Assignment+7


 * What impact do you expect to see as a result of using this technology in the classroom?
 * How do you plan to continue to use your iPad in your personal life? Professional life?
 * What have you learned from others' sharing that you would like to try or explore more of?
 * Describe the presentation you gave today and the application you shared / demonstrated.

I am thankful for the class as it "pushed" me into trying a new technology which I probably wouldn't have as it was not seen as "necessary". Since having had the opportunity to access the innovative educational applications the iPad offers through this class, I now see this kind of technology as a "must". The immediate access and plethora of choices for educational application is astounding. I don't know if it will necessarily have an effect on "what" I teach but it certainly will effect the "how". I see the iPad offering relevant enhancements to the curriculum through engaging, interactive, and motivating aspects that reflect the learning styles and preferences of today's "screenagers".

Compared to previously just having my cell phone (quite basic and not "smart"), I feel like the iPad has become attached to my hip! I carry it with me almost all the time and am getting quicker at turning to it for reference, information, and exploring curiosities. I love the convenience of having all my stuff in one place in such a user-friendly, portable format. I anticipate turning to my iPad more and more frequently as time goes on. As far as using it in the classroom, I'm not sure. I would love to put it in the hands of the students but probably will do that on a very limited basis since it is my personal iPad. It will be interesting to see how committed the school district is to putting this technology into the hands of students.

It was great seeing the apps others in the class shared with us. There are just so many, you can't find them all on your own! Also, others presented apps with a curriculum connection that I wouldn't have thought of as well as being introduced to apps that I could immediately see classroom application for me. The example of that that springs to mind is John's sharing of the Discovery Channel website and app. The news story on modern day gold seekers was so relevant to a Jack London unit done with 8th graders in my classroom. Awesome!

The application I shared was Word Avalanche. It was easy to use in the classroom and the students were very engaged, but I was challenged to really consider whether this app was educationally relevant for use in my room. Probably not. There are just too many other apps out there that would be more beneficial for enhancing instruction. I look forward to continuing to explore apps and their use in the classroom. I appreciated the assignments that required us to explore the variety of applicable programs available including podcasts and animoto. The access the iPad gives to so many new resources will challenge me to look at the "what and how" that needs to be taught with a "backward by design" mindset and how the use of iPad applications can be a relevant enhancement to curriculum.