Giving voice, tech class, features, by dan bortolotti

PROBLEM

Find teaching methods to reach students on the autism spectrum or with other devel­­op­men­tal delays, many of whom are non-verbal.

SOLUTION

Use iPads and specialized apps to help students communicate and interact with others. Stacie Carroll, OCT, and Sabrina Morey, OCT, say their favourite apps in­clude PlayBoard (aardustry.com) for communication, ABA Receptive Identification by Noun (kindergarten.com) and Sound Shaker (tickletapapps.com) for “sheer enjoyment.”

LESSONS LEARNED

It’s crucial to match each student with the appropriate apps — otherwise it’s just an exercise in frustration. Carroll and Morey use an online assessment tool called The Communication Matrix (communicationmatrix.org) to get a clear picture of each child’s level of achievement. After learning iPad “pre-skills,” such as how to use the touch screen, students use the apps to express themselves to teachers and fellow students, and to perform curriculum-based learning activities. “We can match each child’s IEP goals with the apps we’re using to teach,” says Morey.

A University of Toronto study found that students’ ability to identify pictures increased by 45–60 per cent during a six-week period when using touch-screen technology. It also noted significant improvements in the students’ attention spans.

OBSERVATIONS

Teachers have been amazed by the abilities, emotions and personalities that have emerged since their students began using iPads. Morey recently assessed a non-verbal four-year-old who didn’t appear to understand simple vocabulary. “Using the iPad he was able to demonstrate that he knew 19 of the 20 words we tested. I had no clue that he had that much vocabulary. The only word he got wrong was milk — he kept pressing the picture of the cow.”

Carroll says the devices have also im­proved social skills. “A lot of our students find it challenging to be engaged with other people, but they are willing to spend more time with others gathered around the iPad. We have seen that translate into other areas of the classroom too, with things like learning to share and waiting your turn.”

Helpful hints Widespread media attention (Beverley PS was featured on 60 Minutes) may give the impression that results come quickly, but they don’t. Expect students to take at least six weeks to make any progress, and real breakthroughs can take many months. Having specific teachers to stay with the program and a committed principal is crucial.

YOU CAN DO IT TOO

You’ll need

Steps

Helpful Hints

Widespread media attention (Beverley PS was featured on 60 Minutes) may give the impression that results come quickly, but they don’t. Expect students to take at least six weeks to make any progress, and real breakthroughs can take many months. Having specific teachers to stay with the program and a committed principal is crucial.