THE ‘POWER’ OF MOBILE DEVICES EMINENT CONFERENCE - ZURICH – 13.11.2014 Jochen Vrancken – Eureka Die’s-lekti-kus

PARTNERS

CENTRE GANSPOEL Centre Ganspoel (Belgium) organizes the support of children, young people and adults with visual or visual-multiple disabilities. Residential Ambulant

GON service is part of ambulant The service integrated education (abbreviated GON-service and guidance) supports educational guidance the integration in the mainstream school Ganspoel supports 162 students in 151 different schools . 3 of the students are Braille users

SUPPORT Support for: the pupil the teacher the school team the parents so that students have the opportunity to follow the mainstream school curriculum providing adaptations and tools 

ADAPTATIONS AND TOOLS The tools range from small low vision aids to high-tech tools. For example: from telescopic binocular to video magnifier with camera to blackboard which is connected to a pc with magnification or speech software.

ADAPTATIONS AND TOOLS  always looking for other new solutions. Over the years, we noticed that this is a big financial investment. In Flanders a large part of the resources used in the schools are funded by the Ministry of Education. Tools used at home are funded by VAPH Not all tools are user friendly. Some children are not able to handle the tools. Sometimes class organization can stand in the way of the use of tools.  always looking for other new solutions.

NEW SOLUTIONS These steps are small but very meaningful. The last two years, we are looking for new solutions in use of smartphones and tablets. Because there’s no funding in this area they are dependent on the support of parents who buy the material at their own expenses. In addition, a lot of teachers at Ganspoel buy different material on their own account so they can search for apps and other things that can serve as a solution. These steps are small but very meaningful.

MOBILE DEVICES AS SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH A VISUAL DISABILITY During the past year, these were some experiments (i.e. that were tried on a number of occasions and have the added value but in practice they are not yet fully integrated.) Filming with the smartphone during a trip to bring images closer so that the visually impaired can follow along (camera zooming with spread and pinch gestures) Discovering and trying out apps and settings on the iPad (zoom, voice, invert, ...) Integration of e-books on tablets (zoom, speech, write capabilities) Braille display linked with Bluetooth to iPad so that the classroom teacher can read what the student notes Capabilities of the iPad compared to video magnifier and blackboard camera opportunities

PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED Large differences between the systems Possibilities offered by a mobile system to one pupil can not be generalized Wi-Fi is very often needed to use apps Sometimes the system is just an addition to an existing tool It can be a transitional phase to a technologically expensive tool There is no refund when testing The administration that is responsible for refunds, can not follow technological developments. As a result, tablets and smartphones as a tool are not acknowledged. The very fast evolution within apps and settings makes it hard to follow …

POSSIBILITIES AND CHANCES Integration of the pupil in the group goes smoothly as tablets are known more and more by teachers and fellow students Students can sit at different places in the classroom Easy to carry to other places No power sockets needed (if the battery is well charged) For some pupils tablets with e-books and workbooks can replace expensive conversions Considerable price difference compared to the technological systems that our students now use.  e.g. iPad with accessories and purchase apps = 1000 euro Technologicals System = +-6000 euro  Social emotional advantage for our students because tablets have a higher social respect than large technological tools 

VIDEO

SENnet website: sennet.eun.org Mailing list: sennet@eun.org CONTACT SENnet website: sennet.eun.org Mailing list: sennet@eun.org Project manager: roger.blamire@eun.org Project ref. 518426-LLP-1-2011-1-BE-COMENIUS-CNW Duration: 36 months to November 2014