IPad's in the Classroom

Before taking into account all of the different ways an iPad can help a child within a classroom I assumed it didn't belong in the classroom. After doing a little research and watching my nephews with kindles and iPod's I believe that these technological tools can be really helpful to children. Technology can be really helpful for all students but especially students who have special needs. The advantage of an iPad is that it is large enough for students to handle, being about the size of a piece of paper, and it can hold a multiple of applications to aid in the learning process.
                                 

Photo credit to gcasserotti via compfight

One example of this assisting a student is a child with down syndrome, from the article Special Ed. Pupils Find Learning Tool in iPad Applications. In this article written by Nirvi Shah, the child has difficulty communicating with others. This communication barrier makes it difficult for her to communicate with her peers and her teachers, without communication they have a barrier between them and are unable to connect. With the app Proloquo2Go she is able to select pictures to communicate with peers.
Another example is a test that was done with high school students with special needs in the article written by James Basham. These students were first given a math test on paper and then that same test on the iPad. It was discovered that when the students completed the problems on the iPad they finished more questions in less time because they were more engaged. My take on this would be that because a paper test is very frustrating and just the sight of the paper test can give a student anxiety. By giving the child the iPad to complete the problems that anxiety is taken away, an iPad is looked at as fun and games. This is actually a plus in the education setting because you are getting real results from students with the test anxiety.
Finally, the apps that can be accessed on the iPad are simple to find and easy to access. If a school has a bunch of iPads logged onto one account they all can have the same applications so that all students can access these tools. Accessibility and expense is important. In younger schools it is important to have a tool that is easily accessed by a student on their own but is not expensive to purchase. Another plus with the applications is they are constantly being updated. New apps come out all the time that these students can use as they grow. In the long run this is much less expensive then the tools that are bought to suit the needs of various students. For example a student who is hard of hearing or a student who has trouble with sight. On this one tool you can access text to speech or expand the lettering so that it is easier to read. This is found on one tool where as it would take two separate tools to help these students. Some schools have debated whether this is an option that they should be thinking hard about and bringing into their classrooms according to the article written by John Waters.

Photo Credit to barrett.discovery via Compfight

In  my own experience with my nephews I find that iPod's and kindles are a great addition in our house. My nephew at two has already mastered electronic puzzles and is working on matching games. His favorite are the Amazing Shape Puzzles on the iPod. With this puzzle he has to put together the pieces and in the end it has the name of the puzzle and it reads the name. For example when he puts together an eagle, he finishes the puzzle and then a little guy comes onto the screen with a chalkboard that reads eagle and he reads the word aloud. This has taught my nephew many different animals, letters, colors and he even likes putting together continents. These are not only very educational games but peace keepers. I am now a believer that an iPad could be a great addition to my classroom.
Citations:
James Basham, et al. "A Comparison Of Ipads And Worksheets On Math Skills Of High School Students With Emotional Disturbance." Behavioral Disorders37.4 (2012): 232-243. ERIC. Web. 17 Feb. 2013
Shah, Nirvi. "Special Education Pupils Find Learning Tool In Ipad Applications." Education Week 30.22 (2011): 1,. ERIC. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.
Waters, John K. "Enter The Ipad (Or Not?)." T.H.E. Journal 37.6 (2010): 38-40,. ERIC. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.

Educational Quote/ Twitter

Photo Courtesy of pinksherbet via Compfight

Twitter Follows:

             teachingwthsoul: I choose to follow teachingwthsoul because she references to many different areas that might appeal to teachers. She tweets often and from a quick skim through you can see that they are about education. She has a lot of information or references to using technology in education. 

             mbteach: I choose to follow mbteach because she gives out a lot of information in her tweets about technology in the classroom. She brings it to reality, she is also very willing to answer questions that other educators or parents may have about this technology. 

Blogging 101

I was looking through all of my blogs today and came across this one in my news feed. All of you in my Tech Ed  class might find it interesting since we are all beginning our own blogs! The blogger is a published author who has been blogging for roughly four years, it has a little bit about her in the beginning.

 http://whatsfordinner-momwhatsfordinner.blogspot.com/2013/02/blogging-etiquette-and-how-to-market.html

Review: Kindle Fire HD

(Photo taken from Creative Commons)

        For months I had been contemplating which piece of technology I had been wanting to purchase. The battle was kindle vs. Ipad. I wanted something small enough that I could carry around with me (I already have a netbook and hate it, wouldn't advise anyone ever getting it) and a piece of technology that could help me in the classroom as both student and teacher. The ultimate thing for me was price though, being a college student putting $500 into something wasn't really appealing to me or my bank account. In the end my decision was made for me by my boyfriend who bought me a Kindle fire HD for Christmas (completely oblivious to the fact that I even wanted one).

          I am thrilled with my Kindle. There are so many ways I use it and trust me the money was not wasted. The first night I received it I bought more apps than I thought my Kindle could handle. Among the apps I bought one for handwriting/ note taking which come in handy when wanting to write just little notes or a whole lectures notes in class. I also have puzzle apps for my older nephew, who steals my kindle whenever it is in eyesight, hes two. One of my most used apps would have to be watching videos on either the Amazon site or through Netflix(the resolution is amazing and it rarely ever skips, skipping only happens if more than one person is watching Netflix and that's a Netflix issue not Kindle). The speed of the Kindle is excellent(thought at times you do have to clean it out or it will slow down like any device). I can go onto the internet to look something up or download an app and I get there almost instantly, which for being as impatient as I am its quite nice.

(Taken from Creative Commons with permission from author)

           For myself I feel that the kindle is quite user friendly, that is just my opinion though others may find that it can be quite complicated. Most any problem that occurs, lately its just been getting onto internet sources, have been solved quite simply. Anything that needs to be accessed can be found right on the main menu. Some may prefer the Ipad to the Kindle, for them they may choose this because it is a larger version and there are many other apps that they prefer off the Ipad. I'll be honest I like them both. They each do a lot of the same things. For me though I am a reader. I love that I can borrow books from Amazon to read for free or download a book to keep right onto my Kindle and if I have other Kindles I can access them on my account. On the Ipad you can only read it on that Ipad I can't read it on my Ipod or transfer it to another Ipod. That is really why I prefer my Kindle because what if I want to give my mom a book I just read and thought she'd really enjoy it, I'm not going to make her pay for that same book I just bought. Hope you found this review helpful and might even consider the Kindle Fire HD.

Just to show a little comparison:

(Taken from Creative Commons with permission from author)

Lesson Plan

Lemonade Stand

Topic:

How to run my own Lemonade Stand  

Grade/Subject Area:

2nd Grade Math/Writing

Maine Learning Results/PEI’s/Local Standards:
A. NUMBER: Students use numbers in everyday and mathematical contexts to quantify or describe phenomena, develop concepts of operations with
different types of numbers, use the structure and properties of numbers with operations to solve problems, and perform mathematical computations.
Students develop number sense related to magnitude, estimation, and the effects of mathematical operations on different types of numbers. It is
expected that students use numbers flexibly, using forms of numbers that best match a situation. Students compute efficiently and accurately.
Estimation should always be used when computing with numbers or solving problems.
2 Students understand and use procedures to add and subtract whole numbers

with up to four digits.

b. Use an operation appropriate to a given situation.

Technology Standard:
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
b.	develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
c.	customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.
d.	provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

Instructional Goals:
1. Students will understand basic addition equations.
2. Students will understand basic subtraction equations.

Instructional Objectives:
1. Using Quizlet students will identify amounts of money.
2. Students will be given an activity and play money. This activity is divided into pairs.
3. In pairs the students will set up their “lemonade stands”.

Instructional Design:

Time	Teacher	Student
10 mins	Set up quizlet on projector.	Answer the flashcards on quizlet.
10 mins	Hand out math activity and money. Explain that in this activity they need to each set up their pretend lemonade stand and take turns with partners buying and selling lemonade. Stress the importance of students using correct math.	Divide into pairs.
20 mins	Walking around observing the equations.	In pairs acting out lemonade stands. Should be using correct subtraction and addition equations.
10 mins		Explain how they did their lemonade stand activity in writing prompt.

Lemonade Stand Game:
http://www.coolmath-games.com/lemonade/index.html

Google Form:
http://goo.gl/caYlR

Quizlet:
http://quizlet.com/_6wwkp

Lemonade Stand

Its a hot summer in your neighborhood and you decide to set up your own lemonade stand. Your mom has given you a $20 limit to start your stand. You have to buy cups, lemons, ice and sugar. Cups are $0.75 for 25 cups, $1.25 for 50 or $2.00 for 100. Lemons are $0.69 for 10, $1.00 for 20 or $1.69 for 30. Ice is $0.50 for 200 cubes, $1.00 for 300 or $1.25 for 500. Sugar is $1.00 for 4 cups, $1.50 for 8 cups, or $2.00 for 12 cups. Your cups of lemonade sell for $0.50 each.
1 pitcher= 3 lemons +2 cups of sugar+10 ice cubes
1 pitcher= 10 cups


1. What can you get with your $20 for the best deal?



2. How many cups did you sell?



3. What was left over?

Digital Footprints

When I Google myself I find many different things. I find my high school track records, though they are not all that great. I also find my Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook account. I am also surprised to find that there are a few other Shelby Mailmans on Facebook. My Prezi comes up as well as my class blog. I suppose this means that I am not Google-proof.

When I discovered that my Facebook profile was not as private as I thought, pictures could be seen as well as my information, I began to wonder why Facebook claims to be so private, what is their idea of private? Once I found this out I looked deeper into my Facebook to make sure that it was safer, I will also be more aware when I have children to check out the latest social media device that they are safe.

Throughout my use of social media I try to be as conservative as possible. If I would not like my grandparents to see it or my future employers I am not going to post it. This goes for all social  media. I try to keep myself safe from accusations. This is not often hard because I tend to not involve myself in situations that will get me into trouble (for example drinking and smoking). I will maintain this policy in the future because of my future employers and children. I do not believe that friending students is appropriate, I do not really believe in friending parents either, I feel like this is an act that could come back to bite.

The two organizations that I found to be most interesting were the Maine Art Education Association, MAEA . (http://www.mainearted.org/MAEA/Home.html) I found this to be beneficial because for a fee of $75 you are able to join conferences and get newsletters. This organization brings different sources of art education to teachers and they are able to bring it to their students. The second was National Association for the Education of Young Children, NAEYC (http://www.naeyc.org/membership). I found this to be the most beneficial because for a fee of $85-50 teachers are sent newsletters and can attend conferences all about educating younger children. This is beneficial for a teacher of young children. I feel a lot of information could be gained by joining this association.

Needs Assessmemt