My first year of teaching with ipads wasn’t purty! Essentially, they were expensive paperweights. I didn’t know how to use them effectively. After two years, here are some tips whether you have one, five, or a class set of ipads.
Tip # 1 Flash Is a Must
Get Puffin or some other web browser that supports Flash. There are MANY wonderful resources on the Internet, but a good portion of those requires flash. This web browser may cost money, but it’s worth it!
Tip # 2 Making Ipad Time Assessable
Find apps like Educreations, Pic Collage, or Youdoodle where children can take a screenshot then write on that picture. (All of those apps are free by the way.) I particularly love Educreations because the kids can record themselves talking, writing, can add pictures, and create videos. The possibilities are endless. They can also take a screenshot of their work at the end and show you their work. Yay for accountability!
Tip # 3 Controlling the Noise!
Buy, borrow, or beg for headphones. It’s easy enough to make or find videos to re-teach or pre-teach concepts to small groups. Your kids can work at a separate station while you meet with another group and will significantly cut down on the noise.
Tip # 4 Class Websites
Create your own class hub. I promise, it’s easy! Even if you are technically challenged. ;) Creating your own website will be a phenomenal tool. You can post center instructions for your students, link websites and videos to your page, and so much more. (I love Weebly, but there are other sites out there.)
If you choose to create a class website, you can create surveys for your students to take. It took me awhile to figure out how to do this, but once I discovered that feature I loved it!
My favorite tool on my website is the blog. My students love to see their name (first name only) on the website. When I give them a topic to write over, I can assess their content knowledge and their writing. (I also choose a Blogger of the Day. They get to sit in a special chair. They love it!)
Tip # 5 Making Multiple Choice Exciting
Polls are fun ways to spice up multiple-choice questions. Polleverywhere or Poll Daddy are great options. The students can choose their responses. Afterwards, you can analyze a bar graph showing the class responses, and you have instant data. (But be aware you cannot see which students responded in correctly.)
Someday, someone will comment on my post, I just know it! That being said, do you have any tips you want to share? Any apps you love to use?
Tip # 1 Flash Is a Must
Get Puffin or some other web browser that supports Flash. There are MANY wonderful resources on the Internet, but a good portion of those requires flash. This web browser may cost money, but it’s worth it!
Tip # 2 Making Ipad Time Assessable
Find apps like Educreations, Pic Collage, or Youdoodle where children can take a screenshot then write on that picture. (All of those apps are free by the way.) I particularly love Educreations because the kids can record themselves talking, writing, can add pictures, and create videos. The possibilities are endless. They can also take a screenshot of their work at the end and show you their work. Yay for accountability!
Tip # 3 Controlling the Noise!
Buy, borrow, or beg for headphones. It’s easy enough to make or find videos to re-teach or pre-teach concepts to small groups. Your kids can work at a separate station while you meet with another group and will significantly cut down on the noise.
Tip # 4 Class Websites
Create your own class hub. I promise, it’s easy! Even if you are technically challenged. ;) Creating your own website will be a phenomenal tool. You can post center instructions for your students, link websites and videos to your page, and so much more. (I love Weebly, but there are other sites out there.)
If you choose to create a class website, you can create surveys for your students to take. It took me awhile to figure out how to do this, but once I discovered that feature I loved it!
My favorite tool on my website is the blog. My students love to see their name (first name only) on the website. When I give them a topic to write over, I can assess their content knowledge and their writing. (I also choose a Blogger of the Day. They get to sit in a special chair. They love it!)
Tip # 5 Making Multiple Choice Exciting
Polls are fun ways to spice up multiple-choice questions. Polleverywhere or Poll Daddy are great options. The students can choose their responses. Afterwards, you can analyze a bar graph showing the class responses, and you have instant data. (But be aware you cannot see which students responded in correctly.)
Someday, someone will comment on my post, I just know it! That being said, do you have any tips you want to share? Any apps you love to use?