iPads for the Classroom!

In one of my previous post I shared how BYOD has positive and negative aspects when integrated into the classroom learning. One of the BYOD technologies used in many schools are iPads.

In this post, I would like to share my personal reasons why and how using iPads in the classroom is a benefited and great enhancement to learning. iPads provide numerous educational apps and tools for student and teacher use.

Teachers can benefit from using iPads for classroom management. Programs such as ClassDojo, is a great Elementary School behavior management system as well as a parent communicator. Teachers directly manage their class, and directly message parents through the app. One of the major benefits for teachers is the interaction with students, by creating sharable documents and using classroom spaces such as Edmodo or Google Classroom. Teachers who do not have smartboards, can also benefit from the program called Doceri. Doceri is an interactive tool that allows the teacher to connect directly to the computer to project the lesson or internet site. The tool can write, underline, highlight, and take pictures. Teachers can also pass the iPad around to students during a lesson and have them answer directly on the iPad to reflect on the board.

As for students, the advantages are limitless. Using the iPad, allows students to instantly connect with curriculum and educational resources used in the classroom. In some counties, the academic curriculum is available online. Students can access their curriculum, study, and take tests. There are also countless educational apps for extra reading and math practice. If students are done with their task, they can use the iPad to practice their subject skills and stay on task. Teachers and parents can collaborate and decide on what educational apps are appropriate and beneficial.  Students can also use the iPad for accessing their classroom page, such as Edmodo, Wikispace, or Google Classroom. They can create, share and collaborate with their peers.

Overall, iPads are one of the technologies in the classroom I would support 100%. They are easy to use, a time saver, and personalize to fit the needs of each individual learner. In my last 3 years of teaching I’ve had the privilege of using iPads in my classroom, and the accessibility is simply great! I love using them and would recommend anyone who can, use them! 

Here are some resources to support the use of iPads in the classroom!

31 Reasons You Should be Using and iPad

The 55 Best Educational Apps

21 Best Apps for Teachers

Creativity in the Classroom!

Have you ever heard of Glogster? Thought about using in your classroom?

The purpose of this week’s blog post is to share how Glogster can be such an awesome tool to use with your students! Please check out the resources I’ve provided below to deepen your understanding and learn ways to incorporate Glogster with your class!

Glogster is such a great tool to incorporate for digital media project! Glogster is similar to a blog, instead it is one single page on a specific topic. Students can design their own page by adding text, videos, and images. Students can use all forms of text, and formatting to create an original piece.

Glogster can be used to create autobiographies, biographies, timelines, family tree, current event/history reports, how-to explanations, newsletter and more.

Students can create their Glog to present as a class project, they can also be printed if students want to later display their digital poster.

Glogster is not only student use, teachers can implement interactive instruction using this visual representation of a topic. Adding videos, images and color will engage students and present a lot of information in one organized space.

Overall, Glogster is such an interactive and fun way for students to learn 21 century digital media skills, including researching, typing, finding visual aids, and unleashing creativity. It’s an alternative way for students to display their information using digital media.

Explore the great uses of Glogster:

40+ ways to use Glogster

Brenda’a Blog- Glogster

90-Second Guide- Glogster

Glogster in Education!

Example Digital Story

As I previously explained in my last post, my 3rd grade students will be creating a digital story explaining the life accomplishments of a Woman in History. Students will be researching using traditional resources and digital resources on our Wikispace page that contains selected websites. Students will be using Animoto Video to present their story. Students will need to focus on the most important facts that reveal who they are, what did they did, and how they influenced history. 

Click the link to our Digital Story Wikispace Page and preview an example I've created to model my expectations to my students of the Digital Story Project. I decided to use Rosa Parks, a very common Woman in History, which none of my students were assigned to. Please let me know what you think, and what I can improve to make it better. 

Here are some questions that can guide your comments:

If you were a 3rd grade student would you understand my expectations? 

Does it seem inviting or engaging?

How do you feel about the length of the video?

  

Positive and/or Constructive Feedback is Welcome!

Digital Storytelling in Action!

As March is coming to an end, my third-grade class has been studying Women’s History month in our social studies curriculum. As a research-based project I will be having my students create their own digital storytelling presentation on their specific person. Students will be using Animoto video to create and present what information they have gathered and learned. The students should be able to answer the following questions through their presentation: What important details about the person contributes to American history? How has this person influenced others?

Retrieved from: https://vzaar.com/blog/2015/09/29/interview-with-animoto-video-is-seizing-the-day/

Using Animoto students will be able to type details and descriptions followed by images representing importance pieces to their person’s life. Students will need to include a photograph of their person and provide background information to introduce them. Students will also be able to customize their video and add background music that reflects the time studied.  

In addition to traditional resources such as books from the library, some of the web-resources students have been using and will continue to use are as following:

http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/womens-history-month

http://myhero.com/directory/page.asp?dir=women

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/women/index.htm

http://myon.com 

In order to ensure understanding and guide my students with success in their digital storytelling presentations, I will provide an example Animoto video from a 5^th grade honor student. I will discuss the expectations and go over the rubric. I will review and model how to use Animoto and the basic steps in creating their video. 

As students finish their videos, they will present them to the class as part of their project grade. 

Stay tuned, I will be posting some of their creations soon!

Digital Storytelling in the Classroom!