“Technology Reflection: Instructional Use of Ipads"

Technology Reflection Assignment

Description/Experience

I was absent from class during this demonstration but I looked up some of the apps that were on the app list from the demonstration and I tested out some of them on my Ipad. I believe this new technology is a wonderful idea and will be very useful in schools. I am very interested in trying out some of these apps at my PDS and also in my own classroom in the future. I think that by using an Ipad for an activity will make the students very interested in the lesson since they will be trying out a new way of learning. I think it will also be very helpful for those students that are visual learners.

Application

The second graders that I work with at my PDS are constantly doing different activities to give them practice with their spelling words for each week. I have noticed that several of the students have trouble reading and spelling words correctly. In order to help them with their spelling words I would use the Ipad app spell board to create a word search puzzle with their spelling words for that week. Not only does this app create a word search puzzle with the words you enter in but it also creates quizzes with the words. You can record your voice saying the word and even a phrase that the word fits in. Spell board also has a study mode where you can walk through a quiz seeing and hearing the word. You can also practice writing the word on the virtual white board. Using the practice mode would be perfect for the class to use because it is more interactive then me just saying the word and them practicing them on paper or on their little dry erase boards.

First, provide some details regarding:

• Learners: second graders, ages 7-8
• Learning outcomes: What will learners gain through this activity? Be specific regarding the focus of content. You should be able state something like: “At the end of this activity, students will be able to…” The students will be able to practice their spelling words for the week through this activity. At the end of the activity students will have mastered the correct spelling for their words for that week.
• Assessment: I would know if that the activity was effective because at the end of the week I would be assessing them through a spelling test. I would be able to compare their grades from the week that we used the Ipad to practice  to their grades from all of the other weeks when we did not. I personally think there would be an improvement in their grades after using the Ipad to practice their words.

Second, break down your activity into a timeline of planned events and procedures. Here you should describe what students and the teacher will be doing chronologically during the activity. Below is one of the good examples from previous reflections:

• The lesson would begin with introducing the students to the Ipad app, spell board. This would only take a minute or two because at this point the students will already be acquainted with the concept of using an Ipad.
• The students would spend some time in the study mode of the app. During this time they will practice writing their spelling words correctly on the interactive white board.
• After completing the practice mode quiz they will find the spelling words they just practiced in a word search.
• After completing both assignments I would then have them take the quiz on the app. The quiz on the app is nice because it tracks how they are doing on each quiz and what they messed up on.
• After I check their quizzes and how they did I could have them go back and redo anything that they struggled with.

Reflection

I believe it will enhance the students’ learning more than the typical way of studying/practicing their spelling words because it is something new and exciting. The teacher does her best to help each student individually when they are struggling but she cannot help each student at the same time, by using the Ipad the students will be getting one on one help and the voice that reads the words and phrases is a voice that they are familiar with, the teacher’s voice. So it feels like the teacher is right their helping them even when she is not really there. Most of the students do not have I pads so they will really enjoy working with them. The students also love word searches so this activity is perfect for them.
--Pedagogy-Content:

• They are already familiar with their spelling words, practicing them on a regular personal small white board and doing word searches so this will be comprehensible to the students since they already do similar activities.
• Some students may already be familiar with Ipads and possibly even the app that I discussed while other students may not have ever held or seen an ipad. I would be concerned with them getting frustrated about how to use the ipad and app correctly if they have never worked with one before.

--Technology-Pedagogy:

• It would give the students a way to practice their spelling words and hopefully master them before the end of the week when they take their test.
• It would support the way I teach this activity because they already prepare for their spelling tests using these same activities I am just adding the technology to hopefully make it more memorable and fun.
• The students would need to know how to handle the ipad carefully.

--Technology-Content:

• Without this technology the activity would be the typical way that the students already practice their spelling words. The technology enhances the students and their experience practicing spelling words because it is a new and interesting way to practice them and it also gives each student a bit of one on one practice with the ipads help, and the teachers voice reading the words and phrases in the activity.
• Without this technology students would be practicing their spelling words by writing them on the personal dry erase boards. Usually for this activity the students are split into groups based on their reading/spelling ability level and the teacher says the word and they write them on the board then the teacher checks the spelling. With the technology the students would still practice their spelling words by writing them on a board but it is an interactive board and it can check their spelling for them when they are finished. I feel like it gives them more one on one time and will be more memorable for the students.

--Technology-Pedagogy-Content:

• It can be effectively taught through my teaching strategies in this activity because they are getting the practice they need to master the spelling words. Through this activity each student is given the opportunity to practice their spelling words in three different ways, word search, practicing the spelling on the interactive white board and taking the quizzes.
• As I said earlier it will enhance their learning because they are practicing their words in a new and exciting way. It is also giving them three different activities so all types of learners will get the chance to practice them in a way they understand.