Amazing blog Jennifer! You really captivated your audience and made it enjoyable to read. I would definitely be interested in using a tablet in my general music classroom. I found your video about the Amplify Tablet fascinating! That Ms. Costa can check on what their students are accessing via the tablet at any given time is great. I believe it allows the student freedom to explore and complete tasks, but also allows the teacher to check in to make sure they are safe and staying on task and acts more like a facilitator. Having an iPad, I’m not very familiar with the Windows or Android tablets, but would be very interested in ‘playing’ with them. I’ve never heard of Google Play for Education, but would be interested in finding out more. I’ve used my iPad in my kindergarten class a few times and have tried to hook it up to the mobile Smart Board, but was unable to hook it up because of the projector, but I would call the kids up one-by-one and they LOVED it!! If I teach kindergarten next year, I hope I can use my iPad with them too.
Barbara- I thought the Amplify was cool too... then I did more research and read what other educators were saying about it and started to agree that it seemed to take away all responsibility from the student and was far too teacher directed. Of course, I am not thinking kindergarten, I am thinking 5th grade and up. At what age do you think we should give them the freedom to demonstrate (and learn) their own responsibility in digital citizenship? If we are going to incorporate more technology into the classroom, we will need to be able to let go some and trust the students. What are your thoughts?
Tough question! Being an elementary teacher, it's hard to let go and trust, so I kinda see their point. Especially at the kindergarten level. But I think skills that require that much independence can be scaffolded, meaning that maybe starting introducing technology in kindergarten, model and practice positive digital citizenship in the primary grades and then introduce it maybe the end of 3rd grade or beginning of 4th grade. But then only just introducing it and using it here and there, then building on it in subsequent grades. That's what I think....get their toes wet gradually. So it sounds like we're pretty much on the same page. PS.....I initially hit reply to a new thread by accident, so I deleted it.
Jennifer - your blog is great! Very engaging and appealing to the eye. Well done. While you are in your own war of using the iPad, Windows or Android in the classroom, I'm facing a similar war on my blog. After a lot of research, I find myself debating back and forth which is better - Siri or Google Now? As of right now, I'm still undecided. I love.love.love Google and all the potential it has in the classroom. But my heart is with Apple. I'm interested to see where your "war" and my "war" end up in the future. It will probably be a Pepsi/Coke battle - whatever the user prefers. After reading your blog and watching the videos, I'm still staying true to the iPad!
Thank you Juliana! I have no yet jumped on the Apple bandwagon and I am hesitant to make the switch. I, too, think Google has so much to offer, and I look forward to having some more time to research Google Apps for Education.
Great Blog Jen! I like tablets in the classroom. Unfortunately in my school the students don't use tablets, yet. I like all of the great apps that are available for education and you're right it can be overwhelming for the teacher to choose. Just like Juliana I am an Apple fan, but there are restrictions with the iPad especially with Flash video. If I want to use a tablet in my classroom I want to use it to its full potential. I heard that Google is coming out with a Chrome tablet. Look out iPad!
I did not realize that iPad also had problems with playing Flash, I assumed they did. I looked this up: http://mobiledevicesalon.blogspot.com/2013/01/tips-for-playing-flash-on-ios-6-top-browsers-support-flash-for-ios6.html and it appears that there are fixes for the issues. I also found some fixes for getting Android devices to play flash. I also found several options for getting flash installed on Android devices.I am curious about why developers decided not to support the Flash platform.
Nice blog! I think tablets are great to use for both personal and educational uses. I love my iPad and find it very easy for my two-year-old son to use as well. I'm not too familiar with any Android devices but from the information gathered in this blog they seem to work well too.
I just think the amount of different apps available and the convenience of a lightweight device makes tablets perfect for education. Students can research anything through the web browser as well as download apps for almost anything that interests them. I use mine a lot to check Blackboard and to submit a lot of assignments. But my favorite feature is being able to download my textbooks. I hated having to tote around heavy textbooks in undergrad and then after I was done with them they just took up space and collected dust.
This is a great blog! I wish funding would allows schools to have tablets in every classroom near me. Their benefits are just outrageous but with budget cuts, I'm not sure if it is a realistic approach right now. I'm a big advocate for using technology and apps in the classroom and personal electronic device is a perfect resource for this. Thanks for sharing these ideas!
Thank you Kristin! I agree with budget issues regarding getting more tablets into schools which is why I support the BYOD movement. I think it could take a large burden off the shoulders of the schools. I spoke recently with a principal in a southern Delaware district who is looking into tablets for the use of digital text-books. One thing I can say about digital text books is just think about how much SPACE in the schools would be saved!!!
Amazing blog Jennifer! You really captivated your audience and made it enjoyable to read. I would definitely be interested in using a tablet in my general music classroom. I found your video about the Amplify Tablet fascinating! That Ms. Costa can check on what their students are accessing via the tablet at any given time is great. I believe it allows the student freedom to explore and complete tasks, but also allows the teacher to check in to make sure they are safe and staying on task and acts more like a facilitator. Having an iPad, I’m not very familiar with the Windows or Android tablets, but would be very interested in ‘playing’ with them. I’ve never heard of Google Play for Education, but would be interested in finding out more. I’ve used my iPad in my kindergarten class a few times and have tried to hook it up to the mobile Smart Board, but was unable to hook it up because of the projector, but I would call the kids up one-by-one and they LOVED it!! If I teach kindergarten next year, I hope I can use my iPad with them too.
ReplyDeleteBarbara- I thought the Amplify was cool too... then I did more research and read what other educators were saying about it and started to agree that it seemed to take away all responsibility from the student and was far too teacher directed. Of course, I am not thinking kindergarten, I am thinking 5th grade and up. At what age do you think we should give them the freedom to demonstrate (and learn) their own responsibility in digital citizenship? If we are going to incorporate more technology into the classroom, we will need to be able to let go some and trust the students. What are your thoughts?
DeleteTough question! Being an elementary teacher, it's hard to let go and trust, so I kinda see their point. Especially at the kindergarten level. But I think skills that require that much independence can be scaffolded, meaning that maybe starting introducing technology in kindergarten, model and practice positive digital citizenship in the primary grades and then introduce it maybe the end of 3rd grade or beginning of 4th grade. But then only just introducing it and using it here and there, then building on it in subsequent grades. That's what I think....get their toes wet gradually. So it sounds like we're pretty much on the same page. PS.....I initially hit reply to a new thread by accident, so I deleted it.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJennifer - your blog is great! Very engaging and appealing to the eye. Well done. While you are in your own war of using the iPad, Windows or Android in the classroom, I'm facing a similar war on my blog. After a lot of research, I find myself debating back and forth which is better - Siri or Google Now? As of right now, I'm still undecided. I love.love.love Google and all the potential it has in the classroom. But my heart is with Apple. I'm interested to see where your "war" and my "war" end up in the future. It will probably be a Pepsi/Coke battle - whatever the user prefers. After reading your blog and watching the videos, I'm still staying true to the iPad!
ReplyDeleteThank you Juliana! I have no yet jumped on the Apple bandwagon and I am hesitant to make the switch. I, too, think Google has so much to offer, and I look forward to having some more time to research Google Apps for Education.
DeleteGreat Blog Jen!
ReplyDeleteI like tablets in the classroom. Unfortunately in my school the students don't use tablets, yet. I like all of the great apps that are available for education and you're right it can be overwhelming for the teacher to choose. Just like Juliana I am an Apple fan, but there are restrictions with the iPad especially with Flash video. If I want to use a tablet in my classroom I want to use it to its full potential. I heard that Google is coming out with a Chrome tablet. Look out iPad!
I did not realize that iPad also had problems with playing Flash, I assumed they did. I looked this up: http://mobiledevicesalon.blogspot.com/2013/01/tips-for-playing-flash-on-ios-6-top-browsers-support-flash-for-ios6.html and it appears that there are fixes for the issues. I also found some fixes for getting Android devices to play flash. I also found several options for getting flash installed on Android devices.I am curious about why developers decided not to support the Flash platform.
DeleteNice blog! I think tablets are great to use for both personal and educational uses. I love my iPad and find it very easy for my two-year-old son to use as well. I'm not too familiar with any Android devices but from the information gathered in this blog they seem to work well too.
ReplyDeleteI think it is amazing how quickly young children pick up the tablet devices. How do you think the tablet could best serve educational purposes?
DeleteI just think the amount of different apps available and the convenience of a lightweight device makes tablets perfect for education. Students can research anything through the web browser as well as download apps for almost anything that interests them. I use mine a lot to check Blackboard and to submit a lot of assignments. But my favorite feature is being able to download my textbooks. I hated having to tote around heavy textbooks in undergrad and then after I was done with them they just took up space and collected dust.
DeleteThis is a great blog! I wish funding would allows schools to have tablets in every classroom near me. Their benefits are just outrageous but with budget cuts, I'm not sure if it is a realistic approach right now. I'm a big advocate for using technology and apps in the classroom and personal electronic device is a perfect resource for this. Thanks for sharing these ideas!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kristin! I agree with budget issues regarding getting more tablets into schools which is why I support the BYOD movement. I think it could take a large burden off the shoulders of the schools. I spoke recently with a principal in a southern Delaware district who is looking into tablets for the use of digital text-books. One thing I can say about digital text books is just think about how much SPACE in the schools would be saved!!!
Delete