Research
Research and resources
On this page, you can find out more about:
- autism and iPads: ongoing research by AEIOU Foundation and Griffith University
- resources for educators and parents to support people with a disability using technology with learning.
Autism and iPads: Queensland research
AEIOU Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a professional early intervention program for children aged 2½ to 6 who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).
The Foundation is working collaboratively with researchers from Griffith University to assess the validity of iPads as a learning and teaching tool.
In Semester 2, 2011, 2 children—Liam and Mitch—participated in a specific study about how easily apps could be found that were relevant to their Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals.
‘We really wanted to document child engagement and achievement when using these supports,' says Dr Wendi Beamish, a co-researcher from Griffith University.
Wayne Lang is another co-researcher on the project. He says the ‘extraordinary' size of the app market is a factor contributing to the relevance of the research for the community.
‘It is about making choices,' he says.
This year, a second phase of the project will consider how social stories can be used on iPads to support young children with autism.
Wayne says that while iPads are an ‘engaging tool', it is important to recognise there is no ‘one size fits all' when it comes to technology.
Advice for parents
The AEIOU Foundation's Director of Education, Diane Heaney, spoke to Disability Online about the purpose of the iPad trial, uses for the devices, responses from parents with children with autism who have purchased tablet PCs and the importance of consulting with experts in making informed purchase decisions. You can watch what Diane had to say.
Video transcript
Description: AEIOU Foundation Director of Education Diane Heaney talks about the Foundation's ongoing research about the uses of tablet PCs with Griffith University, as well as feedback from parents about the merits of using tablet PCs to support young children with autism.
Transcript:
Diane: There is certainly a lot of media around iPads coming out, and parents were starting to show interest and ask questions and see whether it was useful for their child. Staff were trialling apps on their own devices, and there was a lot of excitement amongst the therapists and the teachers, so we decided that we'd move forward and actually trial them with the children.
The iPad is very easy to handle and to navigate around, and it can become quite a sturdy device with some of the covers you can get for the iPads these days. The range of apps available now can cover the whole curriculum. Children can learn many skills—they can even be used as time timers: children are actually allowed to do something for a certain amount of time and then it runs out and it teaches the children that an activity will come to an end. They can be used as a first-and-then tool, and are very motivating for turn taking. It is really motivating for the children to wait their turn to use the iPad, whereas another activity might not be as motivating for them.
We do stress to parents that the iPad is one of many tools that are used in the centres and in education in general. It is important to recognise that children have to learn in a variety of ways-not just through one medium.
Parents have expressed mixed responses with the use of the iPad with their children. Some parents have bought the iPad without it being recommended to them, so the uses have not been clearly defined for their families. Other families have not set clear boundaries from the beginning on the use of the iPad, so children have been used to using them for gaming or watching movies or video clips, and they find it very difficult then to switch to using it as an educational tool or a communication tool, because they want to go to their more preferred option, which is (often) watching their favourite character on a screen, and it is really difficult for parents to move them away from that, once the child is used to using the iPad for that means.
It is important that parents—before they purchase an iPad—discuss with their teachers and therapists the use of the iPad and whether it is actually suitable for their child. It is very overwhelming to look at the options available, and parents might get caught up in the hype and not make informed decisions.
Resources
Here are some resources* that relate to assistive technology, including tablet PCs, and education.
- the Queensland Government's Smart Classrooms strategy includes information for school leaders, teachers, parents and caregivers and students.
- the Victorian Government has set up an iPads for Learning website for educators who want to learn about using iPads in education. It includes:
- classroom ideas for teachers
- education apps that are organised in categories by topic and subject area—including apps for students with disabilities.
- the Apple in Education website—including information about configuring accessibility features on an iPad
- OT's with Apps includes reviews of apps and resources for occupational therapists working with children and adults
- A Gallery of Teacher iVideos includes videos relating to information and communication technology in education.
More information
You can also find suggested general assistive technology resources on Disability Online.
*The Queensland Government does not endorse any of the suggestions included on this list, which has been developed in consultation with community organisations, educators, researchers and other professionals, as well as parents and people with a disability.
