LRG – iPad: Enhancing Learning & Communication

The iPad™ is a revolutionary technology that is profoundly changing both the manner in which teachers present instructional content, as well as the way students process and learn new information. The multi-sensory design of the iPad™ makes it an ideal tool for teaching 21st century learners, especially students with special needs who assistive technology supports.

A valuable resource for all educators in 21st century classrooms, iPad:  Enhancing Learning & Communication for Students with Special Needs, by Brian S. Friedlander and Christine Besko-Maughan, identifies ways of integrating the iPad and education apps into the classroom to reach students with diverse learning styles, including those with special needs such as learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and/or other language or communication disorders.

The guide identifies some of the best apps for enhancing communication development, such as Proloquo2Go and iCommunicate, and offers guidance on how to use these programs with students. The guide also lists apps to help specific areas of the curriculum, including 

• Reading
• Writing
• Science
• Social studies/history
• Math

 iPad: Enhancing Learning & Communication for Students with Special Needs also recommends tools to help with organization, such as visual schedules and graphic organizers, as well as apps for learning appropriate social skills.  Fifteen activities for using the iPad in the classroom are included in this comprehensive yet concise resource.