Welcome to my blog on Learning in the 21st Century. Here you will find posts on topics about technology related tools aimed at enhancing learning and the development of 21st century skills.
While it seems tablets are quickly becoming the choice for technology in schools these days, Apple's iPad is winning over tech advocates. iPad apps are dominating the realm of tools used for learning and therefore iPads themselves are the choice tablets for schools. I like this website because the iPad apps are broken down by K-12 grades and provides examples of educational apps with screenshots; this particular section will focus on elementary schools.
Take a gander at these apps for iPads in schools courtesy of ipadinschools.com
The following is a list of iPod and iPad apps that can be used in middle school learning environments. I’ll keep this updated as I find new apps that could be useful! All Subjects/General/Productivity
Keynote - A slideshow presentation program Pages- A word processing program Numbers - A spreadsheet application iBooks - a ereader book store iStudiez Pro – calendar and assignment planner Mobile Mouse - Mobile Mouse instantly transforms your iPad into a wireless mouse and trackpad for your computer. Bento - Manage things with 25 ready to use databases. GoodReader - Within moments of downloading GoodReader, you’ll be transferring files from the computer to the iPad. Supports a wide range of files. Note Taker HD - An app for writing handwritten notes, diagrams, etc. Sundry Notes Pro - Sundry Notes is the first social note taking application. Write, draw, record and research right within the app – and then share your notes with others.Take notes right within your application, including: Write text (and change font color, size, etc.), draw anywhere in your notes, search Wikipedia, Google, and Google Books – and grab images from them for your notes using two fingers, Import PDFs from the internet, Import images from your photo library, record sound/voice, Change page background to graph paper, lined paper, legal paper, etc. CourseNotes - Take notes in class and keep them organized by subject area. MindNode - Mind mapping, brainstorming, organization. iThoughtsHD - A mind map tool for the iPad Evernote - Evernote turns the iPad into an extension of your brain, helping you remember anything and everything that happens in your life. Stick It – Sticky Notes with Bump™ - Sticky notes you can share with other iPad Users PrintCentral - View, store, and print from the iPad Educate - The ultimate teacher’s companion providing mobile access to your student’s data, teaching strategies, eLearning tools, and timetable. OmniGraffle - Brainstorming, diagraming, charts, graphic design, etc. GoDocs iPad/iPhone (Google Docs™ support) - View, edit, share, and download Google Docs Office² HD - View, create, and edit Word and Excel files Cramberry - Create flash cards to study from. Professor Garfield Cyberbullying - Garfield and Friends share information about Cyberbullying Professor Garfield Online Safety - Garfield and Friends share information about Online Safety eClicker and eClicker Host- A personal response system that allows teachers to poll their classes in real time. Blackboard Presenter - Turns iPad into a blackboard presenter using the VGA dongle. Mirrors iPad screen to the projector. PDF Reader Pro Edition - PDF reader. WritePad for iPad - WritePad lets you take notes in your own handwriting with an iPad stylus, pen, or even your finger. Browser Duo - Designed specifically for the iPad, Browser Duo takes advantage of the iPad’s amazing screen size to enable multi-tasking in the browser.
Many of the applications described here come from the wiki being published by the Palm Beach Schools.
The hot topic regarding tech in schools is the cost benefit.
“There is very little evidence that kids learn more, faster or better by using these machines,” said Larry Cuban, a professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, who believes that the money would be better spent to recruit, train and retain teachers. “IPads are marvelous tools to engage kids, but then the novelty wears off and you get into hard-core issues of teaching and learning.”
On the flip side, without examples of schools with IPads and other mobile learning devices, studies on effectiveness of technology would not be possible. While Cuban makes an important point, the sheer volume of apps providing collections of literature, such as entire collections of Shakespeare all in one app, continue to grow and provide availability to educational resources at rates far exceeding the capacity of traditional physical mediums like books.
To read the full article follow this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
I believe it all comes down to how we work towards teaching our students. We cannot expect technology to do it for us. Laptops/tablets/technology are just tools for us to use in the hopes of making learning more engaging for the students, they cannot/should not be used in place of the Teacher.
I do feel that one reason why there is such a push for including technology within the classroom is not to help students learn particularly "faster" but to reach them in a format that they are accustomed to so they do not get left behind.
Also, I do not know if tablets will make Laptops obsolete quite yet. There are people who would rather have the actual keyboard, and/or larger screen instead of the tablet. These are the same people that like having phones with the keypads instead of or in addition to the touch screen.
Is it Facebook or Edmodo? I was visiting my cousins in Virginia recently and noticed them working on a site called Edmodo. My cousins are both biology teachers in the Henrico County school district and they both teach at Varina High School. They are approaching their 5th year as teachers.
When I first saw Edmodo, I thought they were using Facebook. I asked them what they were doing and they said they were communicating with their students through texts and posts on their class page. The great thing about this site is that instructors have many additional controls over content and usability not found in Facebook that is designed for educational instruction.
Anyone have experience with Edmodo? Please share your comments.
It's the first week back from spring break and time for another update. As I previously commented on Edmodo, now we'll discuss more about the details. Take a look at this youtube video for more details on the pros and cons for this free educational tool.
While it seems tablets are quickly becoming the choice for technology in schools these days, Apple's iPad is winning over tech advocates. iPad apps are dominating the realm of tools used for learning and therefore iPads themselves are the choice tablets for schools. I like this website because the iPad apps are broken down by K-12 grades and provides examples of educational apps with screenshots; this particular section will focus on elementary schools.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ipadinschools.com/ipad-apps-for-elementary-school/
Take a gander at these apps for iPads in schools courtesy of ipadinschools.com
ReplyDeleteThe following is a list of iPod and iPad apps that can be used in middle school learning environments. I’ll keep this updated as I find new apps that could be useful!
All Subjects/General/Productivity
Keynote - A slideshow presentation program
Pages- A word processing program
Numbers - A spreadsheet application
iBooks - a ereader book store
iStudiez Pro – calendar and assignment planner
Mobile Mouse - Mobile Mouse instantly transforms your iPad into a wireless mouse and trackpad for your computer.
Bento - Manage things with 25 ready to use databases.
GoodReader - Within moments of downloading GoodReader, you’ll be transferring files from the computer to the iPad. Supports a wide range of files.
Note Taker HD - An app for writing handwritten notes, diagrams, etc.
Sundry Notes Pro - Sundry Notes is the first social note taking application. Write, draw, record and research right within the app – and then share your notes with others.Take notes right within your application, including: Write text (and change font color, size, etc.), draw anywhere in your notes, search Wikipedia, Google, and Google Books – and grab images from them for your notes using two fingers, Import PDFs from the internet, Import images from your photo library, record sound/voice, Change page background to graph paper, lined paper, legal paper, etc.
CourseNotes - Take notes in class and keep them organized by subject area.
MindNode - Mind mapping, brainstorming, organization.
iThoughtsHD - A mind map tool for the iPad
Evernote - Evernote turns the iPad into an extension of your brain, helping you remember anything and everything that happens in your life.
Stick It – Sticky Notes with Bump™ - Sticky notes you can share with other iPad Users
PrintCentral - View, store, and print from the iPad
Educate - The ultimate teacher’s companion providing mobile access to your student’s data, teaching strategies, eLearning tools, and timetable.
OmniGraffle - Brainstorming, diagraming, charts, graphic design, etc.
GoDocs iPad/iPhone (Google Docs™ support) - View, edit, share, and download Google Docs
Office² HD - View, create, and edit Word and Excel files
Cramberry - Create flash cards to study from.
Professor Garfield Cyberbullying - Garfield and Friends share information about Cyberbullying
Professor Garfield Online Safety - Garfield and Friends share information about Online Safety
eClicker and eClicker Host- A personal response system that allows teachers to poll their classes in real time.
Blackboard Presenter - Turns iPad into a blackboard presenter using the VGA dongle. Mirrors iPad screen to the projector.
PDF Reader Pro Edition - PDF reader.
WritePad for iPad - WritePad lets you take notes in your own handwriting with an iPad stylus, pen, or even your finger.
Browser Duo - Designed specifically for the iPad, Browser Duo takes advantage of the iPad’s amazing screen size to enable multi-tasking in the browser.
Many of the applications described here come from the wiki being published by the Palm Beach Schools.
Do you have to purchase any of the apps?
ReplyDeleteCarma
Some of the apps are freeware and some require fees, but for the most part, I'm sure that free substitute apps are available if not listed.
Delete"About 5,400 educational applications are available specifically for the iPad, of which nearly 1,000 can be downloaded free."
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
This is great. Lots of good information. Kelli
ReplyDeleteHere is a closer look at the applications for high school learning and the use of iPads.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ipadinschools.com/ipad-apps-for-high-school/
In a response post to Carma, there are approximately 5400 educational apps available and nearly 1,000 can be dowloaded for free.
The hot topic regarding tech in schools is the cost benefit.
ReplyDelete“There is very little evidence that kids learn more, faster or better by using these machines,” said Larry Cuban, a professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, who believes that the money would be better spent to recruit, train and retain teachers. “IPads are marvelous tools to engage kids, but then the novelty wears off and you get into hard-core issues of teaching and learning.”
On the flip side, without examples of schools with IPads and other mobile learning devices, studies on effectiveness of technology would not be possible. While Cuban makes an important point, the sheer volume of apps providing collections of literature, such as entire collections of Shakespeare all in one app, continue to grow and provide availability to educational resources at rates far exceeding the capacity of traditional physical mediums like books.
To read the full article follow this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
With continuous and rapid advancements in tablets such as the IPad, laptops are seemingly becoming obsolete. What are your thoughts?
DeleteI believe it all comes down to how we work towards teaching our students. We cannot expect technology to do it for us. Laptops/tablets/technology are just tools for us to use in the hopes of making learning more engaging for the students, they cannot/should not be used in place of the Teacher.
DeleteI do feel that one reason why there is such a push for including technology within the classroom is not to help students learn particularly "faster" but to reach them in a format that they are accustomed to so they do not get left behind.
Also, I do not know if tablets will make Laptops obsolete quite yet. There are people who would rather have the actual keyboard, and/or larger screen instead of the tablet. These are the same people that like having phones with the keypads instead of or in addition to the touch screen.
Is it Facebook or Edmodo? I was visiting my cousins in Virginia recently and noticed them working on a site called Edmodo. My cousins are both biology teachers in the Henrico County school district and they both teach at Varina High School. They are approaching their 5th year as teachers.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw Edmodo, I thought they were using Facebook. I asked them what they were doing and they said they were communicating with their students through texts and posts on their class page. The great thing about this site is that instructors have many additional controls over content and usability not found in Facebook that is designed for educational instruction.
Anyone have experience with Edmodo? Please share your comments.
It's the first week back from spring break and time for another update. As I previously commented on Edmodo, now we'll discuss more about the details. Take a look at this youtube video for more details on the pros and cons for this free educational tool.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8EFlpuKk4A&feature=related
A shorter intro to Edmodo:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHBKdGjMJQg&feature=related