This week, I happened to have my
iPad in my classroom. I was truly amazed
at the reaction from the seventh graders in my classroom. “Mrs. Buck, can I play on the iPad if I
finish my work?” “Mrs. Buck, what apps do you have?” “Mrs. Buck, can I show you
something on the iPad?” I thought iPads were old news, but the lone tablet in
my room that day created more excitement than I’ve seen in a while. With all of the amazing apps available at a
very low cost, or even free, the iPad can be used like never before in a
classroom.
The MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) Art
Lab app is amazing! I want to just sit and play for hours. It is perfect for
instruction in art. Students can create and save their own art and explore with
shapes and lines. It even comes with audio for non-readers. Budding artists can create mobiles,
collaborate on group drawings, and make collages while learning about artists
such as Henri Matisse and Sol LeWitt.
Music has proven over and over to
be an invaluable learning tool. How
about using the Drum Beat Plus app for vocabulary memorization or learning math
facts? Our resident expert teachers,
Angela McKenna and Laura Bartlett used it to have students write raps to memorize
vocabulary! It could be used for choral readings, repetition activities, and
movement breaks in the classroom.
Make Beliefs Comix is another app
with endless possibilities. It is a
comic strip generator that can be used on a mobile device or a computer. Students can choose setting, characters, and
other objects for comic strips that they create. I could use this to teach
elements of plot or to review virtually any concept in science or social
studies. Mirror your device on your apple TV and use it with group instruction.
Popplet is also available on the
web and as an app for your iPad. This
resource allows students to create graphic organizers with colorful bubbles called
popplets. Mind maps, word webs, and flow
charts can all be created with this user friendly app.
For science teachers, Anatomy 4D
and Elements 4D are two of the most exciting educational apps! Using paper blocks that are free to print, Elements
4D allows students to explore elements. Students look through their devices and
see the blocks transform from simple paper blocks to atoms that can bond
together to become molecules. Anatomy 4D helps students explore the systems of the
human body by viewing printable “targets” through the device’s camera. Students
can zoom in to different organs to get a closer look. It is truly one of the most unique active learning
experiences I have seen.
Another resource for science
instruction is brought to us by the Smithsonian. Qrius is a website that is full
of videos and activities for students, teachers, and families. Students have
access to create their own field book and keep track of the discoveries they
make online.
It’s a great time to be a teacher.
We know that students learn best through active, discovery based learning. With
all of these tools at our fingertips, it has never been easier to provide
meaningful instruction in every area of education.
No comments:
Post a Comment