Assistive Technology in Action - Meet Jean

Summary

The transcript discusses a young student named Jean, who is creative and passionate about animals, using an iPad to support her learning. Jean has mild to moderate hearing loss, managed with hearing aids. Her iPad helps her access curriculum, take notes, plan homework, and pre-learn materials. It also aids her with test-taking, using audio support and interactive apps. A teacher, Mr. Westman, describes working with Jean to enhance her communication and comprehension skills through technology. The iPad empowers Jean with independence and enhances her ability to engage in class activities.

Takeaways

• 📱 Jean uses an iPad to access her curriculum and participate in class alongside her peers.
• 🐱 Jean is a creative and curious child who loves animals, especially her cat.
• 📝 The iPad is used for various school tasks, including note-taking, test-taking, and accessing condensed versions of notes.
• 🎓 Jean utilizes specific apps to pre-learn classroom material and supplement her studies.
• 📅 The iPad helps Jean with personal planning, such as tracking homework assignments, tests, and quizzes.
• 👂 Jean has mild to moderate hearing loss, which is addressed through her hearing aids, allowing her hearing to reach normal levels.
• 🎧 Adaptation equipment, called boots, converts Jean's hearing aids into earphones for independent test-taking, audio books, and videos.
• 📚 Jean's sixth-grade language arts teacher, Jacob Westman, has worked with her for three years, including tutoring sessions to enhance her communication and comprehension skills.
• 📖 Jean's assignments, worksheets, and reading materials are uploaded to her iPad, giving her independence and flexibility in her studies.
• 💻 Technology is seen as a valuable tool in education, offering students like Jean independence and access to learning resources.

Q & A

Who is Jean and what is she passionate about?

Jean is a creative and curious child who is very passionate about animals.

How has Jean been using the iPad in her education?

Jean has been using an iPad for a couple of years to access curriculum, participate in classes, take notes, and plan her homework and tests.

What specific areas of schoolwork does Jean use the iPad for?

Jean uses the iPad for test-taking, note-taking, accessing condensed versions of notes, pre-learning, and using educational apps related to the curriculum.

What is the Monroe Doctrine and how does Jean use the iPad in relation to this topic?

The Monroe Doctrine states that the US was no longer open to colonization. Jean uses the iPad to access curriculum on topics like this, helping her learn about history, including the French Revolution and other subjects.

How does Jean use the iPad to assist with personal planning?

Jean utilizes the iPad as a planner to organize her homework assignments, tests, and quizzes, which helps with personal planning.

What is Jean’s hearing condition, and how is it managed?

Jean has mild to moderate hearing loss, which is addressed through hearing aids. With the aids, her hearing is at normal levels.

What special equipment is used with Jean's hearing aids to help her in the classroom?

Jean uses an adaptation equipment called boots, which attach to her hearing aids and convert them to earphones, allowing her to listen to audio books, videos, and other educational materials.

Who is Jacob Westman, and what role has he played in Jean’s education?

Jacob Westman is a sixth-grade language arts teacher who has known Jean for about three years. He helped her through tutoring to improve her communication and comprehension skills.

How does Jean use the iPad in Mr. Westman’s class?

In Mr. Westman's class, Jean uses the iPad to access assignments, worksheets, and stories, which provides her with independence and freedom in her learning.

What are the teacher's thoughts on technology in education?

Mr. Westman believes that technology, like the iPad, is just another tool used in education to enhance learning, and he recognizes that educational technology will continue to evolve in the next five years.