A Breakthrough For Josh

          In A Breakthrough for Josh, Barbara McClanahan notes that there were very few studies that gave any evidence about the effects of Technology on students with ADHD.  After McClanahan was given the opportunity to see what the iPad could do at a PD, she was convinced that it would have significant impact on Education.  iPads present learning tasks in multiple modalities, they chunk tasks into more manageable pieces, and give repeated trials with immediate feedback.  It presents learning like a game, which promotes engagement and attention.  Even comfort is enhanced by iPads.
             McClanahan began her study, but she noticed a problem. There was one fifth grade boy with ADHD, who had adaptations, but his adaptations were not being adequately implemented.  Teachers' view of students with ADHD has affected the way that they are treated in the classroom. They do not get the help that is required for them.
              I thought it was interesting that they had planned to use the iPad for a reward, and decided that it could be used in the tutoring sessions. Traditional flash cards were not working, so she let him use the iPad and he stayed still for ten minutes, totally focused on his task. She began to search for a flashcard app and she began using the iPad to actually tutor Josh.  In many cases, using a computer can really help to focus students' attention, especially students with ADHD. The study showed that Josh improved more when he recorded his own voice, while reading, then when someone read to him.She introduced the INSERT strategy, in which he marks unknown words in his readings. He was very quick to internalize this strategy and used it consistently without prompting.  They did a great job of teaching Josh self monitoring strategies.  She noted that the results of the findings showed improvement in numbers, but it was the anecdotal notes that gave the best evidence of whether this plan was working. He asked to re-read a sentence to make it make sense, which, "strongly suggests that Josh understands that reading should be done to construct meaning."
           iPads help students with ADHD because of the higher levels of sensory stimulation. "The touch screen promotes the use of several modalities (Raggi &Chronis,2006), especially visual and tactile/kinesthetic more readily and effectively."
            I wonder if the higher levels of stimulation may help students other than students with ADHD.  For instance, I know that a lot of teachers have experimented with playing music during a free-write and it has helped with students' creativity.  During the Virtual Classroom, I suggested that a student who had trouble with fine motor skills, may in fact benefit from music.  I realize that this is not a matter of creativity, and yet I thought that perhaps stimulating one part of the brain, may allow for new networks of neurological connections. I was shooting for out of the box thinking.
           I think that iPads are becoming mainstream. We will see them in more classrooms very soon.

            Here is an interesting video about the prevalence of iPads. Tell me your thoughts.

Here is the link in case it doesn't play. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8267408/Singapore-school-uses-iPads-in-the-classroom.html