Assistive Technology in Education

iPads, iPod Touches, and iPhones as Assistive Technology in Education

by Eric Lawson 

http://www.techlearning.com/article/ipads-ipod-touches-and-iphones-as-assistive-technology-in-education/47768

Summary:

Any handheld touch screen device is going to be a great learning assist in the classroom. It lends itself to both tactile and digital learners. Also, there are many apps available specifically targeted to special education and students with learning disabilities, as well as communication assistance for children with autism.

Handheld devices are used for many purposes, including reading fluency and comprehension and communication skills. Since there are so many available apps, the author of the article gives a few suggestions that can be used on iPads, iPods as well as iPhones.

These are TapToTalk, Proloquo2Go, Dragon Dictation, iBooks and iTalk Lite. The first program is free and helps students with verbal issues or no speech by forming sentences out of pictures and symbols. Besides Proloquo2Go, another communication tool, the other apps are also free, though iBooks only logs you into a digital library where you then purchase books to read. Dragon Dictation changes spoken words to text and iTalk Lite is a recording application.

Reflection:

Assistive technology is a wonderful aid, and just like Universal Design started out as specific to one group but ends up helping everyone, I think these tools are useful to every student. Using an iPad and other “I” products is just plain fun! Though the technology in schools varies widely, I am coming across more and more schools and districts that allow for touch screen technology in the budget. Another way to get these tools is through grants.