Mobile Devices in the classroom - Marissa Parks

Prosser, A. (2016, February 12). Start small when integrating ed tech. Retrieved February 22, 2016, from https://www.iste.org/explore/

Summary

When introducing technology in the classroom, it is best to start small at first, so you do not overwhelm yourself and your students. It would be best to start with one small project that you are already working on that could easily be moved to technology. Any project that is moved to a digital platform should also be meaningful. Do not just move it to an iPad for the sake of using one. Any teacher should be able to easily integrate technology into their classrooms, even if they need to youtube how to do so.

Assess

This article is from the International Society for technology in education, so I know it is a credible source. There is information for educators on how to implement technology in the classroom, and easy ways to do so. The article was written by one of the writers on the site, about her sister who is a fifth grade teacher just now getting iPads in her classroom. It was written earlier in the month, so it is very relevant. It is a good article for an educator that is brand new to any technology in the classroom, it gives tips on the important parts of integration. The article says to slowly introduce smaller projects. The other side to this would be from a teacher who has students who have had technology in the classroom for a much longer time.

Crouch, E. (2013, January 31). IPads in the Classroom. Retrieved February 22, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzSNdxsfk0Q

Summary

The video is all about the pros of iPads in a classroom. There is so much you can do with them, and teach virtually any lesson on them. They are so user friendly and simple to pick up, that there is not really any education gap when using them. The children in the class enjoy working on them so much that their day flies by and they do not even really realize they are learning as much as they are. The use of technology in the classroom is a great tool to utilize, because technology is so big in every day life now.

Assess

The video is created by a first grade teacher that uses iPads every day in his class. This is completely an opinion article all about the positive aspects of using technology in the classroom. The other side to this would be, if we are using too much technology with children so young. Even though the video was created three years ago, I think that it is still relevant for today. Technology and iPads are still being introduced into classrooms. This would be a great video for parents when they have doubts when technology is first brought into their children's schools.

Reflect

I haven't done too much work in elementary grade classrooms, especially one that uses technology very much. The schools that I have been in have smart boards and the children do minimal work on chrome books. It's so amazing to see all of the capabilities and where technology in the classrooms will be by the time I have my own classroom. It makes me so excited to be able to be apart of this. I hope that I am able to educate the children in my class on how to use technology in a smart beneficial way. I think that using iPads for a lot in the classroom is a wonderful thing, but I still think it should be limited a little bit. It is still important for children to learn to write with a paper and pencil and to read a real book. I also don't think that it is wise for a child to stare at a screen for an extended amount of time in school, when they may be doing it excessively at home. I would be sure to limit the amount of time staring at a screen in my classroom and hope that my son's teachers do the same.