Final Blog on Useful Technology

In the 21st century, teachers need to be up to date and current with the way the project information to students.  Technology is a wonderful medium to use for teaching students information in a variety of ways. With activities like the ones described below, teachers can introduce topics, teach aspects of skills, practice skills, and review skills in many different forms so students do not notice it is the same information being taught in many different forms to ensure student learning.  Here is a link to a site that has many different strategies to keep students' attention and keep them engaged.  
Some useful tools to use in the classroom are PowerPoint, ActivInspire, and Glogster.  All of these applications are free downloads or come with a typical computer software.  This is great for teachers because they do not have to go out of there way and spend more of there own money (we all know that teachers use a lot of money out of their own pockets to pay for things for their students already).

PowerPoint is no longer just a presentation tool to be used by adult professionals.  It can also be transformed into an interactive activity for students to complete by themselves or in pairs.  This is revolutionary because the teacher no longer has to stand in front of the class and lecture.  The students now get to explore and discover the information rather than have it handed to them.  Through virtual field trips, students are having fun and learning at the same time.  They will be excited to do work instead of dreading it.  I will use this in the classroom by introducing a topic like aquatic life and have the students work in pairs to travel through the exhibits in an aquarium learning about each animal as the go.

ActivInspire is another tool that can be used in the classroom as a smart board activity at the front of the classroom.  It allows for students to come up to the board and do activities in front of the class.  This is great for students because it keeps them active and paying attention.  It also helps them to learn through doing which is a very beneficial part of the learning process.  In the classroom, ActivInspire can be used by giving a spelling lesson on the smart board.  Introduce the section of spelling, like -ake words, have them practice writing them, recognizing them, writing them, and using them in sentences.

Glogster is a tool that serves as an interactive poster for students to explore.  It allows for graphics, videos, text and other media to be on a page that can be linked to other pages also.  This tool is great because the students can go through the webpage at their own pace on their on computers.  Also, the teacher could send a link and have the students review the skills at home or outside of class.  In a classroom, a teacher can introduce a topic, such as the solar system.  The students can click on different aspects of the solar system like the planets, the sun, and moon.  Each aspect will bring them to a new page that has activities, games, videos, pictures, and information about the subject.  This is a great way to introduce this topic.

How are iPads being used in elementary classrooms?

New technology is revolutionizing the way elementary classrooms look, the way teachers connect with students, and the way students learn.  With this new technology, students are able to experience a lesson rather than watch a lesson.  An esspecially useful peice of technology that every elementary classroom should have is an iPad.  By bringing iPads into the classroom, teachers are able to make special accomodations for students, they can be eco-friendly by saving paper, and can share information with other classes, students, and parents. 

Most elementary classrooms do not have access to enough computers for every student.  IPads would take up less room, are less expensive, and can share information between students and teachers easier.  With all this new technology, soon textsbooks will not even be relevent to classrooms.  Now-a-days, students can access all the information they need to know for any project on the internet or by using applications on an iPad (as Apple would say "There's an app for that").  Having new and improved technology in the classroom will get students ready and excited to learn!

Here are some useful apps to use in a third grade classroom:

iBooks- This is an app that lets you download, read, and store any book.

Pandora- This app is a music player that predicts songs that you would like.  Teachers can put on Pandora to have relaxing background noise or to get students energy out using music and physical actvity.

iStudiez pro- Helps students (and teachers) keep track of classes and assignemnts.

Vocabulary Builder Grade 3- Students get the chance to go through vitrual flashcard and play games to learn new words.
BrainQuest Blast Off: Grade 3- Sutedents can go through and quiz themeselves and other on trivia questions.

The iPad has a lot more to offer than just apps.  It has access to YouTube which can show tutorials on how to do something or just be another medium for students to learn from.  The iPad has an area where notes can be taken.  It is easy to send and recieve emails, notifications, and assignments that can be read and replyed to immeaditatly.  Attendence can be taken quickly and efficeintly on this device.  IPads come with a calender system that syncronizes with other applications and keeps schedules neat and organized.   

Walking around the classroom teachers always observe important things that they need to keep track of.  By having a small hald held device where they can take notes and do informal assessments, there lives are a lot easier.  Teachers can use the iPad to administer reading level tests while the student is the only holding the tablet to give the confidence and make it easier for them.  Also, publishing students work and gaining access to the most recent information and data is neccessary to keep a 21st century classroom up to date.  Teachers are able to create interactive lessons that keep students focused and having fun.  Another great way for teachers to keep students happy is by making there tests and quizes on the iPads.  This will help the students relax while being tested to get rid of any test anxiety they might have.  This quizes can also be self-correcting which will save the teacher a lot of time as well. 

There are many informative apps, helpful features, and great used for an iPad in an elementary school classroom.  They releive some of the teachers' stress, students' anxiety, and is just a lot of fun to have around!  Being up to date is recomended for any classroom to keep the students engaged and get them prepared for their 21st century life.