IPad's in the Classroom

Before taking into account all of the different ways an iPad can help a child within a classroom I assumed it didn't belong in the classroom. After doing a little research and watching my nephews with kindles and iPod's I believe that these technological tools can be really helpful to children. Technology can be really helpful for all students but especially students who have special needs. The advantage of an iPad is that it is large enough for students to handle, being about the size of a piece of paper, and it can hold a multiple of applications to aid in the learning process.
                                 

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One example of this assisting a student is a child with down syndrome, from the article Special Ed. Pupils Find Learning Tool in iPad Applications. In this article written by Nirvi Shah, the child has difficulty communicating with others. This communication barrier makes it difficult for her to communicate with her peers and her teachers, without communication they have a barrier between them and are unable to connect. With the app Proloquo2Go she is able to select pictures to communicate with peers.
Another example is a test that was done with high school students with special needs in the article written by James Basham. These students were first given a math test on paper and then that same test on the iPad. It was discovered that when the students completed the problems on the iPad they finished more questions in less time because they were more engaged. My take on this would be that because a paper test is very frustrating and just the sight of the paper test can give a student anxiety. By giving the child the iPad to complete the problems that anxiety is taken away, an iPad is looked at as fun and games. This is actually a plus in the education setting because you are getting real results from students with the test anxiety.
Finally, the apps that can be accessed on the iPad are simple to find and easy to access. If a school has a bunch of iPads logged onto one account they all can have the same applications so that all students can access these tools. Accessibility and expense is important. In younger schools it is important to have a tool that is easily accessed by a student on their own but is not expensive to purchase. Another plus with the applications is they are constantly being updated. New apps come out all the time that these students can use as they grow. In the long run this is much less expensive then the tools that are bought to suit the needs of various students. For example a student who is hard of hearing or a student who has trouble with sight. On this one tool you can access text to speech or expand the lettering so that it is easier to read. This is found on one tool where as it would take two separate tools to help these students. Some schools have debated whether this is an option that they should be thinking hard about and bringing into their classrooms according to the article written by John Waters.

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In  my own experience with my nephews I find that iPod's and kindles are a great addition in our house. My nephew at two has already mastered electronic puzzles and is working on matching games. His favorite are the Amazing Shape Puzzles on the iPod. With this puzzle he has to put together the pieces and in the end it has the name of the puzzle and it reads the name. For example when he puts together an eagle, he finishes the puzzle and then a little guy comes onto the screen with a chalkboard that reads eagle and he reads the word aloud. This has taught my nephew many different animals, letters, colors and he even likes putting together continents. These are not only very educational games but peace keepers. I am now a believer that an iPad could be a great addition to my classroom.
Citations:
James Basham, et al. "A Comparison Of Ipads And Worksheets On Math Skills Of High School Students With Emotional Disturbance." Behavioral Disorders37.4 (2012): 232-243. ERIC. Web. 17 Feb. 2013
Shah, Nirvi. "Special Education Pupils Find Learning Tool In Ipad Applications." Education Week 30.22 (2011): 1,. ERIC. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.
Waters, John K. "Enter The Ipad (Or Not?)." T.H.E. Journal 37.6 (2010): 38-40,. ERIC. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.