Student misbehavior has been on the rise in the last two weeks. I have been seeking alternatives for rewarding positive behavior. A co-teacher has a few iPads for students in her classroom and has been kind enough to share. Students who achieve daily behavior goals and complete classroom work are given a short period of time at the end of the day to use the iPad. The iPads are loaded with educational applications, which stimulate thinking and keep the students engaged. Many of my students enjoy the interactive nature and touch screen. The application ABC Tracer teaches students the alphabet song, letter/number identification, proper handwriting techniques, phonemic awareness, alphabetical order and sight words. ABC Tracer offers immediate feedback regarding handwriting strokes. Correct strokes are reinforced with a green line and bell-like sound while incorrect strokes are negatively reinforced with a red line and a squeeking noise. The quiz section prompts students to find the picture which begins with a specific letter. Correct answers are awarded with applause and an incorrect answer elicits an "uh oh."
I love the iPad, as it helps support educational goals and affords me time to check my e-mail, plan lessons and catch my breath. Behold the power of the iPad!
Technology at its finest; at some point will each student have his or her own assigned tablet or ipad? These touch screen devices are awesome; yes I agree they make learning not only engaging but lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that every student will have his/her own iPad to use in the near future. However, I feel that most students will have opportunities to use the iPad during group projects or lessons. On that note, I would love for each student to have an iPad in the classroom. A tool which opens the doors to learning in an engaging way is always welcome!
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