One of the things I was bothered by during discussions with students was having to frequently disrupt the flow of conversation to gather around my computer when the discussion required us to go online to show look at a video or something else relevant to the topic at hand. With an iPad in my office, I can open up Safari and we can pass media back and forth very comfortably and naturally as a digital extension of the conversation.
Sometimes, I am the one who wants to share an illustration with a student to help them think over an issue in a different manner. The iPad is for me in counseling what the projector is for a classroom teacher. I use both Drop Box and Evernote to wirelessly share information between my computer, smart phone, and iPad. As I prepare for sessions with students, I can save images, poems, and other resources into drop box and have it literally in hand the next instant to share with students – no printing required.
An unanticipated benefit of the iPad for counseling occurs during classroom observations. I know that if I am in a class completing an observation and typing up my observation notes directly into my laptop, it looks and feels like I am only partially in the room. I think many would agree that when someone is working on a computer it always looks like they are doing something else. With an ipad, it is far less invasive as I jot down quick notes into a much smaller device and black out the screen instantly so I can leave it where I was and walk around the room. While this may change in time, I don’t think people consider the iPad a device for “serious work” so I don’t think it fosters the same “analysis paralysis” that can inhibit accurate observations as students censor what they do and say. – AC
Posted On: Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
Posted In: Technology
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Comments: 5 Responses
I am an elementary school counselor and I am submitting a grant for an Ipad today! Wish me luck. What are the apps you get the most use out of? If I get it, I will surely have more questions for you!
Hi
I too am an elementary school counselor and just received an IPAD today. Did you ever find any apps that you found helpful for teaching social skills and for collecting behavioral data?
I am a middle school counselor. We received a grant so I have an Ipad! I would love to know some of the apps you use!
Hi Sherry,
Nice going getting the iPad to help with your work. For me, I find it invaluable for observations because it is much less invasive than a laptop yet still stores things electronically so I can organize them easily. In terms of my work with students, I use google forms for basic assessments and have found user interface for the form online via the iPad quite helpful as I can just pass over the iPad. I also use it as a passable display for models and diagrams. These are all fairly basic uses however and I think a lot of potential lies in finding a good drawing programs and other interactive apps that help get at some of the needs we encounter. I have experimented with probably 3 or 4 drawing apps but haven’t found just the right one yet. I think notetakerHD has potential because it would allow students to write over pdf templates but it takes just a bit of practice to become proficient so paper still seems to work best.
I’d like to find app equivalents to some of the card games I use with students like Zombie Fluxx (for anger management) or Apples to Apples (to explore abstract thinking) yet haven’t found anything suitable. Now that we are back to school, I will make it a priority to find some more useful tools and share them. As you find good ones, please let me know! – AC
Hello Adam,
I need an iPad. I am an Elementary School Counselor. I work with children who are emotionally disturbed, children from non-traditional families, homelessness, victims of domestic violence just to name a few. Can you give me ideas on how to obtain a grant for an iPad? I truly appreciate anything you can do to help out.
Stella