By now, most of us know that mobile devices in the traditional classroom are powerful learning tools that put millions of online resources at students’ fingertips. What many people don’t realize is the positive impact mobile devices have on the special education classroom, particularly for students with autism.
There’s been a lot of online chatter about children with autism and the benefits of tablets in the classroom. Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication and behavior—symptoms that seem to be soothed by the use of tablets. With tablets in the classroom, special education teachers are seeing increased student engagement, improved communication and increased emotion in their students who otherwise struggle in these areas.
How can a mobile device be so influential in development? The combination of an easy-to-use touch screen and large screen size of a tablet is conducive to learning for students with fine motor skill challenges. The interface is intriguing and the portability allows students to take their learning onto the floor, under a desk or any location that might be more comfortable for a student who suffers from environmental over-stimulation.
The greatest impact of tablets however, is due to the many programs and apps designed specifically for special education classrooms, classmate communication and students with autism. With Lightspeed Systems Collaborative Learning Platform, My Big Campus, classroom communication is safe and open, allowing students otherwise inhibited or unable to communicate with their peers to be comfortable in a discussion setting.
Mr. Seaver at Valley Mills Elementary School saw a powerful evolution in his autistic student, Mike. During his 6th grade year, Mike “was not able to stay on task and control interrupting behaviors such as making noises and bothering classmates.” Mr. Seaver introduced My Big Campus to his classes around the time that Mike’s behavior became nearly unmanageable. When the class began to participate in online discussions using My Big Campus, Mr. Seaver saw a drastic change in Mike: “He was funny, charismatic, and engaging online. He was able to relax and communicate without worrying about social cues or facial expressions. He asked insightful questions and contributed to others’ discussion threads in a meaningful manner.”
Programs like Lightspeed Systems My Big Campus are not only valuable learning tools, but they give exceptional students like Mike the ability to communicate in a safe and comfortable environment. According to the Center for Disease Control, one in 88 children have autism. With more than 1% of students falling somewhere on the autism spectrum, classroom culture and educational programs that address this disorder are imperative.
Keeping students of any age or development level on task can be a challenge, but a Mobile Device Management solution coupled with a Collaborative Learning Platform can help to create a mobile learning program that is safe, secure and educationally nurturing.
Do you have a story about how tablets have helped in your special education classroom? We’d love to hear it!
To read more about Mike’s story, go to http://blog.lightspeedsystems.com/amazingthings/2012/09/25/autism-speaks-with-my-big-campus/
For more program and app ideas for the special education classroom, check out this Bundle on My Big Campus http://mybigcampus.com/bundles/special-education-app-resources—79292
To watch a video about iPads in the classroom, check out http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7414970n