The iPad:
A Great Educational Resource For Both Teachers and Students
One device mentioned in Gunter and Gunter (2015) that I use on a daily basis and feel is an amazing resource in the classroom for both teachers and students is the iPad. There are many different types of tablet computers today, but the one I am most familiar with is the Apple iPad. With this device, teachers can download educational apps that students can interact with individually or in pairs, as well as apps that teachers can use to enhance whole group classroom instruction.
For example, one app that I use on a daily basis is Doceri Desktop, which is an interactive whiteboard application for the iPad. With this app, I can take a picture of any document or activity and project it to the computer screen. In my classroom, I also have a data projector that is wired to project anything displayed on my teacher computer screen to my projector screen. The best part is, once I project the document or link onto the computer, I can enter the drawing mode on Doceri Destop. The drawing mode allows the user to draw, write, erase onto the picture that is displayed. This drawing mode component really helps keep my first grade students engaged. For example, in my classroom during math, I will let a student solve the problem on the iPad. My first grade students work very hard to model and show their solution strategies because they know they may get a turn to use the iPad and show the class.
From my personal experience teaching both kindergarten and first grade, students in this age group require a lot of modeling and guided instruction. The iPad is a great resource to provide accommodations for students such as visual representations, modeling, highlighting, etc. Although these accommodations are specific ELL and ESE strategies, I feel they can benefit all learners in the classroom.
Overall, I feel that the IPAD is a great resource to use in the classroom because it is beneficial to all types of learners, including ELL and ESE students. With the iPad, teachers can differentiate instruction using various educational apps for specific student learning needs and provide hands-on learning experiences for students. The iPad helps to keep students motivated about their learning and keeps students actively engaged.
Click here for a list of 15 free educational apps that teachers and parents can download for elementary students. Each app is paired with an explanation and intended subject area focus. I use many of these in the classroom with my students.
You may also like to view the article Top 5 iPad Apps for Teaching Across All Content Areas.
References:
Gunter, G., & Gunter, R. (2015). Teachers discovering computers: Integrating technology in a changing world. (8th ed.). S.l.: Thompson Publishing.