Tool # 9: Incorporating Classroom-Based Devices

1. It is important to tie the technology to the objective because we are using it as an instrument to teach and assess students’ knowledge.  I think the goal is for students to use the technology to help them learn and to show what they have learned. Tying the technology to the objective will help me maintain focus on what I hope to teach; and prevent me from implementing non-instructive “cute” activities.

2. We should hold students accountable because it’s a way to make them responsible for their own learning. This is a time where students are working independently and it’s a great opportunity for them to apply what they have learned and monitor their own progress.

3.  The two interactive websites I liked the best are Learning Games for Kids and Tutpup.  I think their structures are easy enough that kindergartners could easily learn how to manage them independently.  In Tutpup, students can choose from a variety of levels, which is a great way to provide differentiation. Students could keep track of their activities/objectives and their scores in their journals. Learning Games for kids offers numerous activities in different subject areas.  It contains preschool stories available for students to read and listen to. In this case, I could hold students accountable by having them state the title of the book and their favorite part using a voice/video recording. 

4.  One app that I would use at the beginning of the year is ABC Tracing app.  This app allows students to practice correct formation of letters (upper and lower), numbers, and words. I also like the Approach to Montessori (math) in which students could practice number recognition, numeral writing, making sets, and sequencing.   Students could then generate a “rainbow writing" on their journals of the letters, numbers, or words they worked on.  I also loved the Bamboo paper app which works like a digital paper notebook. It offers a variety of paper-backgrounds such as blank, lined, dotted, or with bullets.  Students could create lists, sentences, stories, etc.  And the end, the final product can be either save or print.

 5. As I mentioned earlier, students could listen/watch books or stories being read from websites such as learning games for kids.  Then they could create their very own video retelling the story, identifying their favorite part and/or making personal connections.  Students could also use the iPads (bamboo paper app) to recount a fieldtrip by inserting pictures and writing 1-2 sentences.