There are many excellent traditional resources used to enhance student learning and educational outcomes. In addition to paper and books, the Lessonologist chooses to implement iPads to aid in mastery learning. Innovative use of iPads can help students to excel academically and provides them with many creative outlets. When used appropriately, iPads are useful for students, teachers, and parents.
As is well known, today’s students are digital natives who want to utilize electronic devices. The opportunity to use the most current technology is empowering to them. The freedom to use technology encourages them to become engaged in the learning process, become more focused, and begin to take ownership of their educations. This makes learning an enjoyable experience for both students and teachers who are able to collaborate on assignments and projects. Student literacy grows, and they attain higher retention levels of required academic concepts.
To meet student academic goals, The Lessonologist uses several iPad apps. Much of our students’ work is airdropped into Notability where it may be completed. Notability helps students to be organized and to quickly find files when needed. Notability gives students the ability to accomplish tasks neatly and creatively using templates, a variety pens, recordings, images, and other media. It’s a great note taking tool that students may use through college.
In addition to using a variety of hands-on math manipulatives, our students use apps from the Math Learning Center. MLC apps give children fun ways to practice basic math skills while building a strong foundation for higher level math. Students use these apps much like the physical objects, but may save their assignments for future use or send it to the teacher for corrections. Work may also be mirrored to the large wall monitor where students share with their peers how they solved problems.
Apple apps including Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are staples used in our students’ daily work. The iPad provides accessibility options that can help students with reading and writing. Students may use the spoken content function to have unknown words read to them, or they may choose to read whole passages along with the function if necessary. Best of all, students who are learning to read can record themselves, and then listen to the playback. This helps students gain higher levels of fluency when practiced daily. Achieving good writing skills is a long process, and it is sometimes difficult for students to put all their thoughts on paper. This is especially true when they’re still learning proper handwriting.* The iPad allows students to dictate their thoughts into a Pages document, organize their writing, and make grammar and punctuation changes.
iPads are an ideal device that can aid parents in monitoring their child’s work and help them to be successful. The Lessonologist uses Apple Notes to communicate with parents. This is a shared note where parents are invited to make comments and ask questions about their child’s assignments and progress.
Use of the iPad is beneficial to a student’s success and for classroom management. For this reason all students enrolled in The Lessonologist Learning Pods and Tutoring program use iPads in their educational journey. When students are given the tools and taught how to use them, iPads can promote learning within and beyond the classroom. Creating life-long leaners should be the ultimate goal of an exceptional education.
~ Pauline
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipads-pedagogical-crutch-education-innovation-beth-holland
https://educationcareers.ie/blog/10-creative-ways-to-use-your-ipad-in-the-classroom/
*Handwriting is an essential skill that all students practice daily as it also affects the ability to read well.
