February+7th+homework

__Special Education Pupils Find Learning Tool in iPad Application__ Interesting Facts: 1. Before the student had a difficult time making connections with other students and now, because of the iPad, the other students are attracted to her, her self-confidence is boosted, and she can communicate better with her peers. 2. Because of sound and touch applications slower learners or children with physical impairments are able to use the tablet unlike other technology in the past. 3. In Orange County there are 100 computers being used by 550 students with disabilities and they use them through different iPad apps to work on life skills like ordering in a restaurant, buy things in a grocery store, and managing time outside school. 4. The iPads are easy to use, can be customized to the students needs, and allow instant gratification with the touch screen. 5. The students help each other to learn with the iPad as well as brush up on their knowledge through games such as "Math Ninja."
 * Reading:**

Questions: 1. Do special education students use the iPads all day? 2. Are students tested using the iPads or using traditional paper and pencil methods? 3. Have teaching strategies with the iPad been proven effective?

__iPad As A Mobile Classroom and the Newest Tool for Special Education Teachers__ Interesting Facts: 1. The iPads can be transported in large groups that have a projector and MacBook which are all synced together. 2, The iPad allows students a unique learning experience that will excede the children's expectations for a graphic learning experience. 3. The iPad is the most attractive of all available devises on the market because of the many apps available to the user. 4. Because the iPad is "cool" it can help with the feelings a student can have when they are the only one using the technology in the classroom. 5. At a reasonable price students can be reached with the latest technology.

Questions: 1. Is it an effective source of learning for the students or is it just "cool"? 2. Do teachers control what students are looking at on the iPads? 3. Is the iPad lab used by general education classrooms or just special education?

__Apple in Education: Useful to Everyone. Right From the Start:__ Interesting Facts: 1.The text to speech application can read a selection of text or an entire document. The application even has natural voices to them. 2. The iPad has screen magnification with picture in picture so that you can see a seperate window with 20x zoom and the regular screen at the same size. 3. The photo booth application allows hard of hearing students to communicate through videos and pictures that can be emailed to others. 4. THe slow keys feature adds delay between the key being pressed and when the action gets accepted on the screen to minimize the amount of mistakes. 5. The inkwell application allows students to write on the screen and have their print translated into text onscreen.

Questions: 1. Will these technologies slow a child's ability to spell normally without a computer? 2. Will this make using a standard computer harder for the student? 3. How accurate is the voice to text application?

__2011: The Year of the Media Tablet as a Learning Tool:__ Interesting Facts: 1.Approximately 40% of executives plan to use tablets as a learning initiative and 75% of these executives plan to include smart phones within the year. 2. The executives would use customized iPads that would be linked to the company's leadership portal so they would have access to learning applications, performance support, assessments, surveys that can be tracked by the workplace. 3. The iPad allows people in different countries to communicate easily for learning and trading opportunities. 4. iPads are seen as beingthe best method to make learning mobile, fun, and engaging in school or work. 5. To help with differing languages, regions, and cultures, there is an app that materials, signs, and language for the user,

Questions: 1. For a business would an iPad be a good investment if better technology is going to keep becoming available? 2. Will this be something like the internet which is said to have made us dumber, not smarter because wee no longer need to memorize information? 3. Do companies give the individual person an iPad or are they shared by the entire company?

Universal Design for Learning: A guide for teachers and educational professionals:

The iPad has many different features that allow students to have constant access to learning. There are many applications that a student can use both in school and outside of school to help them in the world. For something to be universally designed for learning it must be able to combat a variety of languages, learning styles, and varying abilities. Every student in the classroom is different and does not learn the same way. Using technology can help to overcome this gap because of the various programs that can be used to teach and explore. The iPad has many applications that can be used in a classroom with both general education and special education students and provides access to learning at all times for the student.

One feature that is particularly useful for a special education student is one that helps with reading. The application allows the student to hear the passage read to them and then words they don’t understand can be translated for them instantly without having to use a dictionary. This feature is universally designed because the student can use the application in school with textbooks and free read books that are used while they are in school, as well as at home to read magazines, newspapers, web articles, or books. By having access to an application like this one a student no longer has to struggle through reading and hate doing it, but they can understand what the reading is saying and enjoy learning about the subject.

The iPad also has another feature that is helpful for all students. Because there is always something that gets lost on the computer the iPad has a finder application that allows students to search for what they are looking for. This is very useful for a student how struggles with organization and cannot always remember what a document is called. If a student needs this document to learn something else, being able to have quick access will make it easier for the students.

Lastly, the inkwell application allows students to write on a board and have it translated into typed text. For a student with a handicap this is useful because not only do they get to practice their writing skills but they also will be able to read what they wrote later and be proud of how nice it will look. If the student is accustomed to not looking at their own work because of it being a mess, this will help to ease the pressure while also building the writing skills. This is not only useful for special education students but also for general education students. Every student can use practice with their hand writing and being able to have their writing typed up at the same time.

Overall, the iPad is a very helpful application for any student in any classroom. Because of various applications it is adaptable to the program it is being used for, the student using it, and the school. Every student learns a little differently from another student and therefore it is very important that the technology can be programed and used directly for them. Students who have difficulties with written text can use features that allow them to hear the text and students who struggle with their organization can get help. Although the iPad is merely a tool to be used in class it can make the classroom experience easier for a student and help the student with learning outside the classroom with their homework and with things they do for fun.