iPad Minis in a Special Education Classroom
Where to start...
As a special education teacher, I am always looking for new and meaningful ways to incorporate technology in my classroom. I don't want to use technology just to say it's being used. When I received the iPad minis, I realized these tools could be used to enhance my students' learning, but the teachers working in my room would need to carefully plan how, when and why they would be used. I also knew that my students would require specific teaching on what the minis would be used for. They are NOT video games!!
How to incorporate the minis into small group instruction.
I have the privilege of working with three wonderful instructional assistants who are as eager as I am to use technology with students. Luckily, my class received four iPad minis and each adult (plus one very excited student teacher) are able to use the minis for daily instruction. I have an iPad to use for my groups so we do not have to worry about sharing!
We all wanted to make sure the minis would be used to teach, reinforce and practice reading, math, writing and social skills. We all decided that apps and programs would be used as an instructional tool, but not as a means to teach new skills. Many of my students have learned misrules or struggle to learn new skills. I still feel it is very important that initial instruction come from a person and the minis be used to practice previously taught skills, build fluency and improve teaching.
After scouring the the app store, talking with other teachers and experimenting, I found enough educational apps I felt targeted concepts my students were working on. I tried to balance apps that were flashy and fun with ones that had more content, but not necessarily as exciting. My IA's and i tried to cover the bases between very basic reading, math and writing apps and ones that targeted more advances ideas and concepts. When you work with kindergarteners through fifth graders, its a challenge to narrow down all the apps out there!
We all wanted to make sure the minis would be used to teach, reinforce and practice reading, math, writing and social skills. We all decided that apps and programs would be used as an instructional tool, but not as a means to teach new skills. Many of my students have learned misrules or struggle to learn new skills. I still feel it is very important that initial instruction come from a person and the minis be used to practice previously taught skills, build fluency and improve teaching.
After scouring the the app store, talking with other teachers and experimenting, I found enough educational apps I felt targeted concepts my students were working on. I tried to balance apps that were flashy and fun with ones that had more content, but not necessarily as exciting. My IA's and i tried to cover the bases between very basic reading, math and writing apps and ones that targeted more advances ideas and concepts. When you work with kindergarteners through fifth graders, its a challenge to narrow down all the apps out there!
Successes and Challenges
Successes:
- I've found the minis are a great tool for teaching and reinforcing social skills. They keep students engaged and make video modeling so much easier.
- There are fantastic ways to create storyboards, plays, and graphic organizers for writing groups.
- The minis have helped my students build fluency across all academic areas and motivate them to practice skills that typically trigger challenging behaviors.
- My students don't always realize they are doing work!
- It takes time to find, download and plan to use the minis and apps.
- How to easily get work or projects created on the minis onto my computer to print, save or send to parents.
- Making students realize that the minis are for learning and, in my room at least, will be directed by an adult.