In the landscape of educational apps for special education, Bitsboard emerges as a standout platform, distinguished by its versatility, ease of use, and profound respect for the learner's age and abilities. Kevin McNaughton, a dedicated educator working with high school autistic and functionally non-verbal students, shares his invaluable experience with Bitsboard, highlighting its transformative impact in the special education classroom.
A Wealth of Ready-to-Use Resources
Bitsboard is praised for its extensive library of boards, offering a wealth of resources ready for immediate use. This abundance ensures that educators can swiftly integrate the platform into their teaching, without the necessity of creating new materials from scratch. However, the ease of customizing and creating new boards adds a layer of personalization that is both simple and highly effective.
Unique Activity Generation
The true uniqueness of Bitsboard lies in its ability to take a set of 15 pictures and automatically generate 15-20 diverse activities from them. These activities cater to a wide range of abilities, making it possible to engage students of various skill levels. For instance, McNaughton recounts the success of using Bitsboard to maintain a 20-year-old student's focus on tracing letters for about five minutes—a significant achievement in special education.
Fostering Independence and Focus
One of the paramount goals in special education is to enable children to increase their focus time independently, without constant staff direction. Bitsboard excels in this area, providing activities that captivate students' attention and encourage sustained engagement.
Age-Appropriate Content
A common criticism of many special education apps is their failure to respect the chronological age of the students, often offering content that is overly juvenile. Bitsboard differentiates itself by offering content that is developmentally appropriate yet respects the students' age, avoiding the pitfalls of patronizing or "insulting" material.
Comprehensive Skill Development
McNaughton utilizes Bitsboard across a broad curriculum, addressing literacy, reading directionality, spelling, sequencing, sharing, turn-taking, and listening skills. The app's capacity to incorporate relevant pictures—such as those of the student's own desk or water fountain—enhances the relatability and effectiveness of the learning material.
Accessibility and Inclusivity
Bitsboard's flexibility extends beyond the classroom. Its accessibility at home and school bridges the learning gap, making continuous education a seamless reality for students. Moreover, McNaughton highlights the app's usefulness in language translation, aiding ESL students in their transition to English, further underscoring Bitsboard's adaptability.
A Resounding Endorsement
"There are other special needs apps out there, but one really needs to take a look at Bitsboard!" McNaughton asserts. His endorsement, based on firsthand experience, underscores the necessity of giving Bitsboard due consideration as a superior educational tool for special education.
Conclusion
Bitsboard stands as a beacon of innovation in special education, offering customizable, engaging, and respectful learning experiences for students with special needs. Its impact, as evidenced by educators like Kevin McNaughton, is not just in meeting educational goals but in transforming the learning journey for students and teachers alike.
Discover the difference Bitsboard can make in your special education classroom and experience the unparalleled support it offers to both students and educators in their pursuit of learning and growth.