Teachers in PS 177 high school in Queens, NY were struggling to find a way to help students with learning disabilities focus and advance in school. Most of the kids in the special ed classes are autistic and the normal curricula did not help them.
Adam Goldberg, a teacher at the school, decided to raise money to get a few iPads in the classroom. He organized them in a horseshoe and placed music software on them. Goldberg then asked the kids to play songs such as Bob Marley’s “One Love” and viola! – The results were amazing.
“In some cases, these are kids that were nonverbal,” says Leslie Schecht from the NY Department of Education. “They really adapted and changed tremendously.”
Goldberg said one kid in particular who would only say a couple words, sang the entire Bob Marley’s “One Love” in front of the class & then turned to his teacher and said “iPad please” 🙂
“When I saw the effect these had on the kids, I pulled together as much budget as I could and ordered 90” said Kathy Posa, the school’s principal.
The kids call their school band, the “PS 177 Technology Band”. They have even created original hits that are available on iTunes! All proceeds go to their school.
Peace & Love,
Jon
– The Good World News