Today the students had choice time of sorts and had to work on the computers. Once again I decided to work with Mila because she knows me and I have been working well with her. When Mila got on the computer I immediately notices that she was having difficulties moving the mouse. We started a program that had the alphabet and it would have different games associated with each letter. When playing the game I would help Mila move the mouse and she was getting all of the answer correct, almost like she had played it before or that it was too easy. I went to the next level up and she still seemed to get them correct. One thing that I noticed is that she was touching the screen on the monitor a lot, she was able to pinpoint what she wanted to answer way easier than she could do using the mouse. This makes me think of my research on the IPad, I wish I had one to try with her.
I Learned that sometimes students may know more then they are demonstrating but it is only due to other limitation such as the ability to use a mouse and keyboard. If Mila had a tablet device for her elementary year for all we know she might be at grade level in some topics. I also noticed a different side of Mila today, the more she got right the calmer and more willing to move through the lesson she was. Unlike trying to use scissors where she got frustrated, this just seemed to motivate her.
Just like the class and my research said the use of tablets for students with autism or other disabilities could be very effective. The help with communication skills, if the student can not communicate with you they can not tell you the answers to questions and they also can not tell you there needs. In the article I just read the young man progressed 1 whole year in a one month period using tablets. That means that in a few months Mila might be able to read. People underestimate these students so much.
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