Making a splash with 8 IPads
10 weeks ago I wrote a post, “Paddling.” We had only just received our 8 ipads and I was experimenting with them. In the time since, our use has exploded. Teachers K-4, both homeroom and subjects, have been signing them out. The good news: they are in demand and overbooked. The bad news: we need more! We now have over 80 apps loaded on our ipads. See them here. A crucial part of this increased use amongst the faculty was involving them with the ipads. I did this a number of ways:
- Suggested teachers take an ipad home to play with them and investigate the apps.
- Find apps and make suggestions for the teachers as they reached different parts of their curriculum.
- Include iPad use at our faculty meetings. In one, as we were preparing for our integrated unit on Rivers Around the World, I gave them assignments using Rivers of the World and Easy Globe Lite. In another, I had them free explore in partners.
Here are 3 notable projects to share with you.
Earthquake
Science Project: Earthquakes
- In a third grade science class, the boys went on to the app Earthquake Lite to see earthquakes as they were happening around the world. They were able to see the time, the locations, and the strengths as each earthquake happened. They then played with Quake Builder.
Tap DJ
Music Project: Create!
Our music teacher eagerly gave out the ipad and had the boys explore three apps with partners: iDaft, Touchsounds, and Tap DJ. He then had them use Beatwave to create several layers of music.
Strip Design
Afterschool Photography Project: Strip Design
I began one of my afterschool classes by introducing the boys to Photo Shot. This helps them practice zooming in and out to take careful pictures. We then took pictures to use in the app Strip Design to make cartoons. A huge hit and easy for the boys (second through fourth) to use.