iPad aids Ind. schools’ students

The iPad is more than just a fancy toy. Some Indiana schools have recently launched pilot programs that now bring the iPad into the classroom.

In September, Center Grove Middle School bought iPads to help teach English to international students. Center Grove used the iPads in conjunction with its English as a New Language program, which brings students from up to 10 different language backgrounds together in one classroom to learn English.

Julie Bohnenkamp, director of technology for Center Grove Community School Corporation, said the Tao TranslateIt! iPad application has proved to be extremely beneficial.

“The iPad has the type of program that provides instantaneous translation and easy options to copy and paste into the app,” Bohnenkamp said. “It’s nonintrusive like a book so during the lecture or when they are interacting with someone else, students can quickly translate something they don’t understand.”

Bohnenkamp said the iPads have been so useful in the classroom that she is in the process of writing a grant proposal for more.

Center Grove recently received additional funding to expand the use of iPads to the English as a New Language program for the high school level, but Bohnenkamp said she is hoping to bring the new technology to subgroups such as kindergarten and special education as well.

The program cost about $12,000 for the 20 iPads and was funded by a grant for ENL students, but Bohnenkamp said it would also be cost effective for special education students.

“Our rationale for kindergarten is the kids are highly visual and like to interact,” Bohnenkamp said. “The iPads are easy to use, require no log-in and are up and running quickly, unlike the typical machine network log-in. Kindergarteners don’t really need the full functionality of a computer.”

Bohnenkamp said the iPad would be helpful for students with disabilities because it offers many special accommodations and the text can be easily navigated and enlarged as needed.

“I just read an article about students that are fairly low functioning that talked about technology that allows them to communicate,” Bohnenkamp said. “Devices with large buttons that the students could tap would cost $1,000 to $2,000 just to put a device on their wheelchairs. For an iPad, you can download an app like that for $50.”

Jason Shute, a second grade teacher at Summit Elementary School in Bloomington, said he already bought an iPad for his son, Peyton.

“A lot of what we see in him is similar to a lot of traits of autism,” Shute said. “We thought it might be a valuable tool to help him branch the gap to the learning of a typical student.”

Shute said his family has had the iPad for a few weeks now and his children have enjoyed using it.

“The iPad is really valuable to kids that have difficulty with fine motor movements and fine motor skills like holding a pencil,” Shute said. “It helps them because they can move their finger or hand around on the screen and it is not as precise as writing.”

While Shute said the iPad has helped his son, he said he is not sure how well it would do in the classroom. Instead of supplying every student with an iPad, Shute said he would rather have access to a technology lab that allows multiple teachers to reserve the iPads for lessons.

“With any type of manipulative or assistive technology, the kids are going to play with it,” Shute said. “It would have to be like when I distribute blocks for math counting. The kids can have three or five minutes before the lesson to play with the blocks, or on an iPad play a quick game, and then they have to pay attention and go along with the lesson.”

Shute said iPads are a valuable tool because they are easy to navigate and can be educational, but he said the cost of iPads is too high for a school district.

But Bohnenkamp said iPads are affordable even in a time of large state budget cuts.
“School budget cuts are from the general fund which pays salaries for the most part,” Bohnenkamp said. “But technology is funded through a capital projects fund that hasn’t had the serious cuts that have affected the general fund.”

For innovative pilot programs, Bohnenkamp said Center Grove uses grant money instead of money from the general fund so that the taxpayers’ dollars are not put at risk.

Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation used money from a Federal Communications Commission program that helps schools and libraries obtain affordable Internet access.

GCCSC bought 80 iPads for kindergarten and first grade students as well as for school board members and administrators to conduct paperless meetings.

First grade teacher Greg Vogel at J.B. Stephens Elementary in Greenfield, Ind., said the iPads give students more motivation to learn than a traditional textbook. Vogel uses many apps in his classroom such as Math Ninja and Word Magic.

Regardless of the cost and the features, Shute said he does not think iPads should replace traditional textbooks.

“Reading comprehension is the most valuable skill that you can improve for the school,” Shute said. “You can improve reading comprehension with an iPad, but there is nothing better than turning the pages and holding a textbook. Plus, books are a little more durable if you drop them and can go home with the kids.”