HANFORD — A new focus on technology could be helping Kings County special education students learn better and increase interest in class.

With more and more school districts making iPads, computers and other devices available to students for class use, teachers and special education students have more control than ever on how and what they learn. According to some local teachers, the devices have helped students’ writing and communication skills as well as got them more interested in coming to class.

“This generation is very technologically advanced,” said Corcoran High School special education teacher Jennifer Ferguson. “They’re more apt to interact more in class because they’re using a device they’re familiar with.

Ferguson said her each of her students uses a Macbook Air computer, allowing them to write up and submit assignments both in class and at home, complete interactive assignments related to the curriculum as well as communicate with their teacher peers.

Ferguson said a few applications have been particularly useful for her class. One is Schoology, which allows her to communicate directly with students, trade learning material and assignments, post grades and more. She also uses Shmoop, which helps students prepare for tests such as the SAT and ACT by providing study tools such as interactive reading.

“A lot of my students have difficulty with these types of tests, so apps like Shmoop are really useful for them,” she said.

Ferguson said interacting with students online and having online class discussions has been one of the biggest benefits of having the devices, as the students are often afraid to speak up in class but are comfortable communicating through devices.

“Writing online makes the students more comfortable and makes it easier for them to say what they mean to say,” she said. “More of my students are now speaking up in class because they’ve gained more confidence by doing it online. That’s a big jump for them.”

With her students writing so much online and taking in so much information, Ferguson said their overall reading and writing skills have progressed significantly. This also goes for kids who have difficulty reading, as their books can be customized to their needs, such as increasing the font of the text.

“It’s helped us all be more organized and communicative,” Ferguson said. “It’s made the learning process a little easier. I think the kids understand how fortunate we are and are starting to see this technology as an awesome thing.”

Pioneer Middle School special education teacher Jean Tessman said the new technology has also given her new options in the classroom. However, not all her students are given devices like Corcoran High School. Six Chromebooks and one iPad are available for students to use in class, with students being given the option to bring devices from home.

“It’s given me a lot more ways to help them learn and do it in a way that interests them,” she said. “Also, it’s important for my students because they tend to lose things, so having their assignments and materials on the computer in one place has been helpful.”

Tessman said she uses the devices to read stories to the students and play educational games along with typing essays and other school assignments. She said the students also use them to do research and gather more information about topics they discuss in class.

“It’s been a big motivator,” she said. “They enjoy using these devices and always try to accomplish the task they’re given.”

Tessman said sometimes she has difficulty understanding the students when they talk in class. However, when they communicate with her through the devices, she said she gets a better idea of what they’re trying to say.

“Communicating with them online helps me understand what they’re interested in,” she said. “Sometimes, students are physically limited in what they can share with me and other students. With these devices, however, they have an easier time telling me what they like or what they’re having trouble with.”

This communication isn’t just verbal. Tessman said some students have an easier time communicating visually rather than verbally, so sometimes those students will show her something on their screen and Tessman will more quickly understand what they’re trying to express.

However, Tessman said the devices come with their own challenges. She said she doesn’t know a lot about technology, so she sometimes has to rely on her students to help her.

“I’m trying to learn about what works best for students and stay ahead, but they’re more familiar with this technology than I am, so they’re often one step ahead of me,” she said. “It’s a big learning curve for us older teachers to learn all of this. Then you have to make sure it’s all appropriate for learning.”

Despite the challenges, Tessman said the experience has been a mostly positive one for both her and her students.

“In a way, we’re all teaching each other,” she said. “They’re teaching me how to use this technology and I’m teaching them how they can use it to progress in their learning.”

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429 or by email at jluiz@hanfordsentinel.com.