iPads in the Classroom

 

We are in a digital age.Technology is everywhere you turn. Young people are using  iPhones, iPads, iPods, laptops, X-boxes, Wii's, etc. The list goes on and on. I don't have a clue about some of the technology being used today. But I do know, we are going to have to incorporate technology in the classrooms to keep up with the ever changing times. I've read varying opinions on the use of technology in the classroom. I believe, as long as children have REAL opportunities to read, write, draw, play, etc. I see no real harm. An iPad is a real tool in our world today and children see us using it. Why should we say, "This is only for grownups."

Brian Puerling, the author of Teaching in the Digital Age, shares ways to introduce the iPad to young children.The iPad was designed to be intuitive and children are capable of using it without instructions. However, I see the benefits of introducing it to children the way Puerling suggests.The first suggestion is to show children how many fingers to use on the screen. Often children use too many fingers on the screen, enlarging it and making it difficult to see. You could introduce this concept by placing the iPad under the document camera to demonstrate how to use it with a large group.

Ideas for Using iPads in the Classroom:

1. Photos for Science: The iPad is one way to share photos with children without printing them. Take the iPad with you on nature walks. You could take photos of the plant life in the different seasons. The children could discuss the differences between previous photos and recent ones. The iPad also has a setting to make it behave like a digital picture frame. You could set it up in your science or writing center with photos that support your current topic, i.e. leaves, shells, animals. Students can write about the different photos. (Integrating science into the curriculum!)  LeafSnap HD is an app that can be used in the classroom or outdoors to identify leaves. There's another one called Trees Pro HD for identifying trees. These apps are like having a field guide with you and both are FREE.
2. Engage in Literature: The iPad can be used as an additional listening center in the classroom.Children can turn or swipe the pages of a book as it is read to them. Kidztory is a great app for fairy tales and fables. You could also purchase audio books through iTunes and invite students to listen to the story along with a paper book.
3. Music Skills: There are several apps that have interactive children's songs, such as Duck Duck Moose Wheels on the Bus. Another fun and interactive app is Monkey Drum. Children beat the drum and the monkey copies the same pattern. You could extend this by using it in whole group. Have the monkey do a beat on his drum, and invite the children to copy the beat by clapping or beating on handmade drums (I'll share how to make musical instruments on another post.) Monkey Drum is free, but has in-app purchases which you can disable in settings

These are just a few suggestions for using iPads in the classroom. I'll leave you with a quote. “Nobody will uninvent the iPad. It’s time for early childhood educators to embrace these tools to…prepare young children for success in the digital age.” Warren Buckleitner