iPads for Inclusion: Providing Student with True Universal Design
The iPad is a unique a personal computing device that can be customized through the use of
apps and includes embedded accessibility settings. A number of factors have drawn educators
to the iPad including:
●
Solutions based around the iPad sometimes cost much less than those based around
more specialized devices.
●
The device is lightweight enough for even young children and students with motor
disabilities to handle and operate on their own.
●
The iPad’s long battery life (about 10 hours) makes it ideal for students who must rely on
their device for communication and other needs over the course of a typical school day.
●
The device can be customized to meet the needs of individual students through the
more than 200,000 apps currently available.
●
The device enjoys a high degree of social acceptability that appeals to students and
parents wanting to avoid the stigma often associated with disabilities.
Additional Resources
Accessibility Features: Voice Over, Zoom, Large Text, and White on Black, Mono Audio, Triple
Click Home
Watch a video describes the accessibility features of the iPad at
http://www.youtube.com/embed/sRM-BC5nf9Y?list=UUeq9beVzTguspIbTaak1uKg&hl=en_US).
Universal Design For Learning: UDL in Action: The Smart Inclusion Toolkit
www.cec.sped.org/TECplus
There’s an App for that...
Reading Comprehension/Fluency
Early Literacy:
Aesop’s Quest:
Based on Aesop's Fables, is a learning game where the student must remember elements of a
story to complete a level. At the end of each story segment or level, the student is rewarded with
puzzle pieces. After solving the puzzle, the story is complete and the child can continue to the
next story. Designed for grades 2-6.
Opposite Ocean:
Luna and Leo must master the magic of words by correctly identify the antonym that is the
opposite of the given keyword. Children earn pearls when they drag the correct bubble word to
the enchanted clam. Developed in association with the Virginia Department of Education.
Designed for grades 2-6.
Same Sound Spellbound:
Adventure game designed to help the player understand homophones (words that are
pronounced the same but have different meanings, such as "bee" and "be"). Luna and Leo,
young magicians at Magic School, must use their spell book to bring animal statues to life. In
the game, students must correctly identify the homophone which best completes the puzzle
sentence, in a given time. If the word is correct, the animal statue comes to life. If it's incorrect,
the statue crumbles.
Autism Apps: Resource which provides apps for people diagnosed with an autism spectrum
disorder, Downs syndrome, or other special need. The most notable feature of this app is the
ability to search by category to target what you are looking for. Examples of possible categories
include ABA, alphabet, behavior and social skills, choice-making, communication, creative play,
fine motor and writing skills, and visual timers to name a few.
All Levels:
Blio (must purchase a voice for $10) kniup9l7865jikp0;
An electronic e-reader that allows any book to be read to you, with Blio highlighting each word
as it goes. You can look up words or get more information on a topic by searching Google, Bing,
and more without ever leaving your book.
Free Books
23,469 free classic books can be downloaded and read with the app’s e-reader.
iBooks:
Customizable Reading: Flick from page to page. Change text size. Select a different font. Adjust
the brightness. Or choose a white, sepia, or nighttime-friendly theme.
Accommodations: You can highlight or underline text, make notes, look up a word in the
dictionary or on the web, or search inside the book. You can even use VoiceOver to have iPad
read to you.
Brainpop/Brainpop Jr. (limited use without subscription, $99/year individual or school
subscription $1600-2095)
Educational app providing brief animated videos, practice, word wall and assessments in
science, math, English, health, social studies, arts, and technology. The app is also connected
to state standards and Brainpop Educator provides lesson plans by grade level, subject area,
and standard.
Socrative Teacher/Student:
Socrative is a smart student response system that can yield real time formative assessment.
Teachers can create a classroom account and create multiple choice, true/false, short answer,
exit tickets, quizzes, and games related to the class content. Teachers can run reports in Excel
or as a Google spreadsheet. Socrative can be used on any device and on any browser.
Written Expression
Dragon Dictation/Dragon Go:
Speech recognition that allows you to see and edit your text to share on clipboard, SMS, and
email.
Dragon Search:
Speech recognition used to search on Google, YouTube, Wikipedia, iTunes, and Twitter
GoAnimate:
goanimate.com: Create a free account and create custom animation related to cla: Parts of
Speech ssroom content for free. Watch an example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya8IAvN8Ftc
StoryKit:
Make quick and easy story books. This app can be used in grades K-12. Add pictures, text, and
audio in one simple application. See an example at http://iphone.childrenslibrary.org/cgibin/view.py?b=yzmpfgcx724c5umobguy
Watch a how to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSWQkUS4kXk
T-Charts:
This app could be utilized for preliminary argumentative or persuasive writing pieces. It presents
a simple T-chart with Pros and Cons and allows you to enter a question of focus.
Grammar Express: Parts of Speech:
This app is the complete course in mastering usage and different parts of speech. It contains
over 130 pages of lessons explaining each part of speech with several examples
Handwriting – Free:
Hand-write quick thank you notes, doodles, or love letters. Then send them by email, post them
to Facebook, or to Twitter! Simple and easy to use. Your writing looks like your handwriting in
beautiful black gel ink.
Mathematics
Math Drills Lite:
Graphically rich and fun environment allows a single student to learn basic math skills in
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Explore solutions to problems using number
lines, wooden blocks, facts and hints. Solve nine-times problems using your fingers!
Transition:
Driver’s Ed:
Access to 350+ permit test questions. You can track your scores and review past test questions.
The app includes multiple choice questions, flashcards, and even gives you quick access to
your state's drivers manual anytime you need!
SAT QOTD:
Studying for the SAT? Receive real SAT questions everyday. You can also access questions
from the past 7 days. It also provides hints, answers, and explanations.
iCal:
Tracks events and appointments, allows multiple calendar views (such as calendars for "home",
"work", and other calendars you create) to quickly identify conflicts and free time. It is integrated
with iCloud, so calendars can be shared and synced with other devices, such as PCs, iPhones,
and iPod touch, over the Internet.
Note It! – Free:
Take handwritten notes on your iPhone or IPod Touch with Note It! Make note of important to
do’s, grocery lists, phone numbers and more with this simple, easy-to use, notetaking
application. Note It! enables you to bypass the keyboard and write directly on the display, save
your notes, and order your saved notes.
Monster:
Find and apply for jobs using Monter’s app for iPads and iPhones
ResuM8:
Watch a video about ResuM8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H3SzokQ9XE
CollegeFinder:
Enter your zip code and see all school listings that offer classes for the degree or program of
your interest. Browse hundreds of today's most popular professions and click through to find the
courses that can prepare you for a new job. Due to the economic downturn, there are new
Financial Aid rules that can qualify individuals to receive financial help to help you succeed.
Submit your request for any number of programs and receive free information. You can also
speak to a LIVE counselor for free right from the App by calling a toll free number at a tap of a
button.
Resources for Classroom Enhancement and Professional Development
iTunes U:
Create your own course using the free iTunes U. From the iTunes U app, students can play
video or audio lectures and take notes that are synchronized with the lecture. They can read
books and view presentations. See a list of all the assignments for the course and check them
off as they’re completed. And when you send a message or create a new assignment, students
receive a push notification with the new information.
What is iTunes U?
A completely free medium through the Apple iTunes application where colleges and universities
can offer courses at no charge, to anyone who wants to take them. There is also a new section
of iTunes U that focuses on K-12 education, where state or county education departments
provide content for both students and educators. Currently, over 800 colleges and universities
from across the globe provide content to iTunes U for post-secondary learning, and 15 states in
the US offer K-12 learning tools.
Global Classroom Project Sites:
My eCoach:
Provides a comprehensive list of global project sites: http://myecoach.com/online/webresourcelist.php?rlid=6499
1) IEARN: (All levels) http://www.iearn.org/ ($99 for one teacher; $400 for a school wide
membership)
130 Countries, 30 languages, 40,000 Educators, 2 million students
IEARN (International Education and Resource Network) is the world's largest non-profit global
network that enables teachers and youth to use the Internet and other technologies to
collaborate on projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world. Existing
projects can be joined, classrooms can find project partners, teachers can create their own
projects, and professional development classes and webinars are offered as part of
membership.
2) ePals: (All levels: Elementary) http://www.epals.com/
3) Global SchoolNet: (All levels) http://www.globalschoolnet.org/index.cfm
4) TakingItGlobal: (High School) http://www.tigweb.org/
References
Eisele-Dyrili, K. (2011). Special tech report: Mobile goes mainstream. District
Administration, 46-55.
Gowers, M. (2009). Connecting youth--making a difference around the world. Education
Review, 21, 41-46.
Shah, N. (2011). Special ed pupilsfind learning tool in iPad applications. Education
Week, 30(22), 15-17.