Ipads

Ipads in Education

Description of tool:

Ipads are used in technology for many reasons. Ipads can be used for an assessment by you. You can test the students on their fluency, comprehension, or reading ability. You can also have students use the numerous education apps found on the app store. A lot of apps are free; you just have to dig for the ones you want. AppsGoneFree is a great way to find apps that are free for the day or week. It is also helpful to follow users on Twitter that are familiar with Ipads. The tweeters can suggest apps that may be good for education. 

I personally use Ipads in my classroom for IXL which is a practice program for Math and Language Arts. My students also use Ipads for apps to practice their spelling words. I use Spelling City. I have used Ipads in the past for Google Earth and Google Maps. The students LOVE finding their homes and walking on their streets. In previous years, students could earn free time on the Ipads. They played games that were educational or school appropriate. I would love to expand the use of Ipads and include QR codes and reading apps.

Pedagogical use:

There are numerous uses for Ipads. First, you can use Ipads to check for students' reading comprehension, accuracy, and retell ability using an app. You can also give quizzes to the students using Ipads. You have the ability to see exactly what your students are doing on their Ipad using an app called Classkick. You can also assign them problems to do on their Ipad and watch them as they do it. Students can use Ipads to work on Math, Science, Social Studies, or Language Arts. Students can also go on a photo scavenger hunt or use Ipads to go to websites using QR codes. The uses of Ipads for students are endless. 

Pedagogical Use for Ipads

 Holland, B. (2013, July 11). IPads: From Pedagogical Crutch to Education Innovation. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipads-pedagogical-crutch-education-innovation-beth-holland

Long, J. (2013, June 11). Why use ipads in education? Retrieved July 23, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=26&v=f_6TcE4-65E

Plan for Ipad use in classroom for the year:

Students will use Ipads to:

• go on a QR code scavenger hunt
• to practice their math skills we have been working on in class using Front Row and IXL
• to practice their Language Arts skills we have learned in class using IXL
• to find locations using Google Maps
• find locations using Google Earth
• read news articles daily from News-O-Matic
• create videos using various apps
• create presentations using various apps
• create project using various apps

My plan for how I will use Ipads will change throughout the year. I am always learning about new apps and I love trying out new things in my classroom.

Apps for Bloom's Taxonomy

 Darrow, D. (2011, October 25). K-5 iPad Apps According to Bloom's Taxonomy. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/ipad-apps-elementary-blooms-taxonomy-diane-darrow 

Ipad Projects for Students

 Bosch, K. (2013, March 19). Easy iPad Projects for Elementary Students. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.slideshare.net/kbosch/easy-ipad-projects-for-elementary-students 

Location of tool:

You can find apps for Ipads at the Apple App Store. https://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/ios/id36?mt=8

Cost of tool:

The cost of apps vary. A lot of apps are free for the lite version. If you want the full version, you will have to pay for it. IXL costs the school money for a license. You will also have to have an Ipad in order to use Ipads in the classroom. It pays to follow tweeters on Twitter who use Ipads in their classroom. The tweeters can give you ideas on where to find great apps. I am constantly learning about new apps to use in my classroom due to developers always coming out with new apps. 

Why you want to use Ipads in your classroom:

Ipads are great to use in a classroom. The students fully enjoy getting their hands on an Ipad. Students, in my classroom, are more engaged when they have some form of technology in their hands. However, there needs to be a balance. If I constantly used Ipads all day long, the Ipads would lose their sparkle. Students use Ipads for maybe an hour in my classroom a day. It all depends on the activity I want them to do and how engaged they will be in the activity. If students start to lose focus on the task using the Ipad, I know it is time to move on to the next activity. 

Ipads are a useful tool to help engage students using technology. There are millions of apps that you can use depending on what you want to do. Students are growing up with technology and Ipads are a great way to incorporate that technology piece into your classroom. However, remember that there needs to be a balance. Students should not be using Ipads all day long. Even in one-to-one classrooms, students should be doing activities without the Ipad or computer. Having a balance between technology and instruction can help students more than just using the Ipad or computer all day long, 

Sources:

Bosch, K. (2013, March 19). Easy iPad Projects for Elementary Students. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.slideshare.net/kbosch/easy-ipad-projects-for-elementary-students 

Darrow, D. (2011, October 25). K-5 iPad Apps According to Bloom's Taxonomy. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/ipad-apps-elementary-blooms-taxonomy-diane-darrow 

Holland, B. (2013, July 11). IPads: From Pedagogical Crutch to Education Innovation. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipads-pedagogical-crutch-education-innovation-beth-holland

ISTE Standards. (2015). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards

Long, J. (2013, June 11). Why use ipads in education? Retrieved July 23, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=26&v=f_6TcE4-65E

ISTE Standards:

Students: 

1. Creativity and innovation
1. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
2. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
3. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
4. N/A
2. Communication and collaboration
1. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
2. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
3. N/A
4. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
3. Research and information fluency
1. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
2. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
3. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
4. Process data and report results
4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making
1. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
2. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
3. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
4. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions
5. Digital citizenship
1. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
2. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
3. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
4. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
6. Technology operations and concepts
1. Understand and use technology systems
2. Select and use applications effectively and productively
3. Troubleshoot systems and applications
4. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies

Teachers:

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity
1. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
2. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
3. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
4. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environment
2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments
1. Design or adapt learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
2. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
3. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
4. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments, aligned with content and technology standards, and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
3. Model digital age work and learning
1. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
2. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
3. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats
4. Model and facilitate effective use of emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning
4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility
1. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
2. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
3. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interaction related to the use of technology and information
4. N/A
5. Engage in professional growth and leadership
1. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
2. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others

Educreations

Educreations

Description of tool:

Educreations is a way to create videos to show students how to do something. It is a lot like using a whiteboard. The only difference is that it's in a video. Educreations can be used on the computer or an Ipad. You can write on the document while recording your voice. Educreation is a great tool to use in a flipped classroom setting. Students can watch the videos if they were absent or if they need to learn the concept again. Teachers can create a class and videos to the class for students to watch. The students have a class code they would use when setting up an account for Educreations. I like how you can import pictures and write on the pictures. The thing to remember is that you have to draw on the whiteboard in order for the students to see what you are doing. The students can not see what you're mouse is doing like a screencast. 

Pedagogical uses;

Depending on the plan you choose with Educreations, students and teachers can create videos. However, if you choose the free plan, you can create videos and share them with your students through various ways. Teachers can create videos that students can watch at home in a flipped classroom setting. The students could then do their assignment when they came to class. Students can create videos, depending on the plan you choose, and share them with their teaching. 

Educreations can be an instructional tool or an assessment tool. Students can create a video showing the teacher what they learned from a lesson or showing their understanding of a concept. For example, a student can create a video showing understanding of how to multiply numbers. The teacher can watch the video and determine if the student understands the concept. I really like Educreations for a flipped classroom setting. Students can watch the video as many times as they would like, if you allow them to, and gain knowledge of a concept before coming to your classroom.

Example of Educrations:

Just a note: when you watch these, your volume may need to be turned down. I used two different microphones and on the second video, my voice is really loud. I also get really excited about the information in my videos. Just pretend like you are in third grade. 

How to create an Educreations:

I apologize for the siren sound. I am currently on vacation in Las Vegas and recording these videos in my hotel room.

Cost of the tool:

The basic tool which you can record and share lessons is free. In the free version, you get the basic whiteboard tools which you see in the video above. You can create and join classes as well as save one draft at a time. You get 50MB of storage space and email support.
In the Pro Classroom version, you get one teacher and forty plus students. It is 8.25/month billed annually or 11.99 month-to-month. In this version, you can export videos, save unlimited drafts, and 5GB of storage per user. You also get advanced whiteboard tools. You can import docs, maps, and more in this version. You also get priority email support. I like this version if you want more specific and detailed videos. The cost isn't terrible either if you plan on using this as a part of your lessons on a regular basis.
Educreations also has an ProSchool version where ten or more teachers can have teacher and student management. All the students get the pro version, and it has in-app features on an Ipad. You have unlimited storage space and dedicated support. The cost is 1495 a year. However, if your school likes this tool and plans on using it on a regular basis, it may be cost efficient.

Why you want to learn this tool:

Like Edpuzzle, this is a great tool to use if you flip your classroom. Students can learn a new concept while watching a video. You can show students how to do something while actually doing it and not just talking. Students can watch the video as many times as they like and the videos don't take very long to make. If you upgrade to the pro version, you get a lot of great tools and can truly make videos more exciting.
 Educreations is a tool to implement if you want an easy way to create videos for a flipped classroom. The videos are easily embedded into a website, blog, or LMS. Students can watch the videos as part of an assignment and the teacher can keep the videos as long as the storage capacity isn't met.

Sources:

ISTE Standards. (2015). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards

Teach anything to anyone from anywhere. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from https://www.educreations.com/ 

ISTE Standards:

Teacher:

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity

1. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
2. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
3. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
4. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environment

2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments

1. Design or adapt learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
2. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
3. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

3. Model digital age work and learning

1. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
2. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats
3. Model and facilitate effective use of emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility

1. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
2. Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools

Students:

1. Creativity and innovation

1. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
2. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression

2. Communication and collaboration

1. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
2. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
3. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems

3. Research and information fluency

1. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
2. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
3. Process data and report results

4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making

1. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
2. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
3. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
4. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions

5. Digital citizenship

1. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
2. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
3. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
4. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship

6. Technology operations and concepts

1. Understand and use technology systems
2. Select and use applications effectively and productively
3. Troubleshoot systems and applications
4. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies

How to Create an Edpuzzle Video

How to Create an Edpuzzle Video

This is a video on how to create an Edpuzzle video. I get really nervous when creating videos, so there are some mistakes. However, it shows you how easy Edpuzzle is to use!

Edpuzzle

Edpuzzle

Description of tool:

Edpuzzle is a tool where you can create a video with audio, notes, and quizzes. The videos are found on Youtube. You pull a video in, add audio, create notes, and put quizzes at specific times you choose. The video can also be shortened to include the length that you want. The video can be shared a variety of ways. The video can be assigned to students, the link can be given to students, the video can be embedded into a website, you can email the video, or share on the social media sites Facebook and Twitter. When you create the video, you can make sure students do not skip the video, and set a due date. The students can go back and watch the video as many times as they like unless you do not allow them to. 

Pedagogical uses:

I used Edpuzzle to create videos for a flipped classroom. The uses are endless. You can create a video to have students view in class and do the quiz as a class. You can create videos for personal use or for a teacher training. Students can try and creating their own videos to share with the class or parents. I really like using Edpuzzle for a flipped classroom whether it be faux or where the students watch the videos at home after school. The teacher can see which students viewed the videos as well as how they did on their quiz. When the students come to school, the teacher can do an activity rather than lecture the students. The teacher can also go over the quiz and video with the students to check for understanding of the video concept, I like how you can pull Youtube videos as Youtube has an endless amount of videos. You can also shorten the video to include only the material you want. You don't have to have the background music in the video. You can include your own voice if you want to talk over the video, I really like Edpuzzle as a teaching tool rather than standing in front of the classroom lecturing the students.

Examples of Edpuzzle:

Location of the tool:

https://edpuzzle.com/

Cost of the tool:

Edpuzzle is free for teachers. It costs nothing to use it for your classroom or your blog if you are a teacher. The teacher can have unlimited amounts of videos.

Why use this tool:

First off, the tool is really fun and easy to use. However, you have to play with it before becoming an expert. Above I posted two of my good videos. I have others, but realized when watching them this time that my voice over went over the video. In the Spongebob and Patrick video, my voice over was before the video. I myself have to play a little more with this tool before I feel comfortable using this in my classroom. I really like how you can pick the video off Youtube and customize it to fit your students. I like how you can share the videos with the students and have them answer questions based on the videos. The questions can be higher-level thinking questions related to the videos. The questions are not preset, so you can make the questions whatever you want. I also like how you can shorten the video. I teach third grade, so my students can not sit through a long video. However, if the video is short and engaging, the students will be more willing to watch it. Also, the whole video is not always necessary to watch. You can have the students watch exactly what you want them to.
It doesn't take very long to create a video. I created four videos in a short time. The videos save on Edpuzzle so you don't have to worry about saving them some place else. The videos can be embedded into a LMS or blog. I embedded the videos in Edmodo for my students to view at home in a flipped classroom setting. The videos worked in Edmodo and I was able to assign the videos for my students as long as another assignment if I wanted to.
I feel that Edpuzzle is a way to go further than just showing the students a video. Adding the teacher voice makes the video more fun and personal. I like that I can add my voice to a video before the students view it. I can explain to the students what they will watch as well as how it applies to our classroom. It gives the students something to look forward to the next day.

Sources:

EDpuzzle. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from https://edpuzzle.com/content
ISTE Standards. (2015). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards

ISTE Standards:

Teacher:

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity

a. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness

c. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes

2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments

a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

c. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

3. Model digital age work and learning

d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility

b. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources

5. Engage in professional growth and leadership

d. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

Students:

1, Creativity and innovation

a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes

b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression

2. Communication and collaboration

a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media

c. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats

3. Research and information fluency

c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks

4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making

b. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project

5. Digital citizenship

b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity

c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning

6. Technology operations and concepts

a. Understand and use technology systems

b. Select and use applications effectively and productively

d. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies