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February 25, 2015 2015 EDUCATION MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com
Continued
“They get to feel
a greater degree of
independence,”
said Parmenter.
Some students are more comfortable
using their own,” said Keith.
Teachers who may not be the most
familiar with iPads and apps are
encouraged to attend optional meetings
that Keith provides, usually during early
dismissal days. “I’m really trying to
not overwhelm [the teachers], because
that can really shut them down,” said
Keith. “Last year, I taught several
teachers how to use one little app, and
throughout the year they were excited,
and the kids were excited.” Keith said
that she would rather show the teachers
one or two apps at a time rather than
overload faculty members with the
amount of information available on the
Web today.
One of the more popular apps used
by some of the teachers is called
Poll Everywhere. This app allows
teachers to post a question online that
students can reply to anonymously. For
example, if a math teacher asks the
class which problem in the homework
was too difficult and a majority of the
students provide the same response,
the teacher can gauge the class’ overall
progress in learning the material.
“Kids don’t feel so embarrassed
if they don’t get something,” said
Keith. Some students are reluctant
to admit confusion to homework
assignments, and the anonymous nature
of such apps helps them
avoid
that embarrassment.
Currently, there are six students at
the school in the Special Education
program that use the iPads. Pamela
Parmenter, a teacher that works with
those students said that the iPads have
become a tremendous asset for the
class.
Parmenter said that one of the most
helpful tools on the iPads has been
the ability to provide text in the form
of audio. She refers to the audible
behavioral lessons as “social stories”
and provided an example of a lesson for
taking a field trip to a baseball game.
Specifically, the students could listen
to recordings while seeing images,
such as various players on the baseball
teams. The social stories also help
them become aware of safety, as they
learn that standing still in the parking
lot waiting for the bus would keep them
safe and let the teacher know they are
listening to her. Parmenter said the
students listened to these lessons
