Apple iPad Assists Differentiated Learning for Special Needs
My students need 2 iPad 2, Smart Covers, Camera Connection Kit, iPad Dock, Wireless Keyboard, Digital AV Adapter and a $300 iTunes Gift Card to purchase educational apps.
During the announcement of the new iPad 2 on March 2, Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc., gave a moving demonstration on how the iPad can help children with autism. He showed how Apple’s mobile learning devices provide students with unique, personalized, educational experiences.
My name is Ms. G.
and I'm a special education teacher in a primary school in Virginia. Our school is a tight knit community that serves many active duty military families. As an educator I try my best to stay on the cutting edge of research and best practices in technology. While I have been successful in providing my students with Touch Screen PCs, iPods, Kindles, and software through grants and DonorsChoose.org projects, we still need the groundbreaking iPad. My current computer technology does not allow me to download the apps created specifically for the iPad - which I know will help my special needs students gain access to essential communication, cognitive, and social skills needed for success. Providing 2 new iPad 2 devices for my students with Developmental Delays, Autism, and other Health - Physical Impairments is a priority to me. My students can learn, achieve, and find academic success...they just need specialized instruction and technology to unlock their true potential.
My Project
My students with autism and speech delays need the new Apple iPad 2, and iTunes Proloquou2Go a full-featured augmentative and alternative communication solution for children who have difficulty speaking. My students with cognitive delays need other educational apps created for the iPad like ABC Pocket Phonics, Words for Kids and Piggy Math. These apps will create learning experiences that will help engage my students in ways that appeal to their varied learning styles. We also need the adapter cable so that what we see in the iPad screen can be displayed on a larger screen...giving groups of students access to what is on the iPad. We also need the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit so that I can create Social Stories, a tool for teaching social skills to children with autism and related disabilities. Social stories provide an individual with accurate information about those situations that he may find difficult or confusing. The possibilities are endless with the iPad.
A recent patent disclosed (via "Appleinsider") “new methods” of delivering educational content to students in the classroom.
The patent describes an attempt to help educators address the diverse learning needs of students. Apple highlights that this patent filing is focused on providing for the specific needs of students with disabilities, tailored for each individual user. Help me access this cutting edge technology..an iPad today...differentiation tomorrow...students prepared for the future!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. G. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.