Friday, November 8, 2013

iPad Apps

One of the first things I noticed when I began student-teaching is how much iPads can/have change(d) the classroom!  As I noted in my previous post, this comes with many challenges; however, if we put aside the numerous challenges of 1:1 technology and focus in on the teacher's interaction with an iPad, the conclusion is clear: iPads are incredible teaching tools.

My favorite teaching tool app is Pick Me!  It is one of the simplest apps I have come across, but sometimes simplicity is exactly what we need as teachers.  It has two primary functions: the first is for learning students' names.  The teacher enters all of their names, take photos during one of the first days of school, and then takes it home to study.  I have a hard time with names, but know how important it is to learn them quickly, so I know that this will be invaluable for me.  The second function acts like a digital version of the "popsicle stick method" for cold-calling.  The students seem to find Pick Me! less intimidating and more enjoyable and I (as the teacher) enjoy it more too.

Another favorite app of mine is TED.  It too is relatively simple: it allows you to easily play TED videos for your class.  TED videos are incredible ways to enhance and promote learning; they connect the classroom to the real world and engage students in a different way.  In addition, the app has a few added features, my favorite of which is "Inspire Me."  It allows the user to search by mood and length and then produces a few options.  While this could be a really useful way to fill the last few minutes of a period, I would be hesitant to show a video to my class without having already watched it.  Instead, I would use this feature on my own time to find a list of videos to have in my "back pocket."

The third app I have chosen to discuss is Educreations.  It is yet another simple app, but behind this simplicity is a very powerful tool.  When the iPad is hooked up with Apple TV, Educreations can turn it into a merge of a doc cam and a white board.  It enables the teacher to provide simple, yet clear modeling for students (similar to a doc cam and a white board); however, it also allows the teacher to walk around the room while doing this!  I truly believe that this can revolutionize teaching.  Without being chained to the front of the classroom, the teacher is able to assess and interact with his/her students throughout the period regardless of the content that day.  Every day can have the valuable teacher interactions that are possible during group work.

I have chosen not to discuss the many biology-specific apps that are available because I think that while they are useful, the above apps are tools that I can use throughout the year and at any level.  In addition, these apps are often best when used individually, so they come along with the many challenges of 1:1 technology.  I look forward to using them as well, but I know that I will be using teaching tool apps consistently and immediately.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Mary,
    Great blog post. I like how you featured more general apps rather than Science specific ones. I think that the "Inspire Me" part of the TED app is a great idea. It's hard to give up control and let the students explore TED videos, but you never know what video might inspire or speak to your students.

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