Power of the iPad
Before listing the different technology tool for special needs students with Cognitive, Physical, Sensory, At-risk, or talented and gifted students, it is important to see the great value in the using an iPad to enhance learning in a seminary classroom. The iPad has some many options because of the many apps available but it also has accessory options allowing it to be very easy to use. For this reason the majority of technology tool strategies will be used with the iPad.
Before listing the different technology tool for special needs students with Cognitive, Physical, Sensory, At-risk, or talented and gifted students, it is important to see the great value in the using an iPad to enhance learning in a seminary classroom. The iPad has some many options because of the many apps available but it also has accessory options allowing it to be very easy to use. For this reason the majority of technology tool strategies will be used with the iPad.
Students with Cognitive Difficulties
Tools
1. LDS interactive Storybook-This tool is great for younger children as well as students that struggle with reading. In addition to this storybook the LDS online magazine The Ensign is also interactive. 2. Dragon Dictation-This app is very helpful for students that have a hard time writing. Students lacking writing skills will be able to speak what they want to write and using Dragon Dictation it will display the words on the iPad screen.
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How this tool will assist a special needs seminary student
1. This storybook allows student that have trouble reading to be able to listen to the stories from the Prophet as well as stories in the scriptures. This can be used along with the scripture block being studied or in personal study situations. 2. Dragon Dictation-As student write down their thoughts and questions they will be able to more meaningfully ponder on the scriptures. For students lacking writing skills they will be able to speak there thoughts and have them recorded immediately to their iPads. This way they will be able to remember what they were pondering while reading a particular verse of scripture.
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Students with Physical Difficulties
Tools
1. Panther Connect-This app allows users to transform the iPad into their own trackpad. This way they will be able to more easily control swiping functions of the iPad. 2. Stylus-this extremely helpful tech tool allows users that have challenges using their hands or fingers to navigate through the iPad can use a stylus to be an extension of their hand. It's simple to use and there are many to different ones to choose from.
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How this tool will assist a special needs seminary student
1. Panther Connect-Although this app currently costs $24.99, it is a very powerful tool in helping students with physical difficulties to navigate through their digital scriptures or other LDS apps. 2. Stylus-Using a stylus in seminary will not only make it easier to use the iPad but much much easier to highlight and annotate the student's digital scriptures. Phrases in scripture verses will be practical for highlighting as well as using cross references.
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Students with Sensory Difficulties
Tools
1. LDS Gospel Library app (Blind or vision impaired)- The LDS Gospel library app includes thousands of LDS resources. The majority (if not all) of the written content can be played audibly so vision impaired students can listen to the material. 2. LDS ASL Scriptures online (Deaf)-This website is very helpful for deaf seminary students. ASL videos are shown as students navigate through the scriptures.
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How this tool will assist a special needs seminary student
1. LDS Gospel Library-As this app is able to make virtually all the written material audible it can be helpful in many ways. One main use can be for the General Conference assignment. Students are required to participate in General Conference and this app will make it possible for them to listen to the speakers. 2. LDS ASL Scriptures Online-Like other apps for special needs students this will give deaf students another way to study the scriptures. In addition to this, church media is closed captioned and so students will be able to read the subtitles. Students will be able to have the scriptures interpreted which will give them greater understanding.
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At Risk Students
Tools
1. Reminder App-this app enhances the iPad capacity to remind of events or activities. This app will trigger a reminder alert even when it's not running. Also, this app doesn't require an internet connection to function. 2. Write It VS Free: The Pen is Mightier than the sword app-This app is a really great educational tool for At Risk students that need some extra motivation to write. It uses a storytelling/rpg format to encourage students to write.
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How this tool will assist a special needs seminary student
1. Reminder App-For many students it is difficult to remember reading the scriptures everyday. For At risk students it is even more of a challenge. Using the reminder app, At Risk students will be able to keep track of their daily scripture reading more effectively. One way to implement this is to setup the reminder at different time during the day, as well as using encouraging messages as reminders as set by the teacher.
2. Write It VS Free-Not only is this app very entertaining but it is effective. One of the many ways to implement this app is to have the At Risk student give his/her perspective of a particular scripture story as if they were a character in the story. This allows the student to learn the story in a fun and motivating way. After reading the scripture story, the student will then create his/her own story using the app.
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Talented and Gifted Students
Tools
1. Teach app-This app is a great tool for teachers but also works for talented and gifted students. The teach app is a free lesson planning and recording tool for teaching. Talented and gifted students can showcase their teaching by using this app. 2. LDS Youth Facebook Page-A Facebook page setup for LDS youth. New articles, topics, media, and social interaction designed for LDS youth. This page allows social interaction for talented and gifted students.
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How this tool will assist a special needs seminary student
1. Teach app-One of the objectives of Seminary and Institutes is to "prepare students to teach the gospel to others" (S&I Objective). This lesson planning app can be used for students to plan scriptural lessons in an interesting way. This tool will be especially great for the talented and gifted seminary students so they may display their teaching skills and scriptural knowledge. 2. LDS Youth Facebook Page-For talented and gifted seminary students the LDS Youth Facebook Page is a great resource for social interaction with their peers. Using this page in a seminary class is very helpful because so much of the content is directly related to seminary. Talented and gifted students may access the page, make a comment, share a link, or find new friends.
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