Week 5: IPads and Book Creator!

“The use of mobile devices and tablet computers in Scottish classrooms could be expanded in a bid to modernise teaching and learning” (BBC, 2012).

This weeks topic was focusing on the use of iPads in the classroom. From my experiences in schools and on placement, I only ever saw the use of iPads in a positive light. With the ability to enhance and further learning in the classroom. I feel they are an asset to the pupils and the teacher. However, I have heard it through the grapevine, from fellow students, that their view of iPads in their experiences were sometimes negative, when problems arose in the technology or children were using them too often.

In my placement, I witnessed the children in the classroom use iPads whilst doing a maths activity, there was numerous of work stations where the children could rotate and use different methods to learn about their current topic. The iPads were used to play short games to enhance the childrens’ knowledge of time, and was an interactive and responsive method of learning whilst having fun!

Education secretary Mike Russell said that- “I have asked Education Scotland for recommendations on how we can realise the benefits of mobile technology for all learners in Scotland, including ensuring how we get the best possible value for our schools, and whether national guidance is needed for the sector” (BBC, ibid) This is further evidence of the proposals for mobile technology to be a fundamental part of the classroom.

An app which could be used in the classroom is Book Creator. I must admit that I really enjoyed using this app and feel that it would be a great asset to children in the classroom. This could be used by children to further explore and deepen the knowledge of a book, helping to grasp aspects of critical literacy and enabling expansion of the ideas and characters that the book has evoked.

I choose a book which I love to read to my children (What the Ladybird Heard, by Julia Donaldson), therefore I feel my activity would be aimed at early level. This could be given to the children after story time, as a means of further enhancing aspects of the story and using its characters/illustrations or words as a base to learning new things such as- describing words, phonics, colour, shape, etc.
This activity would provide the children with an immediate interactive response which can be very rewarding for children, helping to keep them stimulated, engaged and constantly learning. The use of eBooks could be a good activity for children who find it difficult to keep on task or read a regular book, the multi-modal aspects could be an attractive aspect. Here are a few experiences and outcomes that may be achieved with this activity.

  • TCH 0-01a “I can explore digital technologies and use what I learn to solve problems and share ideas and thoughts”.
  • LIT 0-01a / LIT 0-11a /LIT 0-20a “I enjoy exploring and playing with the patterns and sounds of language and can use what I learn.”

 

References

  • Education Scotland looks to expand use of tablets computers in schools. 16th May 2012 [Online] Available: ://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-18081005 [Accessed: 6 February 2019]

  • Education Scotland. (n.d.) Curriculum for Excellence.[Online] Available: https://education.gov.scot/Documents/All-experiencesoutcomes18.pdf [Accessed: 6 February 2019]