Sam's journey ...

A week later and Sam is already making significant progress with his iPad. One of the most exciting changes is that the iPad is enabling Sam to become part of the class learning. 

This week he has accomplished the following:-

Creating images using PicCollage to record the day of the week, and the weather for the day.  In the future we are hoping to collate these images into an iBook (with support of his teacher aide).

Using Write About App, Sam has produced some independent writing. In addition he completed a short piece of writing about a summer barbeque experience. This is the first time that Sam has joined in a class writing task! 

Sam used emoticons to add to his writing.

Using the Matific App, Sam worked with the support of his teacher aide to complete fraction maths activities.

My HIGHLIGHT...

Sam has started working with other students in the class.

Sam's journey ..Part 1

Today I have been setting up a new iPad for a student in my class who has special needs. Sam (pseudonym) has been given an iPad from the Ministry of Education (MOE). Sam has an intellectual disability, as well as epilepsy and ADHD. He has social, learning and behavioural issues and he is learning at approximately 4-7 years old (Level 1 of the New Zealand Curriculum). The students in my class are in year 7 & 8 and level 3-4 of the curriculum.

With the support of Special Education, myself and a teacher aide (0.3) we are exploring the possibilities of using ICT to engage Sam in learning. 

My next steps: 

• set up appropriate apps from my current knowledge of apps
• explore new apps / sites that could benefit Sam
• learn more about "Clicker Docs" an app that has been installed by the MOE