Assignment+7

Reflection


 * What impact do you expect to see as a result of using this technology in the classroom?
 * How do you plan to continue to use your iPad in your personal life? Professional life?
 * What have you learned from others' sharing that you would like to try or explore more of?

I see the iPad being used as a tool to interactively engage the students in their learning. It is a great motivation device. Students want to use it and can learn from it. I believe it will be more of an impact if our textbooks were on the iPad. I look forward to students tapping on our solar system unit pages to see a space shuttle lift off, Jupiter orbiting the sun, or the video clip of the first steps on the moon. Right now I am the one initiating those "extras". I would love to see my students have the ability to take charge of their own learning by tapping on the links or doing their own search for which president is on the dime. The amount of information at their fingertips will be powerful. I also think the drill and practice types apps are beneficial to those who need some extra help or those who need to be challenged.

My personal iPad will continue to be used more for my personal life than my professional life. I find it very handy to take with me during trips, and I have also used it at conferences. My husband and I mainly use it right now as a gaming device since I do not have Wi-fi capability at my house. I do not see this changing in the future. Wi-fi would allow me, however, to use the iPad to check "vitals" such as the local news stories, weather, emails, facebook posts, etc. I do plan on buying an Otterbox cover so that I feel more comfortable having the device in my classroom. I plan on attaching Velcro to the bottom and also to the table for the children who will have the uncontrollable impulse to pick it up and run over to me to show me something. The students will use it as a practice tool more than anything else. Apps such as Chicktionary, Magnetic ABC, Word Ball, Bluster, Word Bubble, Tic Tac Toe Phonics, Word Jewel, Words Mine, and Spelling Free will be used as "Word Work" activities during my Daily 5 time.

I would like to explore the Dragon Dictation app more. I have a student who is not the best speller, and therefore I have an extremely difficult time reading his stories. He will be able to orally read his story, and then I will be able to assess it easier and at a later time. I'm also thinking of using this app for some of my students who have an easy time orally answering a question but a difficult time putting those same thoughts onto paper. I'm also very excited to use Animoto, Songify, and Screenchomp in my summer school class with my older grade levels. Personally I would like to look into the Overdrive app that was mentioned. I am an avid reader and would love the ability to 'check out' a book right on my iPad.