iPads k-2

1-11-12 - Wednesday

We have now had two days of iPad use so far

A couple of notes –

1.     We limited the number of apps we installed so that each would be investigated before either the teacher or the student moved on. With too many apps we have found that some are looked at for 10 seconds and they move on – mile wide inch deep.

2.     Our regular meetings/informal discussions will be launching points for new apps

3.     Before each preliminary introduction I meet with the teacher to explain the use of some of the apps – some have experience most don’t but all are very very receptive and excited about their use

Kindergarten – the class was split so they were introduced 11 students at a time – structure was important – with 30 minutes available they started by playing with a specific app – just to familiarize themselves with the device – Next step was to learn how to – TURN THE VOLUME DOWN – not surprising.

            With the intitial familiarization complete it was time to move on to an app called “my story”. Here the students can create a short book by drawing a picture and adding text – see below

1. Intro window,  2. pages in story, 3. exported to ibooks, 4. other pages in iBook

 The next day, Tuesday – we introduced them in one of the second grade classes. Most of the students had either seen or used an iPad before so the “how to use” component was not needed. Structure still was required and they eventually settled on either “MathBingo” or “stack the states”

The other second grade teacher followed and had some excellent comments about the iPad.  We discussed the philosophy of the iPad – is it a toy or tool, are the students to be passive learners or active ones – how can we avoid having them associate the iPad with toys and/or games. At home we might use the iPad as a game tool when we require some “quiet time” or we can use it as a learning tool. On the education side the teachers are actively involved in the use of the iPad – assigning a task to be completed and continuously roaming the room to make sure that the students are working. We are making sure here to deisgn lessons that cause the students to be active, to investigate to ask questions and find solutions. We are rethinking our teaching methods to use this new tool. So this is where we are – working on finding great apps, sharing them when we find them, sharing how we use them, talking about better ways to use them. So the seed has been planted – next steps teach, collaborate, meet, take a step forward à end result students who are excited to learn via pen, paper, computer, iPad …