iPads+1-to-1+Technology+(One+Teacher's+Journey)

Our school received iPads in a 1-to-1 ratio right before Winter Break. We started using them regularly in classes in January. I teach 2nd grade.

Well, it has already been an adventure. My imagination has run crazy, but then reality HITS! Of course reality has yet to crush our imaginations. The novelty of the devices has started to wear off and now the technology is just another learning tool akin to a pencil, paper, book, cassette player, etc. I'd say record player, but 2nd graders don't have any schema for that tool. We're still learning, but the curve has went from Pikes Peak to Mound City!

Since the possibilities are endless, it's hard to decide where to begin. I want to keep the love of learning alive, but the rigor of the lesson needs to keep that same pace!

So....

In math my students are experts at creating Show Me videos to explain math concepts (they took pictures of their work, wrote on top of it in the app and recorded their explanations). Since I signed my class up with usernames and passwords their work uploads to the web (there is an option to set their work to private). I have even used the embed code to put some of their examples on our class Wikispace site.

In math my students used Skitch to label pictures of arrays with repeated addition equations to hang on our anchor chart.

We annotated an array assessment using PDF Notes. The kids were so happy to be annotating in colored pens on top of a colored activity sheet!

In reading my students used Edmodo to have book discussions, but I'm not sure this worked as I had imagined it would work. I think I need to continue to explore better avenues. I am currently trying Subtext and it has taken me until NOW to figure out how to use the app via Edmodo, but viola our district support has been FANTASTIC. She has figured it out and QUICK! Thanks so much!!!!

We have done so much more, but I am focusing on the standards and how best to incorporate the technology from that starting point (while also keeping the needs of the individuals in mind).

For recess today, we played Connect Four. They LOVED it!