assignment+7

assignment 7

__**Reflection**__ 1. Taking this class has been an amazing experience.Before becoming an iPad user, i thought that laptops would be the way that students would stay interested in their education. Now, because of taking this class, I can forsee students becoming very excited with learning. Because of the countless apps available, I can tailor student needs in ways that will help them stay engaged. I cannot think of a time ever during my teaching career, that students don't want to use technology. On the contrary, students are always eager to do something, anything on the computer. Now with the advent of the iPad, there are so many educational specific topics that I know that I will be able to help the reluctant learner improve his or her skills. Because iPads are so mobile, I can allow students to use it at their desk to complete a task, and then pass the iPad on to the next student to continue working on the same skill. As for my professional use, I have been using engrade, a free site that allows teachers to submit grades for students work. I had been putting student grades into a grade book, then later transferring the grades into the engrade program. Now, because of the portability of the iPad, I generally take grades immediately without using the grade book. I can now save time by reducing my two-step process to only one. As a final thought on the impact of this technology in my classroom, I truly feel that student achievement, especially for the low achievers, as well as the high achievers, will increase. Students will be more excited to learn and be more inquisitive. I am quite optimistic.

2.(a) The iPad in my personal life. The iPad has been a wonderful, useful tool that I have now been acquainted with. Since the class began and I received my iPad, I have carried it around with me many places. I have many medical appointments that I have to go to and I take it with me. Depending on the appointment, I can look up information that is being discussed, and I don't understand, I can immediately look it up and get clarification. At other times, I do a lot of waiting. At these times, I have read JSOnline, various sports,articles, checked email,(school and personal), and have worked on schoolwork (engrade, lesson plans, etc.) I have really grown accustomed to this tool, and I can only see positives about its invention. 2(b) The iPad in my professional life. As mentioned previously, the iPad has been great for doing school work. While my 7th and 8th graders are in the library on Monday mornings, I can be monitoring them as well as being on engrade entering grades. Having the wireless routers at school have been great. Doing lesson plans, looking up interesting information to present to my classes, and looking for current events information, has been really successful using the iPad. It has actually saved time. Before, I would have to be in my classroom on the desk top to do what I needed. Now, I can be anywhere, on prep time, or class time, and get work accomplished. Another time-saver for me has been entering grades while walking and monitoring srudent progress. Again, it actually saves me time to do other things.

3. What I have learned from others sharing their information is that people are excited about teaching with the technology. There were so many great ideas shared. I wrote down many different apps that others were using, both professionally and personally. One of the great things that I learned about was Animoto.. I want to learn more and use Animoto with family presentations. I would like to wow my audience using it. It would be great to use in classroom presentations as well. This program is a great "attention-getter" and should be a wonderful teaching tool.

4. My presentation was about the Discovery World Puzzlemaker. I have used this site for many years and thought it would be useful for others. I have taught 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and now middle school, and it has been relevant in every setting. While I was speaking, I noticed others writing, so hopefully what was presented will be used by others. What I use most on Puzzlemaker is the wordsearch. It is great for reviewing vocabulary in ANY subject. There is something about crossword puzzles that everyone likes. No one has ever complained when presented with one. There are multiple programs on Puzzlemaker that I have used, though sparingly. Some of the other options are: double puzzles, mazes, cryptograms, hidden message, criss cross, and math squares. Ahhh, the internet and technology. It's great!