Improving Learning Outcomes: The iPad and Preschool Children with Disabilities.

Linda Chmiliar

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00660

Abstract

The digital age has reached early childhood, and the use of touch screens by young children is common place. Research on the use of touch screen tablets with young children is becoming more prevalent; however, less information is available on the use of touch screen tablets to support young children with disabilities. Touch screen tablets may offer possibilities to preschool children with disabilities to participate in learning in a digital way. The iPad provides easy interaction on the touch screen and access to a multitude of engaging early learning applications. This paper summarizes a pilot study with 8 young children with disabilities included in a preschool classroom, who were given iPads to use in class and at home for a period of 21 weeks. Systematic observations, classroom assessments, and teacher and parent interviews documented the improvements in learning outcomes for each child in many areas including, but not limited to: shape and color recognition, letter recognition, and tracing letters throughout six research cycles.

Highlights

The digital age is upon us, and with ownership of mobile devices increasing in families, many young children have access to the use of use touch screen tablets
The central question for the research was: What improvements in early learning skills will preschool children with disabilities in an inclusive school program evidence while using the iPad loaded with early learning apps over a period of 21 weeks? An additional question was explored: What support is required by the teacher and families to use this tool? The research took place in an inclusive preschool program with eight preschool children ages three to five identified as having significant disabilities
The iPad appears to be a tool that can help to have a positive impact on young children with disabilities in the preschool inclusive classroom. iPad can be used independently by young children with disabilities and this research showed that children with disabilities can learn a range of preschool skills on the iPad

Summary

Introduction

The digital age is upon us, and with ownership of mobile devices increasing in families, many young children have access to the use of use touch screen tablets. Touch screen tablets offer possibilities to preschool children with disabilities such as the ability to explore learning in a digital way. The children received iPads to use at school and a home for a period of 21 weeks. This qualitative research study documented the learning each child demonstrated at home and at school; parent and teacher perceptions of the use of the iPad by each child; the use of the iPad in the classroom; and the supports that the parents and educators needed to use the iPad effectively

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Discussion

Conclusion