to find what he wanted to express.
The 9-year-old student at the Scranton School for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Children has autism, and the iPad is able to communicate what Josh is unable to verbalize.
At the deaf school, and at least two Lackawanna County school districts, Apple iPads are becoming a valuable learning and communication tool.
"I think it's going to be another cutting-edge piece for education," said Joseph Daley, superintendent at Valley View School District, which has ordered 80 iPads.
The tablet computer, designed primarily for multimedia content such as music, books, games and the Internet, is capturing the attention of students. Downloadable applications allow students to practice math, spelling and other skills, and many applications are designed specifically for students with autism and other special needs.
With a base price of $499 - plus the cost of insurance, programs and a case - the iPad is not cheap, but is an investment worth making for some students, school officials said.
Along with 80 iPads for students in life skills and gifted education classes, Valley View has purchased 80 iPod Touches for other special-education students, Mr. Daley said.
The iPod Touch, which is smaller but still has some of the same capabilities as iPads, will also enable students to have the benefits of certain applications, Mr. Daley said.
"I think it will help these kids quite a bit," he said.
A representative from Apple will make a presentation about the benefits of iPads at February's monthly superintendent's meeting at the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit, Mr. Daley said.
Abington Heights has also recently purchased several iPads, which are being used by special-needs students with communication difficulties, Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D., said.
The deaf school has seven iPads, and for Josh, an iPad can replace a bulky communication or sight board.
The $5.99 application he started using last week lets users upload photos. He can then scan through the photos and touch the desired action.
On Friday, after browsing through the photos, he found a spelling game, which instructed him to trace over letters.
"It has a great benefit for all students," said Nancy Benham, principal.
In the school's science classroom, when it was time for the class of seventh- and eighth-graders to pull out their periodic table, they turned on their iPads.
Teacher Kelly Somers said the applications capture her students' attentions. She can also receive immediate feedback on her own iPad to learn how students are performing.
"We're still learning, but it's a fun experience," Ms. Somers said.
Eighth-grader Madison Kober, through a sign language interpreter, said learning on an iPad is "more fun."
"There are a lot of interesting apps," she said. "There are a lot of things you can do to learn."