Technology Reflection: Instructional Use of the iPad

Description/Experience

In Education 311 on Friday, October 21st, Mrs. Galinda from West Milford Elementary School came in to give us a seminar on integrating iPads into classroom instruction. She explained that her school received a grant from Apple and that each class has two iPads for student use. She, herself, is an avid iPad user as well. The students each get 15 minutes per week to use the iPad. Mrs. Galinda said that iPads are an excellent resource to enhance learning. She uses them as a fun way to help students reinforce their skills. During the seminar, Mrs. Galinda gave us two really helpful handouts regarding iPad use in the classroom. The first one was a two-sided piece of paper with an extensive list of classroom-friendly applications (or apps). She included apps that were useful in Reading/Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Word Processing, Math, and Art. She also gave us a rubric that her school uses to help determine the quality of an app. This helps them separate the appropriate and beneficial apps from the ones that should not be used in the classroom. Overall, I really enjoyed the seminar on iPads. They seem like they are an excellent way to implement self-directed, student-centered learning. I am getting an iPad for Christmas this year and I cannot wait to see how it will help me out as a teacher!

Application

If my PDS had iPads like West Milford Elementary does, there is no doubt in my mind that they would be used in a variety of different ways. This semester, I am working with a 4^th grade class. Every week while I am there, we do math stations. The stations include: work with the teacher or me, independent work, math games, and fact fluency (which includes games on the computer). Instead of using the computers for fact fluency practice, I think the iPads would provide an excellent way for students to practice their math facts. Mrs. Galinda introduced us to an app called “Math Board”, where the iPad turns into a chalkboard and the student is prompted with problems that he or she must work out. The problems are provided in the form of a quiz and can be created by the teacher. By dragging a finger along the surface of the screen, the student can “write” on the chalkboard and solve the problem. Once they work the problem out, there is a list of answers to choose from. The app has the ability to record how many problems the student completed correctly.

I think the Math Board App would be a perfect way to practice for standardized tests. The teacher can create a quiz that covers a variety of content from the year and different quizzes can be given for a few weeks before the test. When all the quizzes are completed, the students should have had a thorough review of all of the topics covered during the year. Here is a picture of the Math Board App:

Since this app allows the teacher to see the number of problems that each student got correct, it would be easy to track student progress. Also, the teacher could look closely at which problems a lot of students missed. The results could tell her which concepts she needs to review with the class as a whole before the test.

When using this iPads in the classroom, it would be important to first give the students a tutorial on proper iPad usage and how the app works before letting them use this technology in their stations. iPads are very expensive pieces of equipment and should be treated with care. The teacher should have a set list of rules that go along with using the iPads so students know precisely what is and is not allowed while using them.

Once the students are ready to use the iPads in their stations, the fact fluency station will include both iPads and computers. Since stations are usually 20 minutes and there would most likely only be a few iPads in the classroom, each group should be split in half. One half would work with the iPads and take the Math Board quiz while the other half uses the computers to play other fact fluency games. After the 10 minutes, the groups would switch. This would allow all students a chance to work on the iPads. 

Reflection

This technology would undeniably be an excellent way to incorporate 21^st Century learning strategies into the classroom. I think they would be especially effective when used in a math station setting like we use in the 4^th grade room that I am in. One of the main points of stations is to provide a variety of fun ways for students to practice their math facts. The other main point is for the students to be busy and occupied so that the students that need extra help can have some small group tutoring time with either my mentor teacher or me. Once the students learn how to use the iPad in an appropriate and effective manner, I think it will fully occupy the students’ attention and time while the teacher is not instructing the class. Using the Math Board app will also allow the students to familiarize themselves with and practice different math concepts.

Student should not be given iPads to practice and review concepts until the topics have been covered by the teacher. One of the main points that Mrs. Galinda expressed was that iPads should never, ever replace the teacher. Instead, iPads should be used as a resource to supplement and enhance learning. Math Board in particular has the potential to enhance student learning because it can cover so many different topics. It also encourages and allows students to show their work.  In general, Math Board provides a fun, unique way for students to do things they would normally do with pencil and paper. I think the students would LOVE doing math on the iPad.

Pedagogy-Content

To represent the content in this lesson, all the teacher would have to do is create a quiz that included math problems that reflect the content learned over the entire year. For example, there could be questions on rounding, multi-digit multiplication, multiplying decimals, estimation, etc. As I said before, though, it is important that the students already have somewhat of a grasp on this content, as the Math Board quizzes should solely be used as a review. Students should also realize that using the iPads is a privilege and that with privilege comes responsibility. For that reason, there should be strict guidelines for iPad usage. Fun technology like this has the potential to be really distracting for kids. However, when used correctly, the iPads can definitely enhance student learning.

Technology-Pedagogy

In this activity, iPads with the Math Board app would be used as a math station. The main purpose of the station would be for students to review concepts that will be on the standardized test at the end of the year. Math stations allow the teacher and I to work in small groups with students that need extra help while the other students practice their math skills.

Technology-Content

Using this technology would bring excitement to the task of reviewing math content. How often do we typically get to review using a fun, new technology? I think the students would enjoy using the iPads simply because it is something novel and exciting. Review is typically given in the form of a practice test or a chapter review in the textbook. Going over and grading the reviews takes time. On the other hand, the Math Board app for iPad gives instant feedback. Not only does instant feedback help the teacher see what needs to be reviewed, but it is also a proven motivational technique. Overall, I feel like using the iPad in this situation would be a win-win situation.

Technology-Pedagogy-Content

Integrating the iPad into classroom activities has the potential to effectively help students practice a wide variety of different skills. The Math Board app provides students with a different, exciting way to practice their math facts. Students love to do things that are fun and out of the ordinary, and they really love technology! Although the iPad would not and should not never be used to replace a teacher, it is a great technology to use once content has been taught. Also, there are so many different iPad apps that there is no doubt in my mind that students who have all different learning styles and abilities can benefit from at least one of them. Overall, I think the iPad is an excellent way for students to practice and interact with content they learn in class – and they are so much fun!