I truly believe in the power of the iPad to give students a
broader learning experience, to prepare them with job-ready skills, and
to provide equitable learning opportunities. With almost a complete
school year of iPads in the classroom, I have learned quite a bit about
these amazing devices and the freedom it gives me to create assignments
that go beyond the classroom to expand the learning of my students. But
with every change comes a few hurdles, so here are a few of my own
experiences and what I did that made life a lot more
stress-free while ensuring that my students made the most of this
wonderful opportunity.
Classroom management: The first
thing I learned was that my view of classroom management had to
change. I could no longer look across my classroom and know with a fair
amount of certainty that my students were on task. I have to walk
around and look to see what they have on their screens. So
no more standing in front, or even in the middle (my usual location) of
my class--not when they had an assignment that required the iPad.
Teach
them when and how to use the device: They don't need to have their
iPads out at every moment. When I have an assignment that requires the
device, then they can get it out. Otherwise it can stay in the backpack
until I tell them different. In other words, I had to make sure my
expectations were clear. When I talk to my class, I expect every set of
eyes to be on me. Even when they are using the iPad, if I call their
attention I wait until I have it before I continue.
Loosen
up: My definition of "on task" had to change. I can't remember how
many times I asked a student to get back on task, only to find out that
he or she was actually looking up something related to the assignment. I
might have asked them to use a certain app, but they were looking up
how to do something with the app, or trying to find a fact for the
assignment. That's the beauty of having a device in your hands--answers
to your questions are only a few taps away. This leads to my next
revelation:
Let go of the reigns: This was hard to do,
but in the end it is what makes them better learners. I had to realize
that I was no longer the holder of all knowledge in the classroom.
When I finally understood this, it truly freed me to be a better
teacher. "Why don't you Google that?" became my mantra, followed by
"Make sure you let the rest of us know what you find."
Be
flexible: Having the iPad allowed me to be much more flexible when it
came to assignments. Students have so many ways to demonstrate their
learning--whether it's using video or audio or writing, and publishing
their work to Teachertube (Youtube is blocked by our filtering system),
their blogs or even Pinterest! Giving students choices gives students
control over their learning, and changing up those choices makes life
more interesting.
Bring back "Show and Tell": Every
once in a while I allow students to show us an app or a game that they
have found. Projecting the iPad while they're doing this gives them
experience speaking in front of the class, but in a relaxed way with no
pressure. I have found several apps (okay, yes and games) this way.
Sometimes I will even assign homework to find an app for a specific job,
like finding a good photo manipulator or a voice recorder. This way
they explore their different options and can make an informed decision
when we need that type of app for an assignment.
Embrace
the gaming experience: It's there, and it's not going away, so why not
try to incorporate what they know and love into my lesson? Every
subject will be different, but almost every subject has a game out there
that will enhance what is being taught. Find the right one and give
them ten minutes at the end of class to play it. Or use the characters
or setting in a game as the basis of a lesson. The options are really
endless, and if you are clueless about how to start, turn to them for
the answer. One of my students asked me--seriously--if I was feeling
okay when I asked the class to explain the purpose of Minecraft and how
we could use the game as part of a lesson.
Practice
patience but be firm: I try to remember that the iPad can distract me
as well as it can them. When I see my students off task I remind them
to get back on task or tap their shoulder as a silent reminder. Most
students will get back to work, but I did have a few students who seemed
determined to try my patience. After two warnings I take the device
up until the end of class. This was hard for me to do at first--I
wouldn't want my iPad taken from me--but I had to realize that just like
any other item the student brings into the class, if it is truly
hampering the students' learning, it has to go. In a few cases when
they absolutely had to use the device for the lesson, I pulled up a
chair and sat beside them for a while. It worked every time. :)
Here are some more great tips for managing your iPad classroom.
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