Kindergartner, Meet Your Ipad

This week my kindergarten class learned how to use ipad apps from my classroom teacher. It was such a fantastic process to watch. Through our STEM technology class students already had the beginning skill knowledge of how to turn on the ipad, and use swiping motions to turn on the actual device. Having those basic steps of familiarity in operating, respect to the care of the device, and not feeling overwhelmed by the new.

Today our students were introduced to the app, BookCreator. BookCreator is not a free app, the iTunes store lists the app for 4.99, although you could sync the app on multiple devices if your school ipads were under the same administrator. BookCreator could be used for numerous possibilities. It is similar to the style of MSpaint in that you can use pen tools, text, and other shape options to create media, as well as adding multiple pages. The app also allows you to add in pictures, media, and recorded sound.

My own classroom will be using this for interactive math journals, letter books, and other content journals. Students will be able to record their own thoughts, and visually see their own progression over time. This helps with quick informal or formal assessments for teachers, as well. Using the ipad for these kinds of activities helps with motor skills, and gives boundless space for their books. Given the kind of media this app allows, students are able to create content that is unique to their individual self, while still learning and using classroom concepts. I personally look forward to see how these skills and usage continues to develop over the year.

Technology Exposure

My current teaching placement at National Teachers Academy has already immersed me in all kinds of technology resources. The kindergarten room I have started teaching in is a one to one Ipad room, and has many other technological resources including an interactive promethean board. In all of my teaching experiences so far, I have never been surrounded by so many resources. Personally I have had an Ipad before our program so graciously required us to buy ours. I used mine for some tools in the classroom, including Class Dojo, or online storybooks and games for students. Those tools and apps though were not a good representation of using these resources in a way that had a smart instructional design.

When examining my school I note that there are many tiers of support in terms of how to implement technology in a proactive way in the classroom, and have it be purposeful. There are technology coaches for each grade level chunk, and an overall technology consultant for troubleshooting problems. Monthly, grade levels meet to plan for content, but also how to integrate technology to create the highest quality educational experiences for our students. Teachers and staff do not simply hop on buzzword trends. Teachers travel to professional developments to add to their technology knowledge banks, and connect with teachers around the country, sharing resources, through blogging and class sharing. As a whole, NTA has a special day on Tuesdays called NTA Tweets. Each classroom has learned purposes of social media, and the safety precautions needed when using it. Teachers and students work together to answer big critical questions regarding their school community and use the #NTALEARNS to share answers with each other in the building. The motive is to start conversations and strengthen community within the building and amongst families.

Coming from school experiences that had little to know technology, this sort of overwhelms me some days in trying to connect the positives and reasoning for why so much money is being spent in this category. The more I am learning the purpose and planning behind the tools, the better I can see the advantages in having a solid technology plan, and team in your school's building. I am looking forward to sharing more of what I am learning in my classroom and how I can connect it to our own NLU classroom knowledge.