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Using iPads in Special Education Classrooms Much like the iPhone and iPod touch, the iPad was another global success for Apple Inc. All three allow you to touch the screen to work the product. The primary use for the iPod is listening to music, and the iPhone for communication. The iPad has many uses; audio-visual media like books, games, movies, applications, the web, etc. With its emergence in April, 2010, schools around the globe have found many academic uses for the iPad. Special education programs have found that the iPad has enhanced their students learning and attention by a great amount. In particular, special education teachers have found that students with autism seem to be stronger learners and students when using the iPad rather than traditional learning methods. With the all of the benefits of using the iPad, like many new technological devices, there come both positives and negatives which will be highlighted throughout this chapter.
 * Introduction **

The iPad is the first tablet computer made by Apple Inc. Like the iPhone and iPod touch, the touch screen allows its users to select items on the page, simply by tapping the screen. You can also zoom and out using your fingers to "pinch" the screen. The iPad will only run on programs approved and distributed by Apple. There are many applications or apps that a user can download. Some are free while others can range from a cent, to twenty dollars. There are apps like FaceTime which allow you to talk face-to-face with another iPhone user, much like Skype. There are many other academic apps like MathBoard which helps students do math problems, or SpellBoard which helps students with spelling. media type="youtube" key="dxN7xxrKuGc" height="345" width="462" align="left" Apple Inc. introduced the iPad on April 2010. Within the first 80 days of being on the market, 3 million iPads were sold. Throughout the first year, 14.8 million iPads were sold worldwide. Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO introduced the iPad 2 in 2011 which was much thinner, lighter, and faster in operations than the iPad 1. By the time the iPad 2 came out in 2011, 15 million had been sold. With the sales from the iPad, Apple generated $9.5 billion dollars in revenue within the first year of sales.
 * Definition **
 * History **

In just short of two years since being introduced to the market, Apple Inc. has come out with two versions of the iPad. When it came out, there were visions of having the iPad be used for many different things. Especially important was the goal of integration into schools, as it gives students a hands on device to help with their studies. More specifically towards the education department, was if and how it could help students living with a disability. With over a year and a half of people being able to use it, there have been a great many articles written on the positives and negatives to using the iPad in a special education setting. Students with autism are given a chance to have a more hands on device to help aid them in learning. Though it may seem like it does this, some aren't sure whether it really teaches them anything or it just calms them down while using it. " An iPad may engage a child with autism, and help calm them down, but that does not necessarily mean it is providing any developmental opportunity," (Daniel Donahoo). Donahoo does go into saying that the iPad doesn't just provide negatives towards the students living with disabilities, but however the iPad alone will not create any sort of miracle for students. The educators and parents still need to execute their knowledge and skills to help implement the use of the ipad with their student so it is used more as a compliment than a main source of improving their basic skills.
 * Advantages/Disadvantages **

In John Brandon's article " Is the iPad a 'Miracle Device' for Autism?" he brings up some interesting topics about the benefits for special education programs using the iPad in their classrooms. For those that do not know, according to a CDC study, one out of 110 children are affected by autism. With all sorts of events happening around them, they have "no control over the pace of information coming at them, " Dr. Martha Hebert said (Brandon). By integrating the iPad into the classroom, it gives the students a better grip on controlling what information they take in. One of the biggest differences between a laptop and an iPad is the fact that the touch screen gives the students complete control instead of having to deal with a keyboard and a mouse. Stephen Shore the author of "Understanding Autism for Dummies," who grew up with autism himself believes that the iPad has the potential to do great things for students with autism going as far as saying "it might be the first of several gadgets that actually free a child from some effects of autism," (Brandon). media type="youtube" key="pAr3CLxT-X0" height="315" width="560" align="right" As talked about earlier about the positives and negatives that come with using the iPad, there is no greater argument for or against the use of it in special education classrooms of actual cases where people were able to use it in their homes.
 * Case Studies **

In an article from August 2011 on AmericanAutismSociety.org, 18-year old Anthony Leuck who is living with a disorder that makes it difficult for him to communicate through words as well as having little muscle control had the chance to use the iPad. An application on the iPad allows Anthony to slide his knuckles on the screen which displays an image of a guitar and produces the sounds of an actual guitar. "As he touches the screen he creates music…and a big grin shows on his face," ("How iPads" 1). Right then and there the fact that he lives with a disability that impacts him every day, with the help of the iPad he is able to put that behind him and play the guitar.

In another example, 3-year old Hudson Holmquist has had positive results in working with the iPad in the fact that it has greatly increased his ability to calm down from the sensory overload that is common in children with autism. “Hudson was having 8 or 9 violent meltdowns per day. One morning he started screaming in his bedroom -- and didn't stop until late that evening,” (Brandon). Reading Brandon's article, the reader might get a sense of where Donahoo is coming from in which the iPad will help the students in both keeping their attention as well as keeping them calm but there is still the ability to help the students learn. Hudson's family was faced with great challenges trying to communicate with him as well going out in public and not causing a big commotion . Once Hudson was introduced to the iPad, he able to pick it up right away and had helped create a more calm environment in his home.

**Future ** The future use of the iPad in both regular and special education classrooms seems definite. Students today are very familiar with touch screen technology, so using it in classrooms is a natural progression. The many uses within special education provide a convincing argument for the development and use of even more apps, which can get even more specialized to meet students' needs. Because the technology is so new, the research concerning its effects in special education is just beginning. Specific cases point to very positive results, but large scale analysis is still in the future.

In January 2012, Apple announced changes to the iBooks app to include iBooks Author, which allows anyone to write their own textbook. This will give teachers an affordable way of getting up to date information to students and include links to online resources. The role of tablet computers as textbooks will be revolutionary, whether the textbooks are publisher created e-books or teacher created text books specific to a class. Apple recently also opened iTunes U, a learning management app previously used at a few universities, to K-12 teachers and students. The biggest question about the future role of iPads in classrooms will be cost. In order to use the many apps and resources available, the devices have to be available to students.

<range type="comment" id="805626">**<span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Conclusio n ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Although a fairly new device, the iPad has made a difference in classrooms (regular and special education) around the world. Each day, new applications are being developed that are making it even more relevant to the educational environment. Although there are some worries about its overuse and real effects upon students' learning, case studies seem to point to many benefits. Research is currently being done to look at these issues. The students of today and tomorrow are very comfortable in the technological world. Educators who embrace using technology in the classroom in the proper ways will benefit both themselves and their students. If the cost factor is figured out, iPads will probably be a part of classrooms long into the future.

iPads Are Not a Miracle for Children With Autism. (2011, March 22). //Wired//. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/03/ipads-are-not-a-miracle-for-autism-geekdad-opinion/
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">References **

How iPads Are Revolutionizing Teaching for Children with Autism. (2011, August 31). Retrieved Feb 9, 2012, from http://www.americanautismsociety.org/2011/08/31/how-ipads-may-revolutionize-teaching-for-children-with-autism

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The Digital Textbook Revolution. (2012, January 29). In //iPad in Schools//. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from http://www.ipadinschools.com/category/anticipating-the-future/

Farnsworth, D. G. (2012, January 26). iPad Breaking Ground for Special Learners. In //Br// //ight Hub: The Hub for Bright Minds//. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/123140.aspx