When discussing mLearning and the widespread use of tablets in classrooms all throughout the world, every teacher thinks about how integrating such tools into the class will effect classroom management. This article discusses the managing of a classroom full of iPads in a way that protects, respects, and engages the students and the iPad.
For most teachers, the prep time involved in whatever lesson or use of technology is important to consider because most teachers do not want to take away from instructional time to deal with lack of procedures in how to use the technology. Therefore, the author of this article suggests that each student in the class be assigned a particular iPad which they can pick up from the charging station and take their seats. This provides both the educator and the student with a clear procedure of what to do when entering the classroom.
In regards to how the iPads should be protected and respected by the students, this article suggest that the student assigned to the iPad understand they take "ownership" of the mLearning device. The teacher should ask each student to polish their screen before placing the iPad in the charging station at the end of the day and to always observe a "clean hands" policy. In this particular classroom, each iPad will have a case but in some classrooms simply a screen protector is provided.
All of these management procedures lead to the integration of the iPad and mLearning into the classroom. The author's hope is to become a paperless classroom because of proper management and use of the iPads. Teachers can allow for students to use the iPads for note taking, worksheets, tests, and reports. Not to mention the move toward digital textbooks.
In order to accomplish this goal, the teacher must begin the year with a few days of practice of the procedures required to properly use the iPad. This will help avoid any questions of what a text box or how to highlight something in the notes app during instruction time.
Overall, the key to any functional classroom is good classroom management. Teacher that desire to incorporate iPads or other mLearning devices must consider what procedures and classroom rules they will need in order to incite best practice for using the devices in the classroom. Having these clear procedures will help the students learn how to work hard in your classroom while integrating the mLearning. Classroom management is vital and determining procedures that work for my classroom will be something I will have to consider if I ever have the opportunity to incorporate this kind of technology.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Making the iPad an aid for special needs students
Just the title of this article intrigued me, Verbally- Turn the iPad into a Useful Speech Impediment Aid for the Disabled. I love words and in my future classroom I hope to instill a love of the English language and all the vocabulary that goes along with it. However, I know that I will face the challenge of having students in my class that hate words and language because they struggle with speech disabilities.
Nancy Messieh, author of this article, explains how teachers can utilize an app to help improve student mastery of language in the face of speech impediments. The app verbally is an assisted speech solution that changes the iPad into a communication helper. Verbally could help the communications of students with Apraxia, ALS, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson's, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy. On top of the aid this app provides to students with any of the listed disabilities, it also would aid in teaching students that are learning English as their second language.
Verbally has several different pronunciation guides. In fact, there are two tabs in the app one for words and one for phrases that are commonly used. Students may tap on a word and either just listen to the word or add to the sentence or phrase they would like to hear. One draw back reported about this is that it is not possible for the user to add or delete words or phrases from the grid of existing words preloaded onto the app.
Other great features of the app are the additional buttons on the typical iPad keyboard. There are three buttons: repeat, bell, and speak each word. The repeat button allows for students to learn through the repetition of a selected word or phrase. The speak each word button allows students to listen to any words or phrases typed into the screen automatically. The bell chime button proves helpful for gaining another's attention.
Overall, this app seems very useful. I do think that the lack of flexibility in the removing or addition of phrases and words seems quite limiting. However, I still would use this app for any of my students that desired additional help in a creative way. I like the pronunciation guides for the use with ESL or ELL students because I know that more and more our students are needing these kind of tools to help enrich their language development. If I had an iPad this app would most definitely be on it for my classroom.
Nancy Messieh, author of this article, explains how teachers can utilize an app to help improve student mastery of language in the face of speech impediments. The app verbally is an assisted speech solution that changes the iPad into a communication helper. Verbally could help the communications of students with Apraxia, ALS, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson's, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy. On top of the aid this app provides to students with any of the listed disabilities, it also would aid in teaching students that are learning English as their second language.
Verbally has several different pronunciation guides. In fact, there are two tabs in the app one for words and one for phrases that are commonly used. Students may tap on a word and either just listen to the word or add to the sentence or phrase they would like to hear. One draw back reported about this is that it is not possible for the user to add or delete words or phrases from the grid of existing words preloaded onto the app.
Other great features of the app are the additional buttons on the typical iPad keyboard. There are three buttons: repeat, bell, and speak each word. The repeat button allows for students to learn through the repetition of a selected word or phrase. The speak each word button allows students to listen to any words or phrases typed into the screen automatically. The bell chime button proves helpful for gaining another's attention.
Overall, this app seems very useful. I do think that the lack of flexibility in the removing or addition of phrases and words seems quite limiting. However, I still would use this app for any of my students that desired additional help in a creative way. I like the pronunciation guides for the use with ESL or ELL students because I know that more and more our students are needing these kind of tools to help enrich their language development. If I had an iPad this app would most definitely be on it for my classroom.
Tech, Teachers, and Media Literacy
The article I chose to review for this selection is written by Jessica Prois and she explores the fact that with the educational world becoming more and more mLearning based, Tech owes teachers more media literacy.
She recalls that when she first began attending educational workshops she always thought, "How can this help my school and students?" Now, she can relate to the importance to the answer of this question. Prois says that as an editor now she must think in much broader terms and research the newest education ideas and who they affect.
At a recent conference, Prois asked some students if they used the iPad apps for Shakespeare or NASA in their classrooms. Their response shocked her. They stated, "Oh no, our school is much more academic than that." This comment forced her to think deeply about how a teacher can discern which education apps are bets suited for the classroom and which just "look like Angry Birds."
In this contemplation, she realized that we often emphasize the importance of teaching our students media literacy, but where the responsibility lies to educate teachers on media literacy is still confused. Prois advocates that app creators "have a developing responsibility to show educators how to maximize technology's educational value." Once teachers are taught how to utilize these programs for the best potential, they can confidently endorse them to students, administrators, and parents.
Educators more and more must be able to accomplish that goal of learning for mastery and then endorsement because parents are more and more hesitant to accept the use of technology within a classroom. Teachers have quickly come to realize they must navigate the waters and find content rich applications that apply to the classroom setting.. Prois says when talking about incorporating the SMART board into her classroom, "Beneath that big screen of blinking lights, there was curriculum aligned to standards. The same must hold true for education apps."
Prois discusses the newer apps of Project Noah and Toontastic under the umbrella of great educational apps and opportunities to open the world up to students through technology, however, she states that neither have direct teachers' guides or accompanying lesson plans. While most teachers can create lesson plans around the apps without guides or planning prompts, providing teachers with the media literacy still seems fitting for app developers.
Overall, I believe Prois has a very strong point. The use of mLearning is fantastic for our classrooms and students, but if we as teachers are not educated enough on the best use of these educational apps then our students will suffer and so will our instructional time on task. Too often in my experience students could have learned incredible skills had the teacher had better mastery of them him or herself. Therefore, I possess the same sentiments as Jessica Prois when she says, "As such, if app developers provided some media literacy for teachers on all of these new apps, it would make technology integration in the classroom just that much easier." If we as educators can learn how to master software applications, we could truly change the face of education and engage students in a new, better way.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Abandoning Textbooks for iPads!?!?
My reading through this article explores the reality of one school that completely gave up computer labs and new text books in order to purchase iPads for every student. It cost them a total of $500,000 for each of the iPads however the principle Patrick Larkin used the existing budget by cutting the cost from the textbook, computer lab, and new language lab budgets. Larkin seemed quite positive in his outlook of all the good it would do for students, teachers, and his school. He states that they would utilize old books and everything the iPad and internet have to offer.
Larkin's positive attitude was not necessarily experienced by all of his staff members. In fact, the high school's history chair Todd Whitten said he was afraid the students would spend all their time playing video games and communicating with friends. However, Whitten found that as long as he was attentive so were his students. Afterall, teachers also always have the option of turning them over and off.
Students also had a voice in the changes occuring at Burlington High School. Within the article the author embedded a short youtube video that conveys student thoughts. One student stated that the iPad was extremely beneficial for her because it allowed instant access and useful for contemporary literature. Eddy Gilber said the most useful aspect of the iPad was the wifi access because he is always staying after school and participating in several events so having wifi allows him to get work done anywhere. Another student stated the organization aspect of the iPad helped him keep track of all his school work because everything is in one central location. Patrick, a senior at BHS, stated the iPad is particularly useful for his music sheets. Espcially the new app called notorize that allows musicians to take notes helped him know when to skip a certain section or play a different chord. All of this student feedback provides more support for the expanding of mLearning, especially the use of iPad technology.
Overall, I would love to work for a school in which my students are provided iPads. The educational possibilities it provides would well be worth the lack of new textbooks and computer labs in my opinion. Also, I agree with the students that spoke about organization--particularly boys--everything being in one central location for a class would be helpful to a teacher and student. The other creative features and cultural aspects provided at the touch of a button also fill me with great joy! I want my students to strive towards individuality, culture, and engagement with the world around them. If iPads create a pathway to that, sign my classroom up!
Larkin's positive attitude was not necessarily experienced by all of his staff members. In fact, the high school's history chair Todd Whitten said he was afraid the students would spend all their time playing video games and communicating with friends. However, Whitten found that as long as he was attentive so were his students. Afterall, teachers also always have the option of turning them over and off.
Students also had a voice in the changes occuring at Burlington High School. Within the article the author embedded a short youtube video that conveys student thoughts. One student stated that the iPad was extremely beneficial for her because it allowed instant access and useful for contemporary literature. Eddy Gilber said the most useful aspect of the iPad was the wifi access because he is always staying after school and participating in several events so having wifi allows him to get work done anywhere. Another student stated the organization aspect of the iPad helped him keep track of all his school work because everything is in one central location. Patrick, a senior at BHS, stated the iPad is particularly useful for his music sheets. Espcially the new app called notorize that allows musicians to take notes helped him know when to skip a certain section or play a different chord. All of this student feedback provides more support for the expanding of mLearning, especially the use of iPad technology.
Overall, I would love to work for a school in which my students are provided iPads. The educational possibilities it provides would well be worth the lack of new textbooks and computer labs in my opinion. Also, I agree with the students that spoke about organization--particularly boys--everything being in one central location for a class would be helpful to a teacher and student. The other creative features and cultural aspects provided at the touch of a button also fill me with great joy! I want my students to strive towards individuality, culture, and engagement with the world around them. If iPads create a pathway to that, sign my classroom up!
The iPad is changing Schools! article summary/response
As stated in previous blogs, I love Apple products. Therefore, I whole heartedly agree with the statement that iPads are changing the way in which we do school for the better. However, I also know that I am quite a bit biased. Anyways, I decided to select the article written on June 3 of this year about some of the ways in which the iPad is changing our education techniques and school systems.
The article itself states something that I, too, agree with. Kaufman writes, "...I feel the iPad itself won't make the difference. What is truly needed is a rethinking of the 'how' as well as the 'what' in schooling. Teachers must become much more learning facilitators and coaches." Making this point before becoming enraptured with the tools and features the iPad offers remains vital because while the iPad is great there is never going to exist a substitute for a teacher in a classroom full of students.
With that foundation in mind, the iPad holds great significance in the impact it is making in schools and on the school system's use of technology and integration. The development of apps has changed the face of learning. According to the article there are hundreds of apps specifically designed for learning such as: doing research, taking notes, writing papers, creating presentations, making films and more.
In California, a school district uses the iPads to help teachers deliver physical education programs to students. The school uses the SPARK PE curriculum on the iPad which provides teachers the ability to waste less time on administrative tasks and also gives students a visual of individual training skills and interactive dance videos. Paul Rosengard, the executive of SPARK states, "Mobile technologies are allowing physical education teachers to better manage their classes and keep students engaged. As we move to a focus on inclusion and participation of all students in PE, technology allows instructors to better track the data that addresses individual student improvement." This is only one of the ways listed that iPads are being used in classrooms all over the U.S.
Another way iPads are changing education is the 1:1 concept. Each student receiving an mLearning device within their classrooms improve the availability of thousands of educational opportunities that were not available before. Avenues to aiding special needs students with auditory or visual disabilities or autism are also being expanded through the widespread school adoption of iPads in school systems all over the world.
Overall, I cannot believe all the ways that iPad technology opens up worlds of possibilities to students and teachers. I have to say that being able to explore the iPad apps and all the different features and tools provided by the product has made me anxiously await the day that allows me to utilize everything I have learned. The iPad would be one of my first technology tools to integrate into my lessons. I have already brainstormed dozens of possibilities for uses. Therefore, this article just furthers my excitement at all the ways this one creation could aid students all over the world learn about the millions of differing human experiences available to them in their lifetime.
The article itself states something that I, too, agree with. Kaufman writes, "...I feel the iPad itself won't make the difference. What is truly needed is a rethinking of the 'how' as well as the 'what' in schooling. Teachers must become much more learning facilitators and coaches." Making this point before becoming enraptured with the tools and features the iPad offers remains vital because while the iPad is great there is never going to exist a substitute for a teacher in a classroom full of students.
With that foundation in mind, the iPad holds great significance in the impact it is making in schools and on the school system's use of technology and integration. The development of apps has changed the face of learning. According to the article there are hundreds of apps specifically designed for learning such as: doing research, taking notes, writing papers, creating presentations, making films and more.
In California, a school district uses the iPads to help teachers deliver physical education programs to students. The school uses the SPARK PE curriculum on the iPad which provides teachers the ability to waste less time on administrative tasks and also gives students a visual of individual training skills and interactive dance videos. Paul Rosengard, the executive of SPARK states, "Mobile technologies are allowing physical education teachers to better manage their classes and keep students engaged. As we move to a focus on inclusion and participation of all students in PE, technology allows instructors to better track the data that addresses individual student improvement." This is only one of the ways listed that iPads are being used in classrooms all over the U.S.
Another way iPads are changing education is the 1:1 concept. Each student receiving an mLearning device within their classrooms improve the availability of thousands of educational opportunities that were not available before. Avenues to aiding special needs students with auditory or visual disabilities or autism are also being expanded through the widespread school adoption of iPads in school systems all over the world.
Overall, I cannot believe all the ways that iPad technology opens up worlds of possibilities to students and teachers. I have to say that being able to explore the iPad apps and all the different features and tools provided by the product has made me anxiously await the day that allows me to utilize everything I have learned. The iPad would be one of my first technology tools to integrate into my lessons. I have already brainstormed dozens of possibilities for uses. Therefore, this article just furthers my excitement at all the ways this one creation could aid students all over the world learn about the millions of differing human experiences available to them in their lifetime.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
How the Amazon Kindle Fire Fits Into Education response
After reading the last article about the Amazong Kindle and the supremely bad reviews it had gotten I decided to read a little more about it in this article written by Joseph Baker. He states quite the opposite view of Audrey W. Joseph writes, "Educational aspects of this new competitor are endless, from basic applications to the most useful tools teacher can use in order to maximize their time with every student."
Clearly this is a very different sentiment. He goes on to introduce the specs of the Kindle Fire. Baker covers the basics: The fire is just under a pound, has a 7" multi-touch display and has a resolution of 1024x600 and is protected by Gorilla Glass. The Kindle uses Google's Android operation systems that allows Kindle owners access to the app store on Amazon's website. These apps can aid in education. Teacher in classrooms may log on and purchase different apps that they find useful to their students.
Another feature that many educators complain about is the lack of an actual hard drive on the mLearning tablets, but the Amazon Kindle Fire offers owners cloud storage. Kindle owners are allowed 5 GB of free storage on Amazon's cloud drive and the Fire can synchronize the files via Wi-fi. Amazon also publicizes that if users need more storage they can upgrade for a yearly fee. Another nice feature this offers is the ability of users to swap music and store spreadsheets, and photos. Also, anything purchased from Amazon will be stored for free.
The Kindle Fire also provides students and teachers the ability to rent textbooks from Amazon. This feature is exclusive to the Kindle Fire and isn't available through the other Kindle products. Baker asserts that, "...this will undoubtedly change the landscape of $700 (or more) textbook expenses per semester, and allows teachers to directly pull from their own texts in order to teach." He continues to discuss the "green" aspect of the Fire that saves the constant reprinting of texts that teachers revise as the years progress.
Overall, Baker states, "Anyone not wanting to spend the $400-$900 for the Ipad will have a much better option in the Kindle Fire. For students on a limited income who have a budget for every semester, the Fire will more than pay for itself."
I have to say that I appreciate the aspects that he pointed out on the positive side of the Kindle Fire. I still see the negatives the Audrey pointed out in her article, but at least it is helpful to see what the Fire offers students. His information about the educational apps and the storage capabilities are extremely helpful regarding the Fire's use for education. Overall, I feel much more confident that they could be used as tools for mLearning in a high school literature course especially with the text book rental. I still am not persuaded to negate the Ipad's educational purposes over the Fire's, but it has definitely given me some information to consider when looking at incorporating mLearning devices into my future classrooms.
Clearly this is a very different sentiment. He goes on to introduce the specs of the Kindle Fire. Baker covers the basics: The fire is just under a pound, has a 7" multi-touch display and has a resolution of 1024x600 and is protected by Gorilla Glass. The Kindle uses Google's Android operation systems that allows Kindle owners access to the app store on Amazon's website. These apps can aid in education. Teacher in classrooms may log on and purchase different apps that they find useful to their students.
Another feature that many educators complain about is the lack of an actual hard drive on the mLearning tablets, but the Amazon Kindle Fire offers owners cloud storage. Kindle owners are allowed 5 GB of free storage on Amazon's cloud drive and the Fire can synchronize the files via Wi-fi. Amazon also publicizes that if users need more storage they can upgrade for a yearly fee. Another nice feature this offers is the ability of users to swap music and store spreadsheets, and photos. Also, anything purchased from Amazon will be stored for free.
The Kindle Fire also provides students and teachers the ability to rent textbooks from Amazon. This feature is exclusive to the Kindle Fire and isn't available through the other Kindle products. Baker asserts that, "...this will undoubtedly change the landscape of $700 (or more) textbook expenses per semester, and allows teachers to directly pull from their own texts in order to teach." He continues to discuss the "green" aspect of the Fire that saves the constant reprinting of texts that teachers revise as the years progress.
Overall, Baker states, "Anyone not wanting to spend the $400-$900 for the Ipad will have a much better option in the Kindle Fire. For students on a limited income who have a budget for every semester, the Fire will more than pay for itself."
I have to say that I appreciate the aspects that he pointed out on the positive side of the Kindle Fire. I still see the negatives the Audrey pointed out in her article, but at least it is helpful to see what the Fire offers students. His information about the educational apps and the storage capabilities are extremely helpful regarding the Fire's use for education. Overall, I feel much more confident that they could be used as tools for mLearning in a high school literature course especially with the text book rental. I still am not persuaded to negate the Ipad's educational purposes over the Fire's, but it has definitely given me some information to consider when looking at incorporating mLearning devices into my future classrooms.
The Kindle Fire as an Educational Tablet? response
The fourth article I chose to read for my EXPAND project was about the use of the Kindle Fire as an educational tablet. The article was very interesting when considering higher learning. Jeff Bezos revealed the tablet as a competitor of the Ipad and predicted that it would be extremely popular in education based upon its cheaper price tag of $199. However, the author of the article states, "I was skeptical as I felt as though there were a lot of things--the focus on Amazon book store content, privacy questions about its Silk browser, problems that libraries in particular have had administering their Kindle accounts, for example--that I thought would make K12 schools less than thrilled about adopting them."
Her sentiments remain true of most reviews I personally have read about the use of the Kindle Fire in a classroom or even library setting. However, her article then shifts the focus on higher education use. At a college level the competitive price remains great because most students cannot justify the amount of money needed for an Ipad on top of the purchase of a laptop for school. Also they do not have to depend upon the school to purchase the technology for them. However, this pricing still does not compete at the level they need because the savings for the actual tablet doesn't change the lack of savings on the actual digital textbooks. But Watters points out that college students don' seem to be adopting digital textbooks the same way they were 3 years ago. Many state that the difficulty in taking notes, sharing books, and lack of cost savings deter them from purchasing and utilizing an Amazon Kindle Fire.
Amazon has started to target more of these consumer desires by developing Kindle Textbook Rental programs and allowing members of Amazon prime an Overdrive account. These efforts continue to strive for a higher place on the e-book market, but Kindle Fires lack the specificity for the educational market that the Ipad's possess. Watters concludes by stating, " I still think lots of college students will opt for the new Amazon tablet. Nonetheless, let's not fool ourselves into thinking that that will make the Kindle Fire an educational tablet."
Since I have never used the Kindle Fire tablet myself and have no real background in its educational value, I somewhat am hesitant to completely agree with the author of this article. I think that her points are well substantiated and she seems to have a real grasp on what the Kindle Fire lacks, but I would have liked to see more information on the benefits of using the Kindle Fire in the classroom. Her information was helpful to consider as I venture out into the field and perhaps will one day have to make the choice of what kind of mLearning device to use. I do have to say that after the majority of what I have heard I still side with Apple although the Ipads are more expensive the apps that I have discovered while taking our course has made me appreciate their place in a classroom. As for the Kindle Fire, I think I will have to do some more research.
Her sentiments remain true of most reviews I personally have read about the use of the Kindle Fire in a classroom or even library setting. However, her article then shifts the focus on higher education use. At a college level the competitive price remains great because most students cannot justify the amount of money needed for an Ipad on top of the purchase of a laptop for school. Also they do not have to depend upon the school to purchase the technology for them. However, this pricing still does not compete at the level they need because the savings for the actual tablet doesn't change the lack of savings on the actual digital textbooks. But Watters points out that college students don' seem to be adopting digital textbooks the same way they were 3 years ago. Many state that the difficulty in taking notes, sharing books, and lack of cost savings deter them from purchasing and utilizing an Amazon Kindle Fire.
Amazon has started to target more of these consumer desires by developing Kindle Textbook Rental programs and allowing members of Amazon prime an Overdrive account. These efforts continue to strive for a higher place on the e-book market, but Kindle Fires lack the specificity for the educational market that the Ipad's possess. Watters concludes by stating, " I still think lots of college students will opt for the new Amazon tablet. Nonetheless, let's not fool ourselves into thinking that that will make the Kindle Fire an educational tablet."
Since I have never used the Kindle Fire tablet myself and have no real background in its educational value, I somewhat am hesitant to completely agree with the author of this article. I think that her points are well substantiated and she seems to have a real grasp on what the Kindle Fire lacks, but I would have liked to see more information on the benefits of using the Kindle Fire in the classroom. Her information was helpful to consider as I venture out into the field and perhaps will one day have to make the choice of what kind of mLearning device to use. I do have to say that after the majority of what I have heard I still side with Apple although the Ipads are more expensive the apps that I have discovered while taking our course has made me appreciate their place in a classroom. As for the Kindle Fire, I think I will have to do some more research.
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