iPads in Education X14

There are plenty of flashcard services on the web that students can use for rote practice of vocabulary words. The following five apps offer a little bit more than flashcards by providing some larger context for the words and phrases that students can study through them.

This video sends a powerful message to all educators on the importance of letting our students use technology. The message that kept being sent throughout this video is "We are digital learners". Throughout the video they had students write messages on different white boards and a lot of the messages being displayed were powerful and made me think twice. Our job as educators is to motivate and engage our students in their learning, which was seen in the multiple message from students that said "engage me". The use of technology and other digital equipment is used all around us today. Students of all ages are exposed to this technology at home and it is our job to bring it into the classroom. The video begins with statistics showing that students of all ages are spending more time playing video games, watching tv, playing on the computer/ipads, rather than reading a book. It also points out how students spend their time using the computers/ipads to have stories read to them or read books on different apps. Something that was important to me was a statistic that said 14% of teachers will allow their students once a week to create something using technology and that 63% of teachers never do this. The need for teachers to become more comfortable and integrate the use of technology is essential for our students to learn. A powerful message that I took away from this video is "If we learn by doing, what do we learn by sitting here". It is so true, we know that students learn best by doing, that they are most engaged by learning this way, yet so many teachers still lecture to their students. Another powerful message was when a student held up a spelling assignment where they had to write their spelling words three times each and the message was "How will this help me?" and then they held up a digital camera, computer/laptop, and ipad and the message was "How could this help me?". This video was enlightening as to the importance of helping all students from K-12 learn

This is a website that has apps broken down into the different stages in the SAMR model. It may be a good resource as we are getting ready to use iPads in our classrooms.

This is another set of apps broken down into the different SAMR levels.

In this article the author writes about how he just about switched from his "trusty old laptop" to the iPad as his primary work computer. He explains that, in his opinion, the iPad does everything hecould do on my PC and a great deal more through all of the apps available specifically for teaching.

This video shows the implementation of iPads in a 5th grade classroom using the SAMR model.

See how one 4th grade teacher uses technology in Math. Tracking the Iditarod, students use computers to learn about elapsed time. This helps them see Math in the real world. Covers Common Core Standards for Math.

The video I selected shows Dr. Brent Diagle working with a group of eight fourth graders to create a digital documentary. I found it absolutely fascinating. The students researched and took notes on their chosen animal. However, instead of writing a report about that animal (which for me would be the next step), the students wrote a script for their mini documentary. In the focus group towards the end of this video, many students responded that they loved this assignment because they don't like writing. However, they were writing their scripts, but since they were so invested in their documentaries, it became an enjoyable task. The Apple technology that Dr.Diagle used were; for note-taking students use the Library App, scripts were written on the notepad, and documentaries were recorded using Garage Band.

This video is about using iPads as a communication tool in a classroom of nonverbal students in the classroom. The video shows students who used to be unable to communcate wants, needs, or feelings and exhibited extreme behaviors due to this lack of communication. However, now with the introduction of the iPad to aid in communication, are showing less behaviors and can focus on quality instruction time with teachers and peers. One great app is called Proloquo2go, which is a substantial database of picture/word cards that are organized into categories for students to touch to communicate. The video shows how the iPad can help students start to produce verbal sentences rather than phrases. The iPad allows students to hear, see, and touch the words. The iPad is also really reinforcing for students. iPads in the classroom for nonverbal students are not only beneficial for student communication, but for educational gains as well.

This video shows how iPads are being used in one classroom. It is primarily an example of Substitution on the SAMR model.

This video was made from a first grade classroom in Florida that utilizes iPads in the classroom on a daily basis. I really enjoyed how the video not only explained the importance and benefits of using iPads in the classroom but showed how they used them. They were able to show the different apps that they use within the classroom and how that directly relates to the students learning. The message was clear throughout the video that if you are able to use technology like iPads in the classroom that the students are going to be more engaged. I was impressed with how her classroom attendance rate is the highest in the school. The video explains how iPads enables students to use the 5 C's- Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Curiosity, and Critical Thinking which leads to high achieving scores. I liked that they had not only the teacher of the classroom narrating but also the principal who gave her opinion of the value of using this technology in the classroom.

The article titled Learning 21st- Century Skills Requires 21st Century Teaching summarizes nine points that educators need to incorporate into their teaching to ensure that students build their 21st century skills. Traditional teaching methods that include the transmission of content from books and notes do not foster 21st century skills. Rather, the article outlines "9 lessons" that teachers should adopt to promote the 21st century skills.

Brief blog post on how technology is not just one more thing to learn or cover but a means to creating a learning atmosphere built on the four C's. Check it out!

This is an article which explains that the 21st century classroom is not about teaching technology, but rather learning in a new way and using technology as a tool.

This is a great article called "A Parent's Guide to 21st Century Learning" by Edutopia.org. In summary, it is a parent's guide that is intended to bring more parents into the conversation about improving education. It is organized into different grade levels. There is a page with 10 tips for parents to help them bring 21st century skills home. For example, they recommend that parents help their child discover their potential through community arts programs. They also recommend parents build on their kid's interest in gaming by getting them connected with Massively Minecraft. I had never heard of this before reading this article. It is a digital media learning community created by parents and teachers for students ages 4-16. You can check it out at massivelyminecraft.org. This article also lists organizations that offer more in depth info about project based learning and social/emotional learning. I found it helpful as a teacher too because it provides links to a lot of projects and activities for the classroom. Lastly, this article gives examples of what teachers do in the classroom and matching ideas for how parents can get more involved. For example, teachers are using Skype in the classroom to extend projects and learning beyond the school building, so they recommend that parents who travel a lot for work can further support what is going on in the classroom by Skyping with the class and doing a "parent on the street report" or tour of wherever they are in the world. Most of all, this article just has so many suggested links that you can learn so much from it.

Founded in 1943, ASCD is an educational leadership organization dedicated to advancing best practices and policies for the success of each learner. The article states the challenges the 21st century learning faces in order to work.

"Teachers will not be replaced by technology, but teachers who don't use technology will be replaced by teachers who do." Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach I selected this article because this quote spoke to me. It's the primary reason why I opted to take this course this summer. The first part of the quote really registered that it's imperative to realize that teachers can not be replaced. The iPads, computers and tablets do not replace good teaching, they enhance it. Technology can't stand alone, the success depends on how well me, the teacher, is utilizing that technology. The second part of this quote impacted me most. I am far from the most tech savvy teacher in the school. As part of this profession we all chose, I always want to learn more and improve my teaching. I want my students to have every advantage and to excel. I am open to learning and integrating new, inventive ideas and lessons into my teaching.