Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Making Tech Commonplace in the Classroom

I read somewhere that tech needs to become as common as pencils and paper in the classroom. When it does we have gone past the "honeymoon stage" and into the "lets see what this can really do" stage. I think my class is getting to that stage.
We started using iPads in our fifth grade classrooms 1:1 two years ago. It was hard deciding what to have students use them for at first. Then we decided on the second year that we would use them for everything we could. They kept them at their desks and used them as often as possible. We never gave up writing with pencils, using paper, or books. We did use them for writing to publish their text, make presentations, write daily journals, and email their teachers about what they were learning.
We had them use their iPads as a learning management system. They get on to see what they need to do for assignments, even though we still remind them where to find them. They submit discussions, comments, pictures of paperwork, and answer surveys on the LMS. They also have access to all assignments for the unit we are on. The LMS makes them complete assignments in order so they complete everything before moving on to the next section.
We use Google Drive to type in assignments for writing, language, social studies, and science.
What I found was that the more we use the iPads, the more the kids treat them as a tool and not a toy. We have a couple education games on the iPads, but we use them as we have most games, for specific times, not as rewards. This has curtailed them asking to play the games. As I watch what students are doing with the iPads, they are treating them like I would hope they would, as tools of learning.
I have students looking for new ways to show me how to use the iPads for their work. They ask to take pictures for their portfolios. A couple have asked about making movies to show what happened in a certain project. Some want to use the technology to add to their learning. It is becoming a part of their learning and becoming commonplace in the classroom.
The more we use technology, the more it becomes a part of the way the classroom and education is. If we don't use technology, it is a novelty to be played with. We need to use what we have to the fullest potential. Not adding to the work, but changing it. Making it commonplace.

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