Apps for Autism: Communicating on the iPad For severely autistic people, communication is often impossible, leaving them unable to convey what they want or need. But as Lesley Stahl reports, touch-screen apps designed for tablet computers like the iPad are now giving autistic people new ways to express themselves, some for the first time. Teachers and parents are hailing the technology as a breakthrough, one that can reveal the true depth of knowledge and emotion trapped behind a wall of silence. The following script is from "Apps for Autism" which aired on Oct. 23, 2011. Lesley Stahl is the correspondent. In the weeks since Steve Jobs died, there has been an outpouring of gratitude from his fans for the way his inventions, like the iPad, changed their lives. Among the most passionate are parents of children with severe forms of autism, especially those who can't speak and appear hopelessly locked inside themselves. It turns out that autistic children show a real interest in the iPad with its easy touch-and-swipe screens.
Are We Screwing Up the iPad? Over the next few weeks, school is back in session. Fresh paint. Waxed floors. And for some, a new cadre of iPads. Ah, the fresh iPad smell. Before you get all bent out of shape, allow me to explain my thoughts. First, before the iPad (B.i.) students, by and large, were forced to be tethered to a desk. Now, after the iPad (A.i.) the landscape has once again changed. The iPad is a device that allows for freedom that few teachers and administrators seems quite ready to embrace. For all this potential freedom, there has been a push to “lockdown” and decide for students how best they should use this device. Teachers are trying to codify and define a proper use for this unique device. What we are trying to do with iPad codification for teachers is tantamount to trying to apply the Dewey Decimal System to the Internet for librarians. If you subscribe to the ideas behind Universal Design for Learning, you might begin to understand that in the A.i. Well, guess what? 1,213 views, 1 today
iPad Insight | iPad blog for app reviews, news, tips,how-tos Why the iPad Should be Used in Classrooms As I’ve written in previous posts, the iPad is having tremendous success being used in school classrooms – from kindergarten classes to university classrooms. The iPad has spawned what I’ve called the ‘tablet wars’ with a wave of tablets introduced at CES in January is just the tip of the iceberg. Lower price points will make tablets even more appealing to schools over time. For close to a year, Apple went virtually unchallenged in the tablet market. Increased competition should drive down prices. It’s worth noting that the iPad has surpassed even the most optimistic of projections to define a brand new product category and become the best-selling gadget of all time, and Forrester analysts project that in 2011, tablet sales will more than double. How close are we today to tablets displacing computers on campuses? Here are the top reasons Vaneet says the tablet is ready for the college classroom (and I would argue that these reasons are applicable to younger age classrooms as well). 1. 2.
Classroom iPad use encourages innovation, reading with ease (Nov. 15, 2011) Nov. 15, 2011 The iPad is catching on as a classroom tool at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Katy Culver, left, a faculty associate in journalism and mass communication, facilitates an editorial-planning discussion with journalism students in a magazine production class. The class, which uses a combination of iPad tablets, laptop computers and traditional desktop computers, produces Curb Magazine. Photo: Jeff Miller The touch-screen tablet has emerged as a way for students to explore new media and serves as an efficient way to do various reading assignments. Katy Culver, a faculty associate in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, uses the iPad in her magazine publishing class. “Students need to get their hands on a device to understand it and dream up new ways to use it,” Culver says. The iPad, provided through UW General Library System, has been integrated into her class as a tool to develop editorial and advertising content for the class publication, Curb Magazine.
iPad2 Creation Toolkit - iMovie Media creation is an important element of the Middle School classroom. Students and faculty at my school have traditionally used a variety of Windows-based tools to create audio and video presentations. As our school transitions to iPads, there is a whole new set of tools available to explore. With the support of a Hathaway Brown School Summer Technology Mini-Grant, I am creating a "toolkit" of media creation tools available on the iPad. My first set of instructions detail the ins and outs of using iMovie. View the document at... I would appreciate any comments and suggestions.
Bloom’s Taxonomy and iPad Apps LearningToday shares with everyone two beautiful posters, that help us remember Bloom’s Taxonomy: the Blooming Butterfly and the Blooming Orange. How do we connect the Bloom’s Taxonomy with the iPad? Following inDave Mileham and Kelly Tenkeley’s footsteps of assigning iPad apps to the different levels of the Bloom’s Taxonomy, I created the following table with apps that I have tested out and am recommending. (Click to see a larger version of the image) In order to make the cut, the app had to fulfill the criteria (from Wikipedia and according to the Blooming Orange’s verbs) set out for each level. I want to encourage/challenge you, to take a look at the iPad apps on YOUR iPad and to categorize these apps with the different thinking levels and THEN take the next step to SHARE your list with other educators. Remember: Exhibit memory of previously-learned materials by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts and answers. describenamefindnamelisttell Suggested apps: Suggested Apps: Suggested Apps
The Best Augmented Reality App for Education: Aurasma Learning and Teaching with iPads Preparing Your School for an iPad Implementation Planning is imperative for any technology initiative - iPad or otherwise. You need to ensure that you clearly understand and communicate how the technology integrates with your overall pedagogical objectives. Too many institutions purchase technology and then search for ways to utilize it ... or leave it collecting dust on the shelf. Planning needs to consider both infrastructure needs and the educational applications of the new technology. Campus Infrastructure Considerations Signal Strength: If you’re using wifi iPads then you’ll need a strong and reliable connection to the web. Pedagogical Considerations: Pedagogical Models:Have you discussed how the use of iPads will be integrated into your educational processes? Your iPad implementation plan requires careful thought and preparation. Sam Gliksmansamgliksman@gmail.comTwitter: @samgliksmanSpecial thanks to Howard Chan and his article, “Considerations Before Deploying iPads and iPods”