Ondrej Holzman When you see the cities of Okinawa, New York and Poděbrady written next to each other, probably few people think of what connects them to each other. The Japanese, American and Czech cities are connected by special schools, where iPads help a lot. And Apple just about these three institutions made a short documentary...
The Czech Special Needs School in Poděbrady, the Japanese Awase Special Needs School in the Okinawa prefecture and the American District 75 from New York, everywhere, gave the iPad completely new possibilities for teaching differently-abled children who would not be able to be educated in regular schools. For them, the iPad has become an everyday part of their lives, helping them learn and explore the world. You can read more about special education in our interview with Lenka Říhová and Iva Jelínková from the Special School in Poděbrady.
It was these two ladies who received an irresistible opportunity more than two years ago to present their achievements in special education to the world in a documentary produced by Apple itself. Education is a big topic for the California-based company, so it's keeping a close eye on how iPads are taking hold in education around the world. The result of more than two years of effort is finally an almost eight-minute long documentary (you can watch it <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1932/8043/files/200721_ODSTOUPENI_BEZ_UDANI_DUVODU__EN.pdf?v=1595428404" data-gt-href-en="https://en.notsofunnyany.com/">here</a>), in which all the aforementioned schools are gradually introduced, and for the first time we can hear Czech on Apple's official website.
Lenka Říhová and Iva Jelínková were thus rewarded for their very active approach, where they help promote iPads not only in the Czech Republic, but also train principals and teachers from abroad. We asked both ladies how the shoot, which they say they will never forget, went on. Iva Jelínková answered.
[do action=”quote”]It was an unforgettable experience, a life meeting that was written into our memory in a very distinct font.[/do]
Your school in Poděbrady was one of the first to actively include iPads in teaching, but still - how does such a small school from Poděbrady get into Apple's sights?
Everything started very discreetly, at the beginning of 2012. In fact, already at the moment when the demand for sharing our experience with the use of iPads for the education of people with special needs began the journey of i-Snu across the Czech Republic. Every weekend a different city, a different school, many enthusiastic teachers, assistants and parents who wanted to involve the iPad in the education and life of children with disabilities. At that time, Lenka and I had an invitation to the Apple branch in London, an APD course for certified trainers and meetings with several Apple professionals in the field of education both here and abroad. And also invaluable cooperation and huge support from the local representative for Apple in the field of education in the Czech Republic.
When did you find out that Apple was going to make a documentary with you?
The offer from Cupertino came in the spring of 2012. On the official website of Apple.com, in the Apple - Education section, Real Stories are published. Good examples from schools that make meaningful use of iPads for education. The question was probably in the sense that the use of iPad in special education is missing among the stories, and if we were interested, our school would be part of a short video together with a school in Okinawa, Japan and in New York. They don't even think about something like that. Enormous enthusiasm and unequivocal approval followed.
How did the whole event go?
The shooting date was set for September. After that, we already communicated with the Czech production company that organized this event for us. D-Day was approaching and we were receiving details that the American film crew would be flying in, that they would be filming all day, and some advice was given on what to wear and what to avoid in dressing to look good on camera. We thought it was a little high-minded at first. Even the day before, when several members of the production came to us for a "field inspection", we had no idea what awaited us. But when tents with facilities were standing in the garden from six in the morning and the whole school was full of technology, it was clear that it was really on a big scale.
Apple is a seasoned player when it comes to shooting commercials. How did his people affect you?
The American and Czech teams behaved very professionally and tried to disrupt the school and children's work as little as possible. Everyone was really pleasant, smiling, everyone had their job, they complemented each other perfectly.
Communication took place in English, of course, but there were also two presenters who simultaneously interpreted the footage filmed with the children. In the final version, the decision was made that we will also speak Czech on camera and the video will have subtitles, as well as the part filmed in Okinawa.
The shoot really took the whole day. But in a very pleasant atmosphere for all involved. It was an unforgettable experience, a life meeting that was written in our memory in a very distinct font. According to the information, the video was processed very carefully indeed, every detail, every shot, sound, subtitles. The wait was definitely worth it. Thank you very much to everyone without whom the video would never have been made. Above all, also to our colleagues and school management, with whom we do not dream, but live our iSEN.
Thanks for a great, meaningful and intelligent article, including the linked interview with the ladies from Poděbrady!
Imagination!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcYsiL_p160&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DEcYsiL_p160&app=desktop So here you have another clever little kid from Poděbrady with their Monča
Excellent article, excellent document, keep it up :-)
It totally got me. I already knew about Poděbrady, who wouldn't. But this is awesome!