The panel discussion focused on how mobile devices can help address achievement gaps and promote inclusion. Jonathan Costa discussed strategies for building management capacity for mobile learning, including BYOD policies and ensuring equitable access. Susan Wells presented classroom strategies using apps to support note-taking, organization, communication and alternative communication for various student groups. The panelists then demonstrated apps like Tap to Talk, Claro Magx, Edmodo and Dragon Dictation that teachers could experiment with. They concluded by asking how schools can bring mobile learning home to support special populations.

1. PT03 - Mobiles as Agents for
Inclusion
From Overview to Exploration
Heidi Larson (Moderator), Jonathan Costa, & Susan Wells

2. Agenda
• Who are we?
• Why do we care about this topic?
• How can we build our capacity?
• What can we do tomorrow with our
students and teachers?
• Where do we go from here?

3. Who We Are - Panelists
Jonathan Costa
Susan Wells
Director
School/Program Services
EDUCATION CONNECTION
ISTE SIGML President
School Based Administrator
Apple Distinguished Program
2009-2011
Heidi Larson
(Moderator)
Project Director Education
Development Center

4. Audience?
• Teachers of students:
– General Ed
– Special Ed
– ELL/ESL/EFL
– With physical disabilities
– Other?

5. Audience?
• Coaches
• Administrators
• Researchers
• Nonprofits/Vendors
• International?

6. Why Do We Care About Mobiles?
Achievement Gaps Persist
“Nearly two-thirds of [New York] city students failed the higher-standards math
and reading tests, but districts with large percentages of high-needs
students did especially poor, according a report from the Annenberg Institute
for School Reform. (August 2013)”
(http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/achievement-gap-widens-city-new-standardized-testsarticle-1.1423531#ixzz2gcinDzBF)
As Numbers Increase
“Currently, one in nine students in our classrooms is defined as an English language
learner….By 2025, that number will approach around one in four students.”
(Closing the ELL Achievement Gap: A Leader’s Guide to Making Schools Effective for Culturally and Linguistically
Diverse Students: http://www.leadered.com/pdf/Closing%20ELL%20Gap%20kit%20excerpt.pdf)

7. And Mobile Use is On the Rise…
Here in the U.S.
“78% of teens [in the U.S.] now have a cell phone, and almost half (47%) of
them own smartphones.”
(Pew Internet & American Life Project: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teens-and-Tech.aspx)
And Internationally
“There are more mobile users than tooth brush users in the world today.”
(Quote from Dr. Paul Kim’s EdWeb webinar “Opening a New Can of Worms? Teacher Competency
Revisited in the Era of Mobile Learning” http://home.edweb.net/opening-a-new-can-of-worms-teachercompetency-revisited-in-the-era-of-mobile-learning/)

8. Building our Management Capacity
Jonathan Costa
Director
School/Program Services
EDUCATION CONNECTION
costa@educationconnection.org

9. Strategies for
Inclusion and
Learning
http://digitallearningforallnow.com
http://www.slideshare.net/jpcostasr
Jonathan P. Costa, Sr.

10. BYOD
Let
students
use
their
own stuff.
© Corwin Press - 2011

11. Equity
Equation
A device gap is
less
objectionable
than an
access gap.
© Corwin Press - 2011

12. One Size Cannot
Possibly Fit All
In a world where we can
customize everything
from hamburgers to
jeans, can we really
expect one instructional
approach or resource to
work for every learner?
© Corwin Press - 2011

13. Resources
An app for searching for apps: http://www.quixey.com
An app for organizing apps: http://www.schoolfuelapps.com
A few sites that provision inclusion apps:
http://www.tcischool.org/techtips
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2011/02/02/the-special-needs-ipadapp-series/?gclid=CKaR36KF-bkCFelAMgodFi4ArQ
http://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-apps
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autism-apps/id441600681?mt=8
http://blog.laptopmag.com/best-autism-apps-ipad
https://autismapps.wikispaces.com/
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=312446
http://www.onevoiceict.org/news/moving-together-mobile-apps-inclusionand-assistance
An inclusion tool that is designed for the mainstream and
demonstrates how technology can be used to enable differentiation
and enhance learning opportunity - http://www.newsela.com

15. Resources
Resources from, and in addition to, this session
http://www.slideshare.net/jpcostasr/mobile-tech-resources-for-inclusion

16. Classroom Strategies
Susan Wells
ISTE SIGML President
School Based Administrator
Apple Distinguished Program 2009-2011
wellssusans@gmail.com

17. Inclusion and the Big 3 Need Areas
1. Note-taking
2. Organization
3. Communication
Translation Apps
ESL students working
with
Merrian-Webster
and
iTranslate

18. Augmentative Alternative Communication
and Learning Activity Apps
Developmental needs students working with TapToTalk, Lego 4+, and Letter
Quiz

19. Organizational and Production Apps
Students in a regular classroom collaborating in project-based learning with
Edmodo, iMove, and Dragon Dictation

20. Notes Apps
Special Needs Inclusion Student using Claro Magx and Dragon Dictation

21. ACC Apps
MultiHandicapped special needs learners using TaptoTalk

22. Enough Talk. Ready to experiment?
4 targeted apps for use in and out of classrooms
• Tap to Talk
• Claro Magx (iOS) or Your Magnifying Glass (Android)
• Edmodo
• Dragon Dictation

23. Tap to Talk
Autistic/Developmentally Delayed/AAC (Augmentative Alternative
Communication) Needs
Free / $99.95 / $179.95
iOS, Android, Kindle, Nook, Windows
Communication device. Library of pictures, ability to add your
own. Customizable albums.

24. Claro MagX or Your Magnifying Glass
Visually Impaired
Free
Claro MagX (iOS) Your Magnifying Glass (Android)
High definition visual magnifier.

25. Edmodo
Inclusion-EC/ESL
Free
iOS, Android
Students and teachers and parents stay connected;
organizational app for inclusion. Post assignments, links, docs,
notes between home and school. Great tool for home/school
communication.

26. Dragon Dictation
Inclusion for all and Communication Needs
Free
iOS, Windows, Android
Speech to text app. Communication device. Note-taking for all
ages.

27. Where Do We Go from Here?
Bringing it home
Question for you all: How to bring mobile learning for special
populations home to the school/class/district?

28. Thanks for coming!
Please keep in touch.
Heidi Larson: hlarson@edc.org / @heidil_edc
http://edc.org
Jonathan Costa: costa@educationconnection.org
http://educationconnection.org/
Susan Wells: wellssusans@gmail.com / @wellssusan
http://www.mobilelearningequity.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/susanwells