This evaluation is timely as the huge global explosion of technology means that the need to equip SEN students

of the 21st Century for an independent future, in an ever changing world, is paramount. The Techno-ABLE project grew out of the Developing Different Voices series which is an ongoing network for SEN schools across the North West run by Curious Minds. This group has brokered links between special schools, cultural organisations and research institutes across the region in order to encourage arts, culture and creativity in schools. Three special schools have worked in partnership with one another, Curious Minds and the practitioner Paul Main to develop the Techo-ABLE project to answer the question:

How can we improve pupil engagement and progress through the use of creative technology?
Each school then developed its own sub question to suit the needs of the school. The project was awarded funding from Curious Minds of 10,500, 1,500 from DIY Theatre Company shared equally between the three schools and each school contributed 3,000 as their share, making a total budget of 21,000 A total of fifty four pupils and twenty one staff took part in the project and the project ran for six weekly sessions, spread over twelve weeks.

Sub question: How far and in what ways can we facilitate the development and retention of new skills to improve learning? Focusing on literacy and in particular writing and punctuation, Tor View worked with the practitioner to find apps that would engage the pupils and introduce them to new skills. With the practitioner the pupils made an eBook. Conclusion Pupils were able to experiment with the iPads Behaviour was very good Evidence of independent learning and personalised learning Increased confidence enabling pupils to ask for help Staff could see immediately how the pupils were responding to the work and intervene if necessary

Sub question: How far can structured ICT workshops and activities develop good communication and social relationships between deaf children and their families? Focusing on literacy in KS1 and Science in KS2, Royal Cross developed ways to involve parents by holding weekend workshops to encourage them to try some of the apps being used in school. These apps were used to make individual ebooks. Conclusion Parents engaged well with school and have shown a commitment to further engagement and involvement Pupils have demonstrated independent learning and skills in problem solving Differentiation of work has been accessed immediately iPads will be used as a future assessment tool

Sub question: How far and in what ways can we facilitate the development of literacy skills in an enjoyable and transferable way? Focusing on using the iPad as a tool for education through fun, Lancasterian worked on finding different ways to write stories. Using augmented reality and e-books the pupils became authors of their own work. Conclusion Pupils were learning without realising Pupils were learning through fun Pupils behaviour was very good Independent learning increased Pupils became motivated to engage Confidence has grown as pupils have been able to pass on their expertise to peers

Common themes across all three schools we found were: Independent learning Differentiated learning Instant access to both the above Improvements in behaviour An instant ability to capture or log events Working at own rate Accessibility for motor skills Tools for assessment Ability to correct own work at own pace Increased confidence Willingness to help others Willingness to share work

Recommendations for the future: It is recommended that the outcome of this project is shared across the whole school and stakeholders encourage a further take up of work with the iPads. This sharing can reach beyond the schools themselves and can be shared with other schools through networks, clusters and partnerships. Apple, who make the iPad, may be interested in how these schools have been using their products for educational purposes and may also be interested in working alongside SEN schools to develop products specifically for SEN. Curious Minds funded the evaluation as an integral part of the Techno-ABLE project. For more details on the Techno-ABLE project and to read the full evaluation please visit www.curiousminds.org.uk/Techno-able

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