Runyan, M. (2011). Learning & leading with technology. I Have Something To Say, 39(1),
Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-august-2011.aspx
This article was well tied in to the Journal 9 assignment, on Assistive technology. The author Martha Runyan gives an excellent review of several IPAD application which are used for those students with varying degrees of communication disorders. Proloquo2Go is able to link images to create sentences. There is a keyboard with "Keyboard predication" built in. Runyan uses it during a social group time for students to use to answer questions. The author also gave other examples such as Tap to Talk for non-communicative students. Dragon Diction is a speech to text program. I Talk lite is a free application which students can record themselves reading or even dictate written assignments.
Question 1: Why is the IPAD a useful Assistive Technology tool?
It is a portable devise with so many applications options. It can be used for anything from word processing (with speech to text adaptations) to social story boards (daily schedules in picture form). It has so many capabilities (movies, music, games) that it is very enticing to the regular and special education students. It is a tool that can be used to encourage these students to work together.
Question 2: What are the draw backs to using the IPAD?
The price of an IPAD starts at $499. The applications are fairly inexpensive (about $9 a piece). The same applications can be put on several IPADs. So the reality of having enough IPADs for each of your students is not impossible, it however is not likely. There are many technology related grants, as well as special educations funds,& private donors. There is also the concern of students losing, breaking or having them stolen. Having said this, there are many educators who have acquired IPADs and are successfully using them to inspire students to reach their goals.
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