Learning how to use the ipad is one thing, using it to improve student achievement is a whole other ballgame. We are in the early stages but here is some information to make your life easier on apps I've either used, learned about, and found myself or from others.
In reality the ipads we use are only as good as the Apps you use and the way you use them. It takes a lot of work up front to find the apps so I've created a list of good places to start. Give your kids time to figure out the app itself. I'm going to start offering special training sessions on how to actually use the ipad itself, my school has a thirty minute intervention period built into every day (except Thursdays, which is for PLC time). Kids need to learn HOW to use the ipad itself before we throw content at them. This is especially true for students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and students in poverty. My school has about 75% Free and Reduced lunch and about 75% minority. Thankfully good teaching will reach all groups! The ipad can be a wonderful tool to reach them, if you teach them how to use each and every thing you expect them to do on the ipad itself without content.
In reality the ipads we use are only as good as the Apps you use and the way you use them. It takes a lot of work up front to find the apps so I've created a list of good places to start. Give your kids time to figure out the app itself. I'm going to start offering special training sessions on how to actually use the ipad itself, my school has a thirty minute intervention period built into every day (except Thursdays, which is for PLC time). Kids need to learn HOW to use the ipad itself before we throw content at them. This is especially true for students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and students in poverty. My school has about 75% Free and Reduced lunch and about 75% minority. Thankfully good teaching will reach all groups! The ipad can be a wonderful tool to reach them, if you teach them how to use each and every thing you expect them to do on the ipad itself without content.
When I first got my ipad I spent HOURS searching for good ipads. Then I had to look at my Power Standards, my Objectives...find an app to meet my objective and show what students know and are able to do! HOURS...Honestly! I hope to save you some time with my gift of a post today. In red below are Apps I have used and found success with either as a learner (at the 2013 NCCE Conference in Portland) or with my students already. Blue are apps I learned about at the conference and am excited about but have not had a chance to play with yet.
Necessary Apps for Management:
Edmodo-A must! Like Facebook for school. I post my students Entry Tasks on Edmodo every single day and they check it when they come in as the "start song" plays
Teaching Side Note: I play the same song at the beginning of every class period to get them in gear for my class (Thank You to Mr. Pavlov and his drooling dog)! I learned this strategy from PEAK Learning Systems and Spence Rogers, pretty amazing actually. My start song is "Men in Black" by Will Smith, it ends on a bang and it's the only song I can stand to listening to over and over...and over....
Dropbox-To store projects
Evernote-I will write another post on just Evernote, it is more than a note taking app. You can have kids turn things in to your notebook and organize your class that way!
Evernote-I will write another post on just Evernote, it is more than a note taking app. You can have kids turn things in to your notebook and organize your class that way!
Apps for Student Projects (Production):
Tellagami-Kids can make an
avatar say anything, they can talk about the content you are learning about in class. A great formative assessment. I showed my kids one I made really fast and they laughed so hard! They love it! I can't wait to have them do it!
Sock Puppets-A sock puppet show, kids can make the sock
puppets talk about your topic. I'm going to have my students do this and talk
about Shaken Baby Syndrome. I showed some students today and they LOVED it!
Pic Collage-Great for vocabulary. I'm going to have my kids find visual representations of vocabulary words in Clothing Design (for example: Bias, Selvage Edge, Top Stitch, Gathering, Darts...and more!) Kids will learn content, be creative, work with technology, research pictures, and gain skills for the workplace!
Trading Cards-Can be used as an icebreaker, for vocabulary words, famous people, I will have my students make trading cards for Theorists we learn about in class. The possibilities are endless!
Total Recall-A mind mapping device, great for connecting concepts, ideas, summarizing what was read, anything you would have them do on a mind map by hand. Pretty user friendly
Kidblog-Kids can do reflections in the middle of class and they can be posted immediately (a quick five minute reflection on what we just talked about...)
Videolicious-I have not had a chance to look at this. I was told it's great so I wanted to share it with you.
i-nigma (a QR
reader): QR Codes are another post but you need a QR code reader. It's really easy to make your own QR codes (go to a search engine and type in QR Code creator, they are so easy to use)
Scribble my story-I was told to write a story about what kids might do with a camera on an ipad, it was a formative assessment at the NCCE conference. I loved it! I was thinking about what we were talking about but working with the ipad and I love using technology.
Doceri (amazing)-This is also another post but it makes your students able to write on a virtual whiteboard...at the same time as you (the app itself is free but you need a $30 site fee for each actual computer you use. You can run it through your ipad but you need an actual desktop computer). It is so much more than a whiteboard, it records sound, and so much more!
Lino-Mind Map
A+ Pro-Flashcards on-line
Lino-Mind Map
A+ Pro-Flashcards on-line
Used in my class with ease by my students:
Moodboard-Like a virtual poster, collage of pictures, words, etc.
Popplet light-Another mind map app. Only one mind map can be in here at a time so if ipads are shared you may run into some frustration.
Graphio-A mind map app, it's okay, I have not been impressed with it yet but it is an option
Word Cloud-A word collage! I use this for vocabulary or concepts we are learning.
TED-I've shown TED talks on non-verbal body language and the kids LOVED it! If you can find a speaker they will understand this can be a powerful app. Bring in experts from around the world to speak to your kids as guest speakers...via ipad!
Storybuddy Lite-Projects that would normally be done on a poster, brochure, or even Power Point can be done on this. I actually have my kids who are struggling with the ipads use this app for projects more!
Storybuddy Lite-Projects that would normally be done on a poster, brochure, or even Power Point can be done on this. I actually have my kids who are struggling with the ipads use this app for projects more!
Educreations-A whiteboard app you can have kids make slides like a Power Point
I have not done much with the following apps but have been told they are amazing so here they are:
BaiBoard
Story Kit
Toontastic
PBS Kids
Discovery
iTunes U-I think there is so much more to iTunes U than I am aware of, I've heard there are many changes! A future post!
CK-12-e books, print what you need, change the book to meet your needs!
Woopid-Make videos on how to do things
Skitch-Use with Photos
PicView
My Script Memo
Animator
Penultimate
Say Hi
Color Uncovered
Sound Uncovered
Good Player
Google Drive
So Kokio
EdShelf
There will be much more information as I continue to use ipads with my kids on what apps I use. It is helpful to know how easily kids pick up on the information, if they produce quality work, and if they "got it" More to come!
Audience Participation (leave a comment):
What apps have you found helpful either in the classroom or on your personal device?
