iPad: Toy or Tool?

When people hear that we have iPads in our classrooms, one of the first questions they ask is, “So, you let kids play around all day?”  It’s true, an iPad can be used as a toy.  It offers many fun apps for kids to play with, but our goal at school is to use the iPad as a tool, not a toy.  How do we do this, you ask?  We strive to follow a pedagogy that Dr. Ruben Puentedura developed called the “SAMR Model.” 

 

Examples of each level:

Subsitution:  Students read a textbook online.  There is no significant improvement.  Students are simply subsituting a paper textbook for a digital textbook.

 

Augmentation:  Students read a textbook online, but they have the ability to look up the definitions for words they don't understand via the internet.  They can also click on embedded links that offer video illustrations of the concepts they are reading about.

 

Modification: Student use a document sharing site, such as Google Docs, to share the writing assignment they are working on.  By doing this, other students, teachers, and audience members can offer feedback on the student's work.  This type of online collaboration is an example of Modification.

 

Redefintion: Students collaborate to create a video project answering an essential question in social studies.  Using the device, students are able to contact experts in the field, research using online databases, and collaborate with classrooms around the world.  Students can collect their findings and use different multimedia tools to synthesize their learning.  Students then have the opporutnity to present their project to a global audience and seek feedback.

 

As educators, our goal is to reach the modification and redefinition models.  We use iPads to open up opportunities for learning that our students might not be able to experience otherwise. 

 

Another great example of the SAMR Model is the "Padagogy Wheel."  This wheel combines the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy and the SAMR Model.  Within each level it also provides examples of apps that can be utilized!  The author also offers a PDF version of the wheel that can be printed in poster size. 

 

~Valerie

Twitter for Teachers-Part 1

Trust me on this, Twitter is a great resource for educators! I didn't "get" Twitter for a long time. The more I play around with Twitter, the more I realize I am receiving some of the best PD right from the comfort of my own couch! 

Educators from around the world share resources from their school districts, educational articles, YouTube videos they've created for their classrooms, pictures of happenings within their schools, participate in policy discussions and SO much more. Discussions are sparked and conversations are had amongst this vibrant community of learners. I have been building up my Personal Learning Network (PLN) through Twitter chats. This is the essential way to really delve into this community.  I have noticed that Twitter chats slow down a bit in the summer, not as many participants, but it should really pick back up in August. I found myself looking forward to my Wednesday night chats with the #1to1techat crew! 

Check out the basics of Twitter. What is a handle, a hashtag, and some other suggestions for Twitter chats. This is another great blog post that decodes an actual tweet. They can be VERY confusing!


Here are a couple steps I suggest to start with if you're ready to give Twitter a try:

1. Sign up for an account-You can't really do much without an account ;) I read an article that discussed the importance of including your full name with your account. People will be able to find you easily and definitely personalize your profile with a picture and a little blurb about yourself.

2. Download the Twitter app-There are many other apps out there that help you organize your Tweets and things you're reading, but for now stick with just the regular app.

3. Check out some of the educational hashtags to see what people are talking about. I suggest #edtech  #edtechchat  #1to1techat  #patue 

Take a look at Weekly Educational Twitter Chats which lists ongoing chats. Take a couple weeks to lurk and then one day you'll find yourself participating! 

4. As you come across educators that you find are interesting, hit that Follow button and start listening to what they have to say and take advantage of the resources they share!

I'm encouraging you to sign up for an account and start lurking. It'll be worth your while. Once you decide to jump into a chat, you will be sucked into this enriching world of Twitter. This post is only Part 1 of Twitter for Teachers, look for more exciting posts from the tech committee!

~Cassidy

Just the beginning...

What do you do with your summer months?  If you are a teacher, you most likely spend some time thinking about the coming school year.  Today, four of us met to discuss what we want our coming year to look like.  We know technology will play a major role.  This past year we got our feet wet learning how to integrate iPads into our classrooms, but each elementary building implemented it in their own way.  Now our goal is to work smarter, not harder!  The purpose of this blog is to collaborate within our district and network with educators around the world.  We want to share resources, ideas, successes, and failures as we continue on our journey with technology in the classroom.

Stay tuned,
Cassidy, Kari, Mary, and Valerie