Tool #9: Incorporating Classroom-Based Devices as Tools for Learning

11.  Why do you think it is important to tie the technology to the objective?

How could you NOT tie technology to the curriculum or objective?  Seriously?  I can almost use Big Huge Labs in some form or fashion and tie it to the objective as a product.  I can also have kids use Animoto or Zooburst, GoogleDocs, iMovie, Post to a Wiki / Blog as well.  The sky is the limit and with kids who are WAY more advanced than I am, they usually surprise me in what they know!  I just try to stay ahead of them and teach them new avenues of production so that they stay interested!  Ultimately, we as educators need to provide kids for the world in which they will become!   If we give them more opportunities for consumption, critiquing and producing, then we are "farming" them for the 21st Century!

2.  Why should we hold students accountable for the stations/centers?

If you do not have any type of accountability, then the students do not take things seriously.  In other words, it is more like free time / play time and usually not a productive use of time.  For instance, when using Tumblebooks, I have an expectation that the students will participate in creating a reading response that focuses on either a summary, BME, or other things like Character Analysis, etc.  It is ok, I have learned, that kids can "take a break" and play from time to time.  That is important and I usually work that into to a goal completion - a motivator to stay focused and on-task.

3.  Visit 2 of the applicable links to interactive websites for your content/grade level. Which sites did you like. How could you use them as stations? How can you hold the students accountable for their time in these stations?

I think I could use just about everything I see.  I have kids that are on many different levels such as 4th - 5th grade reading / math.  So using these cites gives me an additional way to differentiate for them.  I also have students who are obsessed with Social Studies or who would do anything to learn more about Science.  It could be used as a reward or for additional practice!

I've tried Study Ladder.  Or at least I set it up for some pretend students.  It offers a personal username / password for each student or you can use an "open access" account.  I think that 2nd graders might just have a hard time remembering one more username / password.  

If anyone wants to play around on it without signing in (there is a lot of red tape with confirming access, emails, etc...) here are the 3 students that are in my "class":

Username:  jhn1435  Password:  school

Username:  sal913    Password:  horse

Username:  ted148    Password:  leg

So here is the deal...  It seems like the "second grade" level that I chose was very basic.  At least for mathematics.  So, maybe the "third grade" would be more appropriate for my class.  It is a cute website and kids earn points that they get to use in a rewards room.  I can see this benefiting those who either need extra practice, or who need more of a challenge.  This site allows you to differentiate much like Odyssey does.  I think this might be a keeper for me!  As far as accountability, it shows what each student does and has mastered.  This could easily be a homework activity!

I like Thinkfinity!  I'm going to have some of my students from last year check it out!  In fact, I'm going to send them an email about some of these cites NOW!

Another website I like to use, that wasn't part of the choices is Spelling City.  Here, I can upload my weekly word study units (I usually have 4 different groups based on the Words Their Way Inventory) and kids can practice their words using interactive games at home or in our "working with words" station during our morning Daily 5.  The drawback with this is that you cannot track kids individually.  If they use it for a homework assignment, then they have to print their work as proof.  

4.  List two to three apps you found for the iPod Touch/iPad that you can use in your classroom. What do you see that station looking like? How can you hold the students accountable for their time in these stations?

I have downloaded some neat apps to my personal iTouch. I am unable to do it for the ones that I have in my classroom - our librarian usually does that for us. Some of the ones that I personally have are more for younger children. 

Hangman (Helps not only develop strategy skills, but also spelling and word patterns.) 

Houston Zoo (Helps navigate when you are at the zoo, but also gives animal specifications. It also helps with the Map skills and reading a map with cardinal directions.) 

Funny Flash (This one is neat because it morphs animals and then spells them out verbally and in print.) 

Distant Suns (This app is very cool - you can use it to help identify the constellations.) 

Math Drill (Addition & Subtraction - primary grades.) 

Learn Chess (I haven't really figured this out but I want to learn.) 

Poker Delux (Fun!)

Louvre (I had some of my GT students look at the art. Then, we also discussed the artist.) 

NASA (I had some of my GT students look for intersting facts / details.) 

SAT Words 5000 (I was in hopes my teenager would use this but I don't think she has even looked at it. Never the less, my GT students can learn new words.) 

Science (This has a list of all the elements off the periodic table. I think it is cool to sometimes talk about them with my small research groups.) 

Sight Words (My daughter enjoys reading and being quizzed on these.) 

Tic Tac Toe (Just for fun! My kids especially LOVE playing this.) 

The Weather Channel (Keep current with weather conditions anywhere. Goes well with our Air & Weather Unit.) 

Words w/ Friends (More for me - I love playing my friends in a game of scrabble.) 

UNO (Fun! Fun! Fun! Love playing UNO!)

Create a list of ways to use the iTouch in the Library by multiple students (that is different than an iTouch being assigned to students).
 With the rockstar, sharing the iTouch is SO easy! I personally downloaded audiobooks and the kids listened to them. Also, the kids participate in a play and to have them be able to listen to the music, is wonderful. Especially since I do not have to hear it being played.
We have also used the iTouches in the library to research birds, & habitats. They are a hot commodity that usually is never idle!

5.  What about other ways to use the iPod Touch/iPad? Share another way you can see your students using the device as a station.

I use them:

• As a reward;
• Practice certain skills;
• Listen to books I have downloaded on my personal devices;
• Listen to music that they must learn for our productions;
• View Animoto's 
• Look up things on the internet;
• View iMovies

I will continue to use, adding:

• Face to Face
• Skype