At the Kilparrin Teaching and Assessment School and Services location in Adelaide, Australia, special needs students now have access to two Tapit interactive education displays from Exertis ProAV Australia to aid education and self-sufficiency.
During a 30-day trial period, Kilparrin staff witnessed students practice through trial-and-error to get the device to do what they wanted, demonstrating the value of the Tapit solution to foster students’ creativity and promote independence in learning.
Educator Lindsey Patti said: “I was able to learn a great deal about the student’s digital literacy skills and ways we can build on those to develop other skills. The student had familiarity with iPad operations to watch Big Bang programs, and she’s consistently able to use the iPad as expected. When presented with the Tapit device, however, she attempted to start the program by swiping the screen, and nothing happened. After many attempts of banging on the screen, swiping different directions, and even slapping it, she tapped the screen gently and the program began. She showed us that she is able to run through the scientific method in her head, using varying approaches to solve a problem until she finds a solution.”
The student benefitted from Tapit’s unique “intended touch” technology that can recognise the difference between an arm resting on the screen and a finger or digital pen device. Patti says this journey of discovery and achieving goals independently is crucial for all students regardless of age and could be used to increase skills related to literacy, numeracy, and communication as well as digital device literacy.
The trial period was arranged by technology consultant Leading Digital, a company dedicated to helping schools and staff implement new technologies to improve educational outcomes and provide educators with the latest tools. Neil Tregenza, director of Leading Digital, had seen Tapit demonstrated at Integrate, and contacted Exertis ProAV Australia about a trial at the Kilparrin school.
Tregenza said: “The Tapit is a well-designed and constructed piece of equipment, purpose-built for students with additional needs. Our job as a reseller is to prove the value of TAPit beyond what other interactive boards provide, and a trial period is an excellent way for educators and students to experience the difference first-hand. Thanks to the generous support of Exertis ProAV Australia in facilitating this trial, the merits of the device were well understood and led to a subsequent purchase of two units.”
According to Exertis ProAV Australia Nick Cocks: “We always go out of our way to ensure that our customers can make their purchase decision with confidence in the performance and reliability of what they are investing in, and a trial period is just one way that we provide that customer confidence. We are proud to be able to help Lindsey Patti and everyone else at Kilparrin make a difference in the lives of the students they help every day.”