Abstract
For over 20 years, Flo Longhorn has been publishing down-to-earth advice for educators supporting learners with profound and complex needs. Her books have covered a diverse range of topics, including literacy and numeracy as well as sensory drama, cookery, and art. Her latest book guides teachers gently into the world of iPads and Apps.
iPads have quickly moved from objects of desire and envy to being ever-present in our lives. Some schools are now well into projects designed to replace all school books with e-text accessed through the iPad. However, at first glance, the flat featureless screen appears totally inaccessible to those with little or no sight. Yet, mainstream press have featured people who are blind using their iPads efficiently and effectively through built-in accessibility features as well as Braille displays. This instant availability of accessible and up-to-date information has helped reaffirm the importance of learning and mastering Braille. Visiting teachers for the visually impaired have reported that the iPad is of great benefit in performing functional visual assessments, replacing heavy bags of physical resources. The natural development is to explore how the iPad, and the thousands of apps, can be used to support the learning and teaching of children and young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties. However, despite being motivated to employ the iPad in the classroom, not all teachers will be familiar with the device or the world of apps. Longhorn’s book is clearly targeted at this group of motivated novices. Yet, more experienced users may well find the book a very helpful resource.
Longhorn adopts a down-to-earth approach to explaining the iPad. A short introductory chapter guides the beginner through the basics such as what are apps, iTunes, YouTube, and iCloud. This is developed in the second chapter with some helpful handy hints when working with an iPad, including managing apps and even what to do when things go wrong. The bulk of the book is given over to outlining the apps that can be employed when working with the learner. Chapters are organised into sections looking at apps that can be used to stimulate vision as well as provide sensory stimulation through sound, music, and movement. Apps for specific curriculum areas, including literacy, emergent numeracy, and art, are detailed along with topics such as faces and emotions. Later, ideas for some apps for cross-curricular theme work are provided. Finally, a list of resources and accessories to make the iPad accessible is explored.
The book is clearly aimed for those who have recently bought an iPad. For instance, parents are increasingly drawn to it as a resource for home use with children with disabilities, and they may well find the book a great help. It is also very useful for any busy teacher wanting to introduce the iPad into the classroom. Searching through the hundreds of thousands of apps currently available takes valuable time. This book can certainly help accelerate the process though its description of 265 apps that Longhorn believes will be of use in the classroom. However, as she notes herself, this is a fast moving area with all the new apps launched daily and others being discontinued. Perhaps, this means that this book does have a limited shelf life. That said, at just over £21, including shipping costs, it would be very churlish to hold this against what will be a very useful resource for the teacher working with this special group of learners.
This book is available through Amazon at www.amazon.co.uk