There's a small revolution taking place in a cozy room on the second floor of Como Lake middle school in Coquitlam.
It's a quiet revolution, too, involving students bent over iPads doing school work.
But for teacher Brenda Peebles, there's something of a thrill in watching students who once struggled break free of their learning challenges to become accomplished presenters, writers and even readers.
The relative affordability of iPads (compared to computers) and the ubiquitousness of apps and the simplicity of word-processing and presentation software means students with learning disabilities can have access to new tools to help them with tasks they would otherwise find difficult.
EASY TO USE
"It's incredible, it's shocking," says Peebles, who has been a student services teacher in School District 43 for more than a decade.
Peebles said that since the district launched an iPad pilot project last fall, dozens of children with diagnosed learning disabilities have become more independent and successful learners.
"What students notice very quickly the first time they come, when they create a brochure about themselves [an introductory lesson], is that the the iPad is very tactile and easy to use. They are able to create something quickly that looks great."
On its own, the iPad is simply a tool; it's the applications that make it useful to students. Laptops, tablets and other devices can also be used by students to do school work. But at the Teaching and Evaluation Centre (SD43's support program for Grade 4 to 8 students at Como Lake), eight iPads were purchased for students to use. For the approximately eight weeks they are in the program, the students use them to make documents, videos, presentations and "read" articles using speak functions.
When the students learn how to incorporate the iPads into their school work, they are more capable once they are back in their regular classroom. And with increased independence, Peebles said, the students gain confidence.
"The tools that are out there allow them to do things they've never been able to do."
NOT A PANACEA
Still, purchasing an iPad or other tablet computer isn't an answer on its own.
Kerry Randall, provincial co-ordinator for Special Educational Technology BC (SET-BC), which provides learning aids to students with physical and intellectual disabilities, said the success of any technology depends on knowledgeable teachers who can incorporate it in the classroom.
"We recognize all students are very individual and they have individual learning needs," Randall said, "so we are reluctant to say there's a one-size-fits-all solution."
She cautions against getting too wrapped up in one technology, and with the pace of change, iPads could one day be supplanted with something even more functional - and cheaper.
"It's very easy to chase the squirrel," Randall said. She noted devices using the Android operating system are getting easier to use and if an alternative mouse or keyboard is needed to improve functionality, students may as well use a computer or a laptop.
iPods and iPads are part of SET-BC's learning arsenal, along with other assistive technologies and software, and Randall acknowledged that they are popular. Not only do they help students do school work, the iPad gives them an "in" with their peers. "It's attractive. It creates a lot of peer interactions."
At Como Lake, students were more than happy to show what they can do.
"I think it's great," Brianna Gibson said of the iPad her parents bought and she brings daily from home. She showed how she used Keynote, a presentation program, to do a professional-looking project on learning disabilities.
"It's not that complicated and I can get photos from the internet, " she noted.
Other students showed how they used the iPad for making brochures, using a page-design app called Pages and one boy demonstrated how he takes a photo of a document with his iPhone so it can be read back to him using the speak function - a tool that could help students with reading difficulties get information quickly.
"Last year, it was very powerful to see these kids who have a hard time in school be experts," Peebles said.
INFO SESSION
Still, Peebles agreed buying an iPad won't solve every problem. In many homes, the iPad ends is only used for gaming or to watch videos. To help parents get more value from the device, SD43 is hosting an iPad evening on Thursday, Nov. 28 and students in her class will be demonstrating the technology.
The workshop will provide an overview of the accessibility tools that are part of an iPad and why they are effective. The session will conclude with a question-and-answer session.
Questions will be shared using a free app called Socrative Student and parents are encouraged to download it before the event if they wish to participate. The workshop takes place at Como Lake middle school on Thursday, Nov. 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. To register, email Brenda Peebles at [email protected] or call 604-936-1451.
