I am sure I got your attention just by the title of the article I found on the Campus Technology blog. http://campustechnology.com/articles/2011/07/26/teaching-with-the-ipad-and-angry-birds.aspx. Although rather brief, it posed a continuing debate I am having with myself about the educational benefit of all the new "games" in educational technology.
The article, written by John K. Waters (7/26/11) discusses the growing attraction to the use of the iPad in the classroom. Conferences and grad classes are being offered all over the country to help teachers become familiar with this device and explore its unlimited potential. I am thrilled that professional development is being offered to educators. This is an area I find lacking in most districts.
But here is my issue: Many of the apps are game based and provide students with engaging activities that they of course, love. But if the teacher has not explored the app and finds a innovative way to use it for students then how is it any better than a worksheet? I feel teachers really need to take the time to understand how that app (or any technology) is going to be better for students, not just different. One must be aware of the learning styles of students and find the apps that will help them, just not mesmerize them.
I plan on implementing a pilot program with iTouch this year, but I am going to move slowly and really research why and how it is helping students. I know they will like it...
By the way, a teacher in Wisconsin used Angry Birds to teach physics. (Waters, 7/26/11) If you are not familiar with the game, download it and try it.
I agree that there has to be some learning benefit to using different things. We shouldn't use something just because it is in front of us. There should be some assessment and benefit to the students.
ReplyDeleteThat is too funny that Angry Birds is being used for teaching. But, I am sure it get's the students attention as it is a craze right now.
It would make sense if Angry Birds showed degrees and force associated with the flying birds. Its amusing what some teachers find acceptable in the classroom!
ReplyDeleteI agree, if your going to use it, test it. If you don't, its as bad as walking in the classroom and assigning questions out of the book you've never looked at. The kids know your flying by the seat of your pants, and they take advantage of it!
You and I are on the same page when it comes to technology. I believe that it is very important, but we cannot make education into nothing but a game. Before a teacher does anything, it is imperative that he / she examine everything about it to ensure that it holds the highest quality for educational value.
ReplyDeleteSince taking this program, I believe that every student should have a tablet / iPad. However, it would not be for the gaming. Instead, it would be for the blogging, wiki work, quick research, and so on.
I have begun planning my classes for next year, and there are so many cool, engaging things that I could do if students had easy access to a computer every day. Unfortunately, we do not have that easy of access, so those ideas will have to wait...for now. Hopefully in the future, blogging and wiki work will happen every day in the classroom because of students having access to the technology.
mmurcmu590,
ReplyDeleteHave you thought of using iTouch in the classroom. If you got parents and administrators permission to have students bring them in I bet you would have enough even if some had to share. There are so many free educational apps out there. Of course you would need to have wireless capabilities in the school to make it work. But it might be a great solution.