PEORIA —
With kids of the 21st century so adept with technology and computers, why not just put the controller in their hands? That's exactly what District 150 elementary teachers are doing.
District 150 grade schools are bringing iPads into classrooms to enhance the learning experience of both students and teachers. It is an effort to provide those who most need assistance a form of help that is user-friendly and fun.
General and special education teachers are becoming more informed on how to utilize the most effective educational methods that the iPad offers. Maureen Langholf, the special education director for the district, said Wednesday there are multiple advantages to introducing iPads into the classroom, especially for students with learning disabilities.
"The goal of having iPads as a tool in the classroom is to give the students more individual access to the lessons so that they can better grasp and communicate their understanding of the material," said Langholf, who said that Apple offers more than 400,000 applications for special education instructors on the iPad.
"We want the lesson to be as individualized for the child as possible," she said, mentioning the iPad is similar to handheld devices such as phones and game systems that children today are already familiar with. "A child with autism can use pictures and voice recordings and the touch technology to communicate."
With funding received from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the schools have received iPad carts, with 20 to 30 iPads in each, to be used by the children.
Teachers will be able to categorize and file applications unique to each student that will be accessible on every iPad, making the devices advantageous to the characteristics of each student.
"It will not be the teacher always telling the student what to do, but allowing the student to choose," said Jean Chumbley, who, along with Joyce Heerman, is the third- and fourth-grade inclusion teacher at Thomas Jefferson Primary School.
"It's an interactive process of trial and error for the kids," said Heerman, speaking of the use of applications, "and that's something that the children are much better at than we are."
The iPads only will be used for a segment of the day, designed to be a spoke instead of the wheel itself.
"They're still going to be using books, pens and paper," said Lisa Kukos, one of the technology facilitators for the district. "We'll be supporting teachers by integrating technology into the lesson."
"We're striving for better ways to reach the kids," says Sidney Ross, the fifth-grade inclusion teacher at Franklin-Edison Primary School. "There's a world of possibilities in one device."
With kids of the 21st century so adept with technology and computers, why not just put the controller in their hands? That's exactly what District 150 elementary teachers are doing.
District 150 grade schools are bringing iPads into classrooms to enhance the learning experience of both students and teachers. It is an effort to provide those who most need assistance a form of help that is user-friendly and fun.
General and special education teachers are becoming more informed on how to utilize the most effective educational methods that the iPad offers. Maureen Langholf, the special education director for the district, said Wednesday there are multiple advantages to introducing iPads into the classroom, especially for students with learning disabilities.
"The goal of having iPads as a tool in the classroom is to give the students more individual access to the lessons so that they can better grasp and communicate their understanding of the material," said Langholf, who said that Apple offers more than 400,000 applications for special education instructors on the iPad.
"We want the lesson to be as individualized for the child as possible," she said, mentioning the iPad is similar to handheld devices such as phones and game systems that children today are already familiar with. "A child with autism can use pictures and voice recordings and the touch technology to communicate."
With funding received from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the schools have received iPad carts, with 20 to 30 iPads in each, to be used by the children.
Teachers will be able to categorize and file applications unique to each student that will be accessible on every iPad, making the devices advantageous to the characteristics of each student.
"It will not be the teacher always telling the student what to do, but allowing the student to choose," said Jean Chumbley, who, along with Joyce Heerman, is the third- and fourth-grade inclusion teacher at Thomas Jefferson Primary School.
"It's an interactive process of trial and error for the kids," said Heerman, speaking of the use of applications, "and that's something that the children are much better at than we are."
The iPads only will be used for a segment of the day, designed to be a spoke instead of the wheel itself.
"They're still going to be using books, pens and paper," said Lisa Kukos, one of the technology facilitators for the district. "We'll be supporting teachers by integrating technology into the lesson."
"We're striving for better ways to reach the kids," says Sidney Ross, the fifth-grade inclusion teacher at Franklin-Edison Primary School. "There's a world of possibilities in one device."
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